🔧 Set-up: Mark a 50x30-yard area divided into thirds Place a goal in the defensive third Position 5 defenders in the middle third Position 5 attackers in the attacking third Add 2 neutral midfielders to support the attacking team ⚽ Activity: Attackers aim to break into the defensive third and score Defenders identify pressing triggers (e.g. backward passes, poor touches) and initiate aggressive presses Defending team focuses on forcing attackers wide or backward Neutral midfielders help attackers keep possession but cannot enter the defensive third Defenders drop deeper when attackers attempt to exploit spaces behind Attackers use frequent switches of play to challenge defensive organisation Rotate roles every 5 minutes so all players experience attacking and defending roles Gradually increase tempo to simulate realistic match pace ✅ Coaching Points: Recognise triggers to press (e.g. poor touches, isolated players) Press together as a unit to avoid gaps Maintain compactness to protect spaces between lines Provide cover for teammates pressing aggressively Stay composed and recover shape quickly after missed presses ➕ Progressions: Add a second neutral player to increase overloads for attackers Reduce the number of defenders to challenge their ability to press effectively
