Build-up against a high press 8v6

Setup

1. Half pitch with a full-size goal. Three 6 m cone gates on halfway: one central, one in each channel.
2. Builders: GK, back four and three midfielders. Pressers: six, set up to copy the next opponent's press.
3. Spare balls in the goal. Every restart is a goal kick.

How it runs

1. Builders score by passing or dribbling through a gate; the central gate counts double.
2. Pressers score in the big goal and have 8 seconds to finish after a turnover.
3. 4 × 6 min, 2 min rest. Count goal kicks that reach a gate against turnovers in your own third.

Coaching points

• Centre-backs split to the edges of the box and full-backs push high and wide, so six pressers have to cover the full width.
• Find the spare player. Six can't mark seven and a keeper: if the ball side is locked, the far full-back is free.
• Midfielders drop off their marker as the pass is played, not before, and set first time for a third player facing forward.
• Receive on the back foot and play away from the presser's curved run. Never turn back into it.

Common mistakes

• Centre-backs pass square while the press shifts, so the trap closes on the far side.
• The pivot drops between the centre-backs and takes their marker out of the second line.
• Forcing a pass into a marked midfielder when going long is the safe option.