TeloframeTeloframe
Features
For CoachesFor ClubsPricingLibraryDrills
Sign inStart free
Teloframe

The Coach OS for football. Plan, run, observe, reflect, develop, one loop, one tool.

Product
Tactics boardDrill editorSession plannerMatch dayPlayer developmentClub workspaceAI assistantExport and sharingAll features
Explore
Tactics librarySession plansDrill libraryFormationsGuidesVideo tutorials
Use cases
Coaches and academiesContent creatorsSession planner softwareTactics board software
Company
PricingFAQContactOpen Teloframe
© 2026 Teloframe. Built for serious staff.PrivacyTermsSafeguardingSecurityDPASubprocessorsCookies All systems normal
TeloframeTeloframe
Features
For CoachesFor ClubsPricingLibraryDrills
Sign inStart free
/
/
/
Teloframe

The Coach OS for football. Plan, run, observe, reflect, develop, one loop, one tool.

Product
Tactics boardDrill editorSession plannerMatch dayPlayer developmentClub workspaceAI assistantExport and sharingAll features
Explore
Tactics librarySession plansDrill libraryFormationsGuidesVideo tutorials
Use cases
Coaches and academiesContent creatorsSession planner softwareTactics board software
Company
PricingFAQContactOpen Teloframe
© 2026 Teloframe. Built for serious staff.PrivacyTermsSafeguardingSecurityDPASubprocessorsCookies All systems normal
TeloframeTeloframe
Features
For CoachesFor ClubsPricingLibraryDrills
Sign inStart free
Home/Training Drills/Pressing Drills/Pressing the Build-Up
PressingAdvanced

Pressing the Build-Up

Press the build-up as a unit. Curve the runs to cut the lane back to the keeper, force the ball square, jump the next pass, and read the rushed ball to win it high.

Create your own drill
Live animationPRS
Duration
12 min
Total drill time
Players
6
Recommended
Pitch
52 × 40 m
Setup space
Level
Advanced
Skill required
Intensity
High
Physical demand
Age band
U13-U14
Any format

Setup & instructions

The away team builds from the keeper and two split centre-backs. The home front three press with curved runs that cut the lane back, forcing the ball square, then jump the next pass to intercept it high. Curve the run to take one option away, press together, and time the jump. Rotate the pressing three and the back three.

Setup time: 1 min

Tactical breakdown

Pressing a team that builds with its goalkeeper is an arithmetic problem before it is an intensity one. Three forwards against two centre-backs is a comfortable overload until the keeper joins in, at which point it is three against three and the pressing team is no longer favourite. Coaches who send the front three in harder are solving the wrong problem.

The answer is to remove a player without a tackle, and the tool is the curved run that sits on the passing lane back to the keeper. A presser whose body blocks that return has, in effect, deleted the keeper from the equation, and three against two is restored. That single detail is what separates a coordinated press from three players running.

Once the return is cut, the ball can only go square or long. Square is what the press wants, because a square pass between centre-backs travels slowly across the pitch and gives the second presser time to arrive with it. Long is an acceptable outcome too: it surrenders possession without conceding a chance, and the midfield should be stepping up to contest the second ball rather than watching it.

The common failure is impatience on the second press. Jumping the square pass too early means arriving before the ball and letting it go back to the keeper, which resets everything. Leaving as the ball is struck, not before, is what makes the interception available.

Run it with a real keeper who is allowed to be useful. A passive one makes the whole exercise misleadingly easy.

How to run this drill

  1. Set a genuine build-up with an active keeper. Keeper plus two centre-backs against a front three. A passive keeper turns three against three into three against two and makes the exercise misleadingly easy.
  2. Cut the lane back to the keeper first. The first presser curves his run so his body sits on the return pass. That removes a player from the equation without a tackle and restores the overload.
  3. Force the ball square. With the return cut, the only comfortable option is sideways. A square pass between centre-backs travels slowly, which is exactly what the next presser needs.
  4. Leave as the square pass is struck. Not before. Jumping early arrives ahead of the ball and lets it go back to the keeper, which resets the whole sequence and wastes the work.
  5. Accept the long ball as a win. A press that forces a hopeful long pass has succeeded. Surrendering possession without conceding a chance is a good outcome, not a failed press.
  6. Step the midfield up for the second ball. The line pushes forward as the long pass is struck so the knockdown is contested rather than watched. Most of these turnovers happen there, not high up.

Coaching focus

FROM SESSION PLAN

Coaching points

  • Curve the run to cut the lane back to the keeper
  • Press one option, take the other away with your angle
  • Force the ball square, then jump the next pass
  • Third presser reads the rushed ball and steps in
  • Press together: one out of sync breaks the trap

Common mistakes

  • Straight run that leaves the lane back open
  • Pressing alone, out of sync with the others
  • Not forcing the ball square before jumping
  • Late on the jump, letting the pass go clean

Progressions & regressions

VARIATIONS

Progressions

  • Add a full-back so they have another out-ball
  • Finish on goal after winning it high
  • Set a trigger: press only on the keeper's roll

Regressions

  • Back three play at a set pace to groove the angles
  • Walk the curved runs and the lanes first
  • Add a fourth presser for a bigger overload
Equipment
Cones×2
Tactical principles
pressing the build uppressing a back threefront three presscutting the passing laneplaying out from the backpressing drillhigh pressforcing the ball squareadvanced pressing drillu14 pressing drill
Audience
U13-U14

Make it yours

Save this drill to your private library, then tweak the animation, swap equipment, or drop it into a session.

Explore more drills

LIBRARY
All Pressing drillsAll drill collectionsPressing for U13-U14

Ready to run this drill?

Save it to your private drills, then change the animation, adjust positions, swap equipment, or drop it into a session block. Or start from a blank pitch and build your own.

Library Create your own drill
Teloframe

The Coach OS for football. Plan, run, observe, reflect, develop, one loop, one tool.

Product
Tactics boardDrill editorSession plannerMatch dayPlayer developmentClub workspaceAI assistantExport and sharingAll features
Explore
Tactics librarySession plansDrill libraryFormationsGuidesVideo tutorials
Use cases
Coaches and academiesContent creatorsSession planner softwareTactics board software
Company
PricingFAQContactOpen Teloframe
© 2026 Teloframe. Built for serious staff.PrivacyTermsSafeguardingSecurityDPASubprocessorsCookies All systems normal