Pressing
Pressure Pressing Trigger Grid
Recognise the trigger to press
Pressing
Defending
Transition
Pressure 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
Under Pressure
Duration
18 min
Players
8-18
Pitch size
32 x 24 yards
Ability levels
Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Pressure Pressing Trigger Grid — Marked area · 32 x 24 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 defender is released the moment the ball leaves the server's foot.
- 5. The working player scores by completing the action before pressure arrives; the defender scores by blocking it.
- Cones mark the area
- Dashed lines = zones / thirds
- Ball
- C = coach / server
- 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 32 x 24 yards area.
- 2Position a recovering defender behind each working player, starting two yards back.
- 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 defender is released the moment the ball leaves the server's foot.
- 5The working player scores by completing the action before pressure arrives; the defender scores by blocking it.
Coaching points
- -Press on the trigger, not before it
- -First presser sets the angle, others follow
- -Close the pass backwards
- -Feel the pressure with your body, take the touch away from the defender
Common mistakes
- -Pressing individually and leaving gaps
- -Missing the trigger completely
- -Facing your own goal and getting trapped by the press
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