Pressing
Continuous Pressing Trigger Grid
Recognise the trigger to press
Pressing
Defending
Transition
Recognise the trigger to press. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.
Back to drill libraryPressing
Defending
Transition
Skill Practice
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Repetition
Age
Under 10 to Adults
Duration
20 min
Players
8-18
Area / pitch size
36 x 28 yards
Difficulty
Intermediate / Advanced
Equipment
Balls, Cones, Bibs
Coaching focus
Recognise the trigger to press
Objective
- -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 36 x 28 yards area.
- 2Load a ball at each starting station so the next rep can begin immediately.
- 3Balls in the build-up zone, two sets of bibs.
How to play
- 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.
- 4As soon as one sequence ends, the next server plays in without waiting.
- 5Run 4-minute blocks and count total completed sequences as a squad score.
Coaching points
- -Press on the trigger, not before it
- -First presser sets the angle, others follow
- -Close the pass backwards
- -Reset fast — the value is in the volume of good reps
Progressions
- +Add a second ball into the rotation
- +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful
Regressions
- -Pause 15 seconds between reps to reset positions
- -Simplify the area or the service until success returns
Variations
- -Split into two competing halves and compare block totals
- -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch
Common mistakes
- -Pressing individually and leaving gaps
- -Missing the trigger completely
- -Long queues while balls are collected
Related Football Drills & Sessions
- More football pressing drills
- More football defending drills
- More football transition drills
- Football drills for U10s
- Football drills for U11s
- Football drills for U12s
- Football drills for U13s
- Football drills for U14s
- Football drills for U15s
- Football drills for U16s
- Football drills for 8 players
- Football drills by age, topic and squad size
- Football session plans built around this theme
Related drills
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 8-18
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 38 x 30 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Pressing
FREE
Overload Pressing Trigger Grid
Recognise the trigger to press
Intermediate / Advanced
PressingDefendingTransition
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 8-18
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- 32 x 24 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Pressing
FREE
Underload Pressing Trigger Grid
Recognise the trigger to press
Intermediate / Advanced
PressingDefendingTransition
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 8-18
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- 34 x 26 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Pressing
FREE
Two-Touch Pressing Trigger Grid
Recognise the trigger to press
Intermediate / Advanced
PressingDefendingTransition
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 8-18
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- 36 x 28 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Pressing
FREE
Tempo Pressing Trigger Grid
Recognise the trigger to press
Intermediate / Advanced
PressingDefendingTransition
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 8-18
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 40 x 32 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Pressing
FREE
Transition Pressing Trigger Grid
Recognise the trigger to press
Intermediate / Advanced
PressingDefendingTransition
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 8-18
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- 32 x 24 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Pressing
FREE
Pressure Pressing Trigger Grid
Recognise the trigger to press
Intermediate / Advanced
PressingDefendingTransition