Pressing
Press And Cover Waves: Five Second Counter-Press
Press in waves without gaps
Pressing
Defending
Speed & Agility
Press And Cover Waves: Five Second Counter-Press is a 16-minute pressing drill for 6-18 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
Speed & Agility
Skill Practice
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Counter Press
Transition
Duration
16 min
Players
6-18
Pitch size
40 x 30 yards
Ability levels
Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Press And Cover Waves: Five Second Counter-Press — Pairs facing each other · 40 x 30 yards
Step 1 of 4Servers keep possession while a pressing pair works for thirty seconds.
- 1. Servers keep possession while a pressing pair works for thirty seconds.
- 2. Next pair enters as the first pair leaves.
- 3. Count regains per pair.
- 4. On losing the ball the team has five seconds to win it back before dropping into shape.
- Ball
- Pairs working across a marked lane
- C = coach / server
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Press in waves without gaps
- -Rotate pressing responsibility
- -Sustain intensity
Setup
- 1Four servers around a 40 x 30 area.
- 2Pressing pairs work inside against two ball carriers.
- 3Cones mark the pressing lanes.
Coaching instructions
- 1Servers keep possession while a pressing pair works for thirty seconds.
- 2Next pair enters as the first pair leaves.
- 3Count regains per pair.
- 4On losing the ball the team has five seconds to win it back before dropping into shape.
Coaching points
- -Approach at speed then break down the last two strides
- -Show the ball carrier one way only
- -Second presser cuts the obvious pass
- -Nearest player presses the ball instantly
- -Others screen the forward pass and squeeze up
Common mistakes
- -Arriving flat out and being turned
- -Both pressers on the same side
- -Slowing down after one failed press