The wing trap

Why it works

The touchline cuts the pitch in half for the player on the ball. With the pass back and the pass inside both blocked, the only way out is down the line, and that is where our full-back is waiting.

What players do

• Winger: let the pass go wide, then press from the inside, curving your run to block the pass back.
• Midfielder: slide across to block the pass inside.
• Full-back: step up tight to their winger, ready to win the ball down the line.
• Everyone else shifts across. The far side is open, and that is fine for a few seconds.
• Go together when the pass is played, not one at a time.

Common mistakes

• Pressing before the ball arrives, so they simply do not pass wide.
• One player presses and the others watch.
• The winger presses from the outside, which shows them inside.

With young players

From 9v9. Before that, teach "show them the line" in one against one defending: it is the same body shape.

Drawn on a 105 × 68 m pitch, showing the part where it happens. Orange attacks left to right and the other team is in blue; numbers are the usual shirt numbers for each position.

Put it into your own team's plan in the team builder, and see what it asks of each player.

Next: Defend the half-space