Pressing
Combination Pressing Trigger Grid
Recognise the trigger to press
Pressing
Defending
Transition
Combination Pressing Trigger Grid is a 18-minute pressing drill for 8-18 players, suitable for Under 10 to Adults at intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.
Back to drill libraryPressing
Defending
Transition
Skill Practice
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Combination Play
Duration
18 min
Players
8-18
Pitch size
38 x 30 yards
Ability levels
Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Combination Pressing Trigger Grid — Marked area · 38 x 30 yards
Step 1 of 5The build-up team plays out and the pressing team waits for the trigger.
- 1. The build-up team plays out and the pressing team waits for the trigger.
- 2. A backwards pass or heavy touch triggers the press.
- 3. Pressing team scores by winning the ball inside the zone.
- 4. The first pass must go into the bounce player before the practice opens up.
- 5. A sequence only scores when three different players have touched the ball.
- Cones mark the area
- Dashed lines = zones / thirds
- Ball
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Recognise the trigger to press
- -Press as a connected unit
- -Win the ball high up the pitch
Setup
- 1A grid with a build-up zone and a pressing zone in a 38 x 30 yards area.
- 2Add a neutral bounce player on each side line inside a marked yard-wide channel.
- 3Balls in the build-up zone, two sets of bibs.
Coaching instructions
- 1The build-up team plays out and the pressing team waits for the trigger.
- 2A backwards pass or heavy touch triggers the press.
- 3Pressing team scores by winning the ball inside the zone.
- 4The first pass must go into the bounce player before the practice opens up.
- 5A sequence only scores when three different players have touched the ball.
Coaching points
- -Press on the trigger, not before it
- -First presser sets the angle, others follow
- -Close the pass backwards
- -Third player movement — the pass is set up by the run before it
Common mistakes
- -Pressing individually and leaving gaps
- -Missing the trigger completely
- -Two players combining over and over while the third stands still
Where this drill fits
- More football pressing drills
- More football defending drills
- More football transition drills
- football drills for U10s
- football drills for U12s
- football drills for U14s
- football drills for U16s
- Football session plans built around this theme