Bait the Build-Up

Teach a front four to press a build-up with bait: leave the pass to one centre-back open deliberately, then use curved pressing angles so every following pass is forced towards the trap side and the touchline.

Goal and GK at the top of a 60x44 area. The build-up team is GK, two centre-backs, two fullbacks; they score by passing into either of two cone gates on the halfway line. Four pressers start in a diamond: striker, two wide pressers, one midfielder. Mark the left channel as the trap side with two corner cones.

1. Every rep starts with the GK; the build-up team plays out and scores through a halfway gate.
2. The striker's starting angle invites the pass to the trap-side centre-back — that pass is the bait, and the GK will keep taking it.
3. As the bait pass travels, the striker presses the receiving centre-back on a curve that blocks the pass back across goal.
4. Now the build-up's only options are down the trap side; the wide presser sprints the fullback, the midfielder cuts the lane infield.
5. Pressers score by winning possession inside the trap side; double if they finish on the big goal within 6 seconds. Play 10 reps, then rotate roles.

• Striker: start offset — your shadow decides which centre-back gets the ball.
• Press the receiver while the ball travels, arrive as the touch is taken.
• Curve every run so the ball can't come back inside you.
• The trap is sprung as a unit — if one presser is late, hold and re-set.

• The striker presses the GK straight on and the build-up just picks the free side — his job is angle first, pressure second.
• Pressers sprint flat at the ball and get slid past — every approach bends to show the receiver one way only.
• The midfielder presses the same player as the wide man and the infield lane opens — give him one job: nothing comes back through the middle.

• Add a holding midfielder to the build-up team (6v4) so the press must screen him too.
• Demand the win within 8 seconds of the bait pass.
• Let the GK go long to a target player — pressers learn to read and recover.

• Build-up team limited to two touches, giving the press more triggers.
• Walk through the bait, the curve and the spring at half pace first.
• Start the press only when the coach calls it.

• Pressing wins inside the trap side score double.
• The build-up team must attempt to play out — no clearances.