Pressing

Pressing Triggers

Press on the right trigger and at the right angle

Pressing
Defending
Transition
Team Shape

Pressing Triggers is a 20-minute pressing drill for 10-18 players, suitable for Under 10 to Adults at intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, bibs, cones, mini goals. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

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Pressing
Defending
Transition
Team Shape
Small-Sided Game
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed

Duration

20 min

Players

10-18

Pitch size

40 x 30 yards

Ability levels

Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Pitch set-up: Pressing Triggers123C40 x 30 yards

Pressing Triggers — 4v4 small-sided game · 40 x 30 yards

Step 1 of 3Server plays into the possession team who attack the far goal.

  1. 1. Server plays into the possession team who attack the far goal.
  2. 2. Out of possession team presses to win the ball inside six seconds.
  3. 3. If they win it they attack immediately, otherwise the coach restarts.
  • Cones mark the area
  • Mini goals at each end
  • Ball
  • Blue v dark — score in the opposite goal
  • C = coach / server
  • Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

  • -Press on the right trigger and at the right angle
  • -Recover into a compact shape after a failed press
  • -Win the ball back within six seconds

Setup

  1. 1Pitch with a mini goal at each end and a server on each end line.
  2. 2Two teams of five, spare balls with the servers.
  3. 3Mark a middle reference line with cones.

Coaching instructions

  1. 1Server plays into the possession team who attack the far goal.
  2. 2Out of possession team presses to win the ball inside six seconds.
  3. 3If they win it they attack immediately, otherwise the coach restarts.

Coaching points

  • -Press the pass, travel as the ball travels
  • -Curved run to cut the switch
  • -Nearest players squeeze, far side tucks in
  • -Deepest player organises with clear calls

Common mistakes

  • -One player pressing alone
  • -Arriving too fast and getting turned
  • -Failing to reset the shape

Where this drill fits

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