Create your own Session Planns with stunning 3D in minutes Hundreds of soccer sessions in a searchable database Compile ready-made drills into your own session in seconds Adapt ready-made drills to make a customised session in moments Post on your website, e-mail to friends, link to non-Members, view on your phone Sport Session Planner: for a low yearly subscription, click here to join!

Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): 2012: Pressing as a Unit (Start Time: 2025-03-31 14:25:00)

Profile Summary

Juan Alberto Luna
Name: Juan Alberto Luna
City: Prospect Heights
Country: United States of America
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
Build 3D sessions in seconds
Access to 1000’s of sessions
Professionalise and modernise your coaching
Used by the world’s best coaches
US$
75
per year
Join today

Description

Title: Press, Cover, and Balance
Theme: Defensive Principles
Primary Objective: Improve players’ ability to recognize pressing triggers, provide effective cover, and maintain defensive balance.

Warm-Up (10 minutes)

  • Activity: 4v2 Rondos

  • Objective: Introduce pressing, covering, and positioning concepts.

  • Key Points: Closest defender presses; second defender covers; quick rotations and communication.

Activity 1 (20 minutes)

  • Activity: 3v3 + 2 Neutrals

  • Objective: Build pressing and covering principles in a more dynamic setting.

  • Key Points: Press on sloppy touches; maintain balance behind the pressing player; ensure compact defensive shape.

Activity 2 (25 minutes)

  • Activity: Half-field Transition Game

  • Objective: Apply pressing and covering principles to a full defensive phase.

  • Key Points: Recognize when to press aggressively, when to cover, and when to drop back into shape. React quickly to transition scenarios.

Small-Sided Game (25 minutes)

  • Activity: 7v7 with goals

  • Objective: Reinforce pressing, covering, and balance concepts in a match-like environment.

  • Key Points: Identify pressing triggers, maintain a balanced defensive line, and drop back when necessary.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Three Team Rondo

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Three Team Rondo
Save Image: Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Three Team Rondo Create Video:

Three Team Rondo (10 mins)

Three Team Rondo
Duration: 2-minute rounds

Setup:
Organize the players into three teams: red, blue, and yellow. Place each team in a 15x15-yard box with their own soccer ball. The goal for each team is twofold: maintain possession as long as possible and earn points by successfully pressing the opponent.

Instructions:

  • Pressing Rotation: One player from each team leaves their box and presses the opposing team’s grid in a clockwise manner (red presses yellow, yellow presses blue, blue presses red).

  • Scoring Points: When a pressing player wins the ball, their team earns a point. They then return to their grid to tag a teammate, who continues the pressing rotation.

  • Changing Roles: After each round, switch the pressing assignments so teams face different opponents.

  • Progression: Once players are comfortable pressing individually, add a second player so that pressing and covering happen in pairs.

Key Coaching Points:

  • Quick Close Downs: Close space rapidly to limit the opponent’s options.

  • Recognizing Triggers: Press decisively when the opponent makes a mistake, such as a poor touch or a slow, predictable pass.

  • Effective Covering: Support the pressing player by covering key areas, cutting off passing lanes, and maintaining a balanced defensive shape.















Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Three team wave game

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Three team wave game
Save Image: Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Three team wave game Create Video:

Three team wave game (25 mins)

Three Team Wave Game
Setup:

Two grids (to accommodate numbers), each 25x25 yards, divided into thirds.

The end zones are occupied by the red and yellow teams, while the blue team starts as defenders in the middle zone.

The coach is positioned on the side with soccer balls to play into the attacking team.

Instructions:

Starting Play: The coach plays a ball into the red team in one end zone.

Objective for Red Team: Make at least three passes before attempting to transfer the ball to the yellow team in the opposite end zone.

Defensive Action (Blue Team): Blue sends two players—one to press and one to cover—into the red’s end zone to win the ball. The third blue player remains in the middle zone, providing balance and trying to intercept the forward pass.

Switching to Yellow: If red successfully transfers the ball to yellow, the process repeats. Two blue players press the yellow team, while the third continues to cover in the middle zone.

Transition on Loss: If blue wins possession, the team that lost the ball becomes the new defensive team (blue becomes an attacking team).

Progression:
Introduce a green neutral player who stays locked in the middle zone. The attacking team can use this neutral player as a pivot to receive on the half-turn and switch the ball more effectively. Successfully using the neutral player to complete a switch scores an additional 2 points.

Key Coaching Points:

Pressing and Covering: Emphasize the coordination between the pressing player and the covering player. The pressing player should apply pressure on the ball, while the covering player blocks the most likely passing options.

Balance in the Middle Zone: The defender remaining in the middle zone must read the play and anticipate where the transfer will happen, cutting off angles and intercepting passes.

Controlled Passes: The attacking team should maintain composure and focus on clean passes under pressure.







Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Three Team Wave Game plus GK

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Three Team Wave Game plus GK
Save Image: Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Three Team Wave Game plus GK Create Video:

Three Team Wave Game plus GK (25 mins)

Main Activity 3 (20 minutes):

  • Activity: Half-field Transition Game

  • Setup:

    • Divide the field into thirds. The attacking team starts in one third, and the defending team starts in the middle third.

    • Attacking team aims to play into the next third and score on the big goal.

    • Defenders must recognize when to press the ball carrier, when to provide cover, and when to drop into the defensive third to protect their goal.

  • Progression:

    • Start with 6v6, then adjust numbers to create more or less defensive pressure.

  • Coaching Points:

    • Press aggressively when the ball carrier is isolated or makes a mistake.

    • If the attack is well-supported or the ball is played forward quickly, defenders should drop back and establish shape.

    • Always maintain a balanced line to prevent easy penetration.

    • Communicate consistently to ensure all defenders understand their roles and responsibilities.

    • Recognize pressing cues such as sloppy passes, heavy touches, or when the ball carrier lacks nearby support.

    • Identify when to drop back if pressing is no longer effective or if attackers are combining quickly.








































Build 3D sessions in seconds
Access to 1000’s of sessions
Professionalise and modernise your coaching
Used by the world’s best coaches
US$
75
per year
Join today

© Copyright 2022 Sport Session Planner Ltd.
Developed with Partnership Developers, a division of Kyosei Systems.

Animation Controls (PCs, Macs, Laptops):

Play animation
Play step-by-step
Repeat (toggle)
Full Screen
Pause
Stop

Back/Forward: Drag timeline button