Three-Zone Match with Pressing Triggers
7v7 with goalkeepers. The defending team waits in the middle zone and may only press in the opponents' build-up zone after a trigger: a back pass, a poor touch or a receiver facing their own goal.
- Age
- U15–Senior
- Players
- 14–18
- Duration
- 24 min
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Intensity
- High
- Area
- 60 × 40 m
- Type
- Tactical
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Match
- Objectives
- Tactical: Pressing, Build-up play, Attacking transition
- Concepts worked on
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Goalkeeper
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Ball
- Cone
- Goal
The harder version of the three-zone match with protected build-up. The defending team still waits in the middle zone, but it no longer has to stand off: when a pressing trigger appears, up to two players may jump into the build-up zone while the rest of the team steps up behind them. The team in possession has to build up while avoiding those signals.
Objective
Recognise the pressing triggers and press together from a mid-block; with the ball, build up without giving the opponents a reason to press.
Organisation
- 60 × 40 m pitch with a goal and goalkeeper at each end: an 18 m build-up zone in front of each goal and a 24 m middle zone.
- Two teams of seven plus goalkeepers (6v6 or 8v8 depending on the group).
- Spare balls in both goals.
How it works
- Every attack starts from the goalkeeper. While the ball is in the build-up zone of the team in possession, the defending team waits in the middle zone.
- Pressing triggers: a pass back towards the goal, a poor first touch, or a player receiving with their back to play near the touchline. On a trigger, up to two defenders may enter the build-up zone and the rest step up to the edge of the middle zone.
- Once the ball leaves the build-up zone, everyone may press anywhere.
- A goal only counts if, when the shot is taken, no outfield player of the attacking team is in its own build-up zone.
- Winning the ball inside the opponents' build-up zone and scoring within 8 seconds counts double. A team that presses without a trigger concedes a free kick at the edge of the build-up zone.
- 3 × 8 minutes with 2 minutes of rest.
Coaching points
- Defending team: the nearest player decides the jump and shouts it; the second presser closes the easy pass and the rest step up together.
- Press with a curved run that cuts the pass to the other side.
- If the press is beaten, everyone drops back to the middle zone straight away.
- Team in possession: receive with an open body and play forward or wide to avoid the triggers.
- Goalkeeper: be an option after each back pass, with the first touch away from the presser.
Progressions
- Three defenders may jump on a trigger.
- Two-touch limit in the build-up zone.
Regressions
- Only one trigger: the pass back to the goalkeeper.
- Only one defender may jump into the build-up zone.
Variations
- The coach names the trigger for each set (back pass, receiver with their back to play, ball to the full-back) and only that one is allowed.
Key principles
- Press with a signal, not on impulse.
- One jumps, everyone steps up.
- Build up without giving triggers away.
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