Goal Kick Hunt

Teach a front six how to press a short goal kick: the striker's curved run, the wingers' jumps to the fullbacks, and the midfield stepping in behind to close the middle.

Full goal, keeper, and a build-up team of back four plus two center mids (6+GK). Pressing team of striker, two wingers, and three midfielders. Halfway line marked with cones, plus two 5-yard counter gates on the halfway line for the pressing team.

1. Keeper starts every rep with a short goal kick to a center back.
2. The striker presses the center back on a curve that shuts off the pass to the other center back.
3. Wingers hold until the ball moves toward a fullback, then jump. The far winger tucks in to cover the center mids.
4. Midfield three step up 10 yards to close the passes into the middle, so the only option is backwards or wide.
5. Pressing team scores by winning the ball and dribbling through a counter gate within 6 seconds. Build-up team scores by passing through the halfway line with control. Six reps then switch roles.

• Striker: curve the run to cut the field in half.
• Wingers: jump when the ball travels, not when it arrives.
• Midfield: step in behind the press, don't wait on halfway.
• Win the ball, then attack immediately: the defenders are out of position.

• The striker sprints straight at the center back and the pass across the goal is open; the run must curve to block that pass first.
• Wingers jump too early and the fullback plays inside behind them; the trigger is the ball moving wide, not the possibility.
• The midfield holds a flat line on halfway and the center mids receive between the lines; midfielders step up as the wingers jump.

• Build-up team adds a third center mid to make it 7v6.
• Allow the keeper to go long if the press is beaten twice in a row.
• Pressing team must win it inside 10 seconds or the rep resets.

• Build-up team is limited to two touches.
• Start with the keeper already having passed to the center back.
• Remove the counter gates and score for the win alone.

• Build-up team may not play long from the goal kick; the first pass must be inside the box.
• Pressing team may not cross halfway until the goal kick is taken.