U12
Press the Passer
Two defenders try to win the ball within six seconds.
- Sprint to the ball
- Curve the run to cut the pass
Soccer Drills & Trainingby Play 2 Earn Sports
Soccer pressing drills:99 you can watch in 3D
Pressing is hard to explain with cones and a whistle. Show your players the trigger, the angle and the cover, then run it.
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Drag a player, then press play. These are sample names: sign in and your real roster imports automatically. Try your own names, numbers and kit.
These pressing drills start at U12 and run through to adult teams. They cover when to go, which way to show the ball, who covers and how a whole team moves together. Here are a few to look at. The app has all 99, each one playing in 3D with its full set-up and steps.
8 of 99
U12
U14
Press on the Back Pass
Press the back pass in a 4v4 game.
- Press the back pass
- Lock on to the receiver
U14
Win It Back in the Central Zone
Lose the ball in the central zone, then win it back straight away.
- React to the loss
- Press as a unit
U14
Press with Cover Shadow
Press the ball while a teammate blocks the passing lane.
- Press from the front
- Cover the passing lane
U12
High Press 3v3 vs Goalkeeper
High press the goalkeeper building out in a 3v3.
- Press on the trigger
- Lock on to the receiver
U16
Whole-Team Jump on the Back Pass
Wait for the back pass, then jump the whole team forward and win the ball high in the 4v4.
- The trigger is the back pass: the moment it goes backwards, four players step forward together
- Press the receiving player from their blind side so they cannot turn and play forward
Adult
Hunt the Backward Ball
Treat every ball played towards the own goal as the signal to jump, with a fifth player covering the midfield outlet.
- The back pass is the trigger, so the nearest forward sprints as soon as the receiver's body opens towards their own goal
- Arrive on a curve that lets the receiver go only further back towards the centre-back
U16
Counter-Press the Middle, Then Go
Counter-press the central zone straight after losing the ball and turn the regain into an attack.
- The three nearest players counter-press the ball at once, one at the ball and two closing the escape passes
- Do not drop back after the loss; the first three seconds are when the ball is easiest to win
91 more pressing drills are in the app, each playing in 3D with the full set-up and steps.
See all 99 pressing drills in the appWhat to coach in a press
The trigger
A slow pass, a bad touch or a player facing their own goal. Agree one trigger and press on it together.
The angle
Close on a curve so the ball can only go one way, usually towards the sideline.
The cover
The nearest teammate drops goal-side at an angle, ready to take over if the ball gets past the first player.
Choosing by age
U12
One player presses and one covers, in small areas, so the idea stays simple.
U14 and U16
Press in twos and threes, with a clear trigger and a target for when the ball is won.
U18 and adult
Whole-team shape: when to jump, who steps up and how to counter-press after losing the ball.
Questions
How many pressing drills are in the app?
99, for U12 up to adult teams. Younger groups do better with 1v1 and defending drills first.
Can I put my own team on a drill?
Yes, if you are club staff on Play 2 Earn Sports: your players' names go on the drill. Anyone can change the speed and camera view. Try it on this page with the sample drill.
Do I need to sign up to try it?
Not to try the sample drill on this page. Saving a drill starts with a sign-up.
See all 99 pressing drills in the app
Coming soon to iPhone and Android.
Get early access