Pressure Shape Walkthrough

Objective

• -Teach the team's defensive shape at walking pace
• -Set distances between units
• -Give every player a clear reference point

Setup

1. 1A full defensive block set out with cone reference points in a 48 x 34 yards area.
2. 2Position a recovering defender behind each working player, starting two yards back.
3. 3Balls with the coach, bibs for the shadow attackers.

How to play

1. 1Shadow attackers move the ball and the block shifts to match.
2. 2Coach freezes play to check distances and body angles.
3. 3Build from walking to jogging to match pace across the rounds.
4. 4The defender is released the moment the ball leaves the server's foot.
5. 5The working player scores by completing the action before pressure arrives; the defender scores by blocking it.

Progressions

• +Defender starts level rather than behind
• +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

• -Defender presses at jogging pace only
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Two defenders alternate so pressure is constant
• -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Units drifting apart
• -Players ball-watching and losing their reference
• -Facing your own goal and getting trapped by the press