Drill category
Football pressing drills
Pressing drills give players a trigger, a distance and a cover role so the team squeezes together instead of chasing individually.
What to coach
- Press on a poor touch
- Nearest player leads
- Cover the pass behind
All 102 football pressing drills
Every drill below has its own page with the full set-up, step-by-step instructions, coaching points and progressions.
- Rondo — possession drill, 15 min, Under 8 to Adults
- 2v2 Defending Units — defending drill, 18 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Pressing Triggers — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- 1-to-1 Defending Technique — defending drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Back Four Shifting Shape — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Front Three Pressing Traps — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Counter Press Five Seconds — transition drill, 18 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Back Four Shifting Unit — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Poke Tackle Pressing — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Pressing Trigger Practice — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Counter-Press Box — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Mid Block Pressing Shape — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Press And Cover Waves — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Transition Rondo Squares — possession drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Beat The Press Game — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- 4v4 Transition Game — transition drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Compact Defensive Shape — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Four Goal Transition Game — transition drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Overload Delay and Show — defending drill, 16 min, Under 8 to Adults
- Underload Delay and Show — defending drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Two-Touch Delay and Show — defending drill, 14 min, Under 8 to Adults
- Tempo Delay and Show — defending drill, 14 min, Under 8 to Adults
- Transition Delay and Show — defending drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Pressure Delay and Show — defending drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Continuous Delay and Show — defending drill, 16 min, Under 8 to Adults
- Rotation Delay and Show — defending drill, 16 min, Under 8 to Adults
- Combination Delay and Show — defending drill, 14 min, Under 8 to Adults
- Wide Channel Delay and Show — defending drill, 14 min, Under 8 to Adults
- Counter Delay and Show — defending drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Finishing Delay and Show — defending drill, 16 min, Under 8 to Adults
- Overload Back Four Slide — defending drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Underload Back Four Slide — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Two-Touch Back Four Slide — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Tempo Back Four Slide — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Transition Back Four Slide — defending drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Pressure Back Four Slide — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Continuous Back Four Slide — defending drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Rotation Back Four Slide — defending drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Combination Back Four Slide — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Wide Channel Back Four Slide — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Counter Back Four Slide — defending drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Finishing Back Four Slide — defending drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Overload Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Underload Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Two-Touch Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Tempo Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Transition Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Pressure Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Continuous Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Rotation Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Combination Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Wide Channel Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Counter Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Finishing Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Overload Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Underload Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Two-Touch Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Tempo Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Transition Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Pressure Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Continuous Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Rotation Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Combination Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Wide Channel Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Counter Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Finishing Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Overload Turnover Game — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Underload Turnover Game — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Two-Touch Turnover Game — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Tempo Turnover Game — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Transition Turnover Game — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Pressure Turnover Game — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Continuous Turnover Game — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Rotation Turnover Game — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Combination Turnover Game — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Wide Channel Turnover Game — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Counter Turnover Game — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Finishing Turnover Game — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Overload Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Underload Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Two-Touch Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Tempo Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Transition Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Pressure Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Continuous Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Rotation Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Combination Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Wide Channel Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Counter Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Finishing Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Overload Possession Conditioning — football fitness drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Underload Possession Conditioning — football fitness drill, 18 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Two-Touch Possession Conditioning — football fitness drill, 18 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Tempo Possession Conditioning — football fitness drill, 18 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Transition Possession Conditioning — football fitness drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Pressure Possession Conditioning — football fitness drill, 18 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Continuous Possession Conditioning — football fitness drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Rotation Possession Conditioning — football fitness drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Combination Possession Conditioning — football fitness drill, 18 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Wide Channel Possession Conditioning — football fitness drill, 18 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Counter Possession Conditioning — football fitness drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Finishing Possession Conditioning — football fitness drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
Drills by age group
Pressing drill questions coaches ask
How many football pressing drills are there on Football Coach Hub?
There are 102 football pressing drills in the library, each with a setup, coaching points, common mistakes, a progression and a regression so you can run it with mixed abilities.
What equipment do I need for pressing drills?
Most drills need only a ball per player, cones and bibs. You can filter the drill library by the kit you actually have, including mini goals, full goals, poles, ladders and rebound boards.
How long should a pressing practice last?
Ten to fifteen minutes on one technical practice is usually enough before players need a change of picture. Follow it with the same theme inside a small-sided game.
Teaching a press that actually wins the ball
Pressing is a team action with a trigger. Give the group one clear trigger — a backwards pass, a heavy touch, a pass into a wide area — and only press on that, otherwise players chase in ones and get played through.
The first presser sets the angle, the second cuts the escape. Coach them as a pair before you coach a whole unit.
- One agreed trigger per practice.
- Front presser curves the run to close one side.
- Second player covers the nearest forward pass.
- Reward winning the ball high with a bonus point.
Other drill categories
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