Press with intensity

WHY USE IT

Encourages players to press with intensity.

SET UP

Mark out three square areas, relative to the age and ability of your players. The middle area should be twice the size of the other two. Place two mini goals just outside the middle area and one outside each of the smaller areas. One team has three players in each of the smaller areas, and five players in the middle area. The other team has four players in the middle area.

HOW TO PLAY

The ball starts in the middle area with the team of five, who aim to achieve a defined number of passes before scoring in one of the mini goals. The opposing team attempts to win the ball back and score.

When a goal is scored or the ball goes out of play, the four players from the opposing teams split into two twos – one in each of the smaller areas. There, the same game is played – the team of three has the ball and looks to achieve a defined number of passes before scoring in the mini goal. The pressing team looks to win the ball back and score.

Coaching points

• The team in possession focuses on movement off the ball to create passing options.
• The pressing team focuses on sprinting to press aggressively and to switch between areas.