Press High, Cash In

Win the ball in the opponent's half and a goal counts ten — so hunting the ball up high stops being brave and starts being obviously worth it.

Pressing high wins the ball close to their goal, where one pass is a chance — the scoring makes the payoff visible to the kids doing the work.

Ages 10–114 pressers v 5 builders plus a goal, subs every round21 min — 6 rounds of 3, 30 seconds betweenCones, pinnies in two colors, balls, one goal

Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive

Grab: Cones, pinnies in two colors, a supply of balls.
Build: Mark a half field, 50 by 37 yards, with the regular goal.
Place: Four pressers against five building out, with two target players for the builders to find. Spare players at the sideline.

One thing to remember: Press as a pack — one at the ball, the rest closing lanes — and score off the steal.

How it runs — the whole game in one sentence

The five try to build to their targets while the four press to win it back — any goal scored off a regain is worth ten points, any other goal one.

1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Set the half field, name the two target players, and make the scoring loud — ten for a regain goal, one for anything else.
Coach says
Steal it and score, that's TEN. Everything else is one. Go get the ball.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk one press — the closest player goes at the ball carrier, and the others shift to cut off the passing and dribbling lanes behind them.
Coach says
Closest player presses the ball. Everyone else — cover a lane. We hunt together or not at all.
3Play▾
Coach does
Run 3-minute rounds with 30 seconds between, subbing every round. At a break, ask the source's question — why win it close to THEIR goal? — and let the ten-point goals answer.
Coach says
Get in front of the ball, quick. Close the opening and keep it closed.
Look for: The second and third defenders shifting to cover lanes while the first presses — a pack, not a chase.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
Rotate who presses and who builds each sub, so everyone hunts and everyone plays out under pressure. Switch variants when the level is wrong.
Coach says
Swap jobs! Pressers, you're building now — see how it feels from the other side.

If it's not working

Too hard? Drop to 2v3 in a 20-by-30 field, pressing them backward toward an end zone. Too easy? 6v7 on the half field with a regular goal and two counter goals.

Want to go deeper? Optional — not needed to run the game.

Why are we doing this?

Ten-to-one scoring turns the press from a coach's instruction into the kids' own plan — winning the ball high is the shortest road to a goal, and now the scoreboard says so. Regains close to the opponent's goal skip the whole buildup.

What are they learning?

Press as a pack — one at the ball, the rest closing lanes — and score off the steal.

How can I change it?

Easier: 2v3s in two 20-by-30 fields, forcing the ball carrier backward.

Harder: 6v7 in the half field with a regular goal and two counter goals.

Next: Encourage the defenders every time they deny a forward pass — the source's own coaching point is that encouragement builds the confidence to press again.