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

Filter the pressing drills Football session plans

All 77 football pressing drills

Every drill below has its own page with the full setup, coaching points, progressions and a pitch diagram.

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: Switch To Score — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Back Four Shifting Unit: Five Second Counter-Press — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Back Four Shifting Unit: Target Zone Bonus — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Back Four Shifting Unit: Overload Rotation — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Back Four Shifting Unit: Restart Realism — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Back Four Shifting Unit: Two-Goal Decision — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Back Four Shifting Unit: Limited Touch Build-Up — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Poke Tackle Pressing: Switch To Score — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 10 to Adults
Poke Tackle Pressing: Five Second Counter-Press — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 10 to Adults
Poke Tackle Pressing: Target Zone Bonus — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 10 to Adults
Poke Tackle Pressing: Overload Rotation — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
Poke Tackle Pressing: Restart Realism — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
Poke Tackle Pressing: Two-Goal Decision — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
Poke Tackle Pressing: Limited Touch Build-Up — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 10 to Adults
Pressing Trigger Practice: Switch To Score — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Pressing Trigger Practice: Five Second Counter-Press — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Pressing Trigger Practice: Target Zone Bonus — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Pressing Trigger Practice: Overload Rotation — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Pressing Trigger Practice: Restart Realism — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Pressing Trigger Practice: Two-Goal Decision — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Pressing Trigger Practice: Limited Touch Build-Up — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Counter-Press Box: Switch To Score — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter-Press Box: Five Second Counter-Press — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter-Press Box: Target Zone Bonus — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter-Press Box: Overload Rotation — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter-Press Box: Restart Realism — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter-Press Box: Two-Goal Decision — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter-Press Box: Limited Touch Build-Up — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Mid Block Pressing Shape: Switch To Score — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
Mid Block Pressing Shape: Five Second Counter-Press — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
Mid Block Pressing Shape: Target Zone Bonus — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
Mid Block Pressing Shape: Overload Rotation — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
Mid Block Pressing Shape: Restart Realism — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
Mid Block Pressing Shape: Two-Goal Decision — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
Mid Block Pressing Shape: Limited Touch Build-Up — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
Press And Cover Waves: Switch To Score — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Press And Cover Waves: Five Second Counter-Press — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Press And Cover Waves: Target Zone Bonus — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Press And Cover Waves: Overload Rotation — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Press And Cover Waves: Restart Realism — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Press And Cover Waves: Two-Goal Decision — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Press And Cover Waves: Limited Touch Build-Up — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Transition Rondo Squares: Switch To Score — possession drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Transition Rondo Squares: Five Second Counter-Press — possession drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Transition Rondo Squares: Target Zone Bonus — possession drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Transition Rondo Squares: Overload Rotation — possession drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Transition Rondo Squares: Restart Realism — possession drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Transition Rondo Squares: Two-Goal Decision — possession drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Transition Rondo Squares: Limited Touch Build-Up — possession drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Beat The Press Game: Switch To Score — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Beat The Press Game: Five Second Counter-Press — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Beat The Press Game: Target Zone Bonus — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Beat The Press Game: Overload Rotation — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Beat The Press Game: Restart Realism — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Beat The Press Game: Two-Goal Decision — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Beat The Press Game: Limited Touch Build-Up — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Switch To Score — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Five Second Counter-Press — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Target Zone Bonus — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Overload Rotation — transition drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Restart Realism — transition drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Two-Goal Decision — transition drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Limited Touch Build-Up — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Compact Defensive Shape: Switch To Score — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Compact Defensive Shape: Five Second Counter-Press — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Compact Defensive Shape: Target Zone Bonus — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Compact Defensive Shape: Overload Rotation — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Compact Defensive Shape: Restart Realism — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Compact Defensive Shape: Two-Goal Decision — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Compact Defensive Shape: Limited Touch Build-Up — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults

Drills by age group

Pressing drill questions coaches ask

How many football pressing drills are there on Football Coach Hub?

There are 77 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.