Pressing in Pairs: 4v2 Hunters
Four players keep the ball in a 15 × 15 m square while two hunters press together: one goes to the ball, the other covers. The basics of pressing for small groups.
- Age
- U9–Senior
- Players
- 6–12
- Duration
- 12 min
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Intensity
- High
- Area
- 15 × 15 m
- Type
- Tactical
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Possession game
- Objectives
- Technical: 1v1 defending
- Tactical: Pressing, Defensive organisation
- Concepts worked on
- Technical:Interception
- Tactical:PressingCover
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Ball
- Cone
Pressing is not running after the ball alone. In this keep-ball game, two defenders learn to press as a pair: the first one curves the run to close a passing lane and push the ball to one side, and the second one covers behind and jumps to the next receiver. Short, intense rounds keep the effort high.
Objective
Press as a pair: the first defender closes a passing lane while pressing the ball, the second covers and presses the next receiver.
Organisation
- 15 × 15 m square (12 × 12 m for benjamín).
- Four attackers move freely inside the square; two hunters in bibs.
- With more players, set up a second square or let pairs of hunters take turns.
How it works
- The attackers keep the ball with free touches.
- The hunters win a point each time they win the ball or force it out of the square.
- The attackers win a point if a pass goes between the two hunters.
- Rounds of 45 seconds; then a new pair of hunters comes in. Keep the score of each pair.
- After a point, the coach plays in a new ball at once.
Coaching points
- First presser: curve your run so your back closes the pass you do not want them to play.
- Arrive under control, side-on, and push the player towards the line or the corner.
- Second presser: stay 3–4 m behind your partner, on the side of the most dangerous pass.
- When the ball moves, the nearest hunter presses and the other covers: the roles change all the time.
- Talk: "I go!", "cover!".
Progressions
- Reduce the square to 12 × 12 m.
- The attackers have two touches.
- Play 5v3 in a 20 × 20 m square.
Regressions
- Attackers on the sides of the square (rondo), so they move less.
- Rounds of 30 seconds.
- The hunters win a point just by touching the ball.
Variations
- After winning the ball, the hunters must make three passes between them to score.
Key principles
- Press the ball and close a passing lane at the same time.
- Cover your partner.
- Press together, never alone.
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