Perfecting pressing

How to play it

• Set up a playing area, as shown above. Create two 25x15 yards areas with a 10-yard channel in the middle.

• Each team starts in its own box. At first, without a ball, invite a player from the right box to run across to the left box, press opponents with the intention of tagging a player, then sprint back to his area (top picture). The tagged player remains in the left box.

• Once the pressing player returns, a second player goes across to perform the same task.

• Continue until all five players have successfully tagged, then reverse the drill, seeing which of the two teams performs the task quickest.

• The quickest team is now given a ball. Once received, the team must now retain possession while two players from the other team come across to press the ball looking to tackle or intercept against a 5v2 overload (middle picture).

• Keep count of the number of passes made before possession is lost.

• When possession is turned over, the pair sprint back to the other box with the ball and their team begins its own possession game.

• Now two opponents move across to take their turn at pressing the ball.

Technique and tactics

• A pressing player must anticipate the next pass and move in quickly.

• He will have most success by pressing a player who is near to a touchline or in a confined area.

• He must stay on his feet at all times.

• In order to avoid being pressed, players in possession must move the ball around quickly.