Pressing
Underload Pressing Trigger Grid
Recognise the trigger to press
Pressing
Defending
Transition
Underload 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
Underload
Duration
18 min
Players
8-18
Pitch size
32 x 24 yards
Ability levels
Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Underload 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 attacking group starts a player short, so every entry pass has to be sharp.
- 5. Defenders score a point for every clean turnover; attackers need three clean end actions to win the round.
- 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 32 x 24 yards area.
- 2Add one extra defender to the working area and mark their start position with a flat cone.
- 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 attacking group starts a player short, so every entry pass has to be sharp.
- 5Defenders score a point for every clean turnover; attackers need three clean end actions to win the round.
Coaching points
- -Press on the trigger, not before it
- -First presser sets the angle, others follow
- -Close the pass backwards
- -Protect the ball and wait for the second runner rather than forcing it
Common mistakes
- -Pressing individually and leaving gaps
- -Missing the trigger completely
- -Trying to beat two players instead of releasing early
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