Team Shape

Two-Touch Shape Walkthrough

Teach the team's defensive shape at walking pace

Team Shape
Defending
Pressing

Teach the team's defensive shape at walking pace. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.

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Team Shape
Defending
Pressing
Skill Practice
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Two Touch

Age

Under 11 to Adults

Duration

18 min

Players

8-18

Area / pitch size

50 x 36 yards

Difficulty

Intermediate / Advanced

Equipment

Balls, Cones, Bibs

Coaching focus

Teach the team's defensive shape at walking pace

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 50 x 36 yards area.
  2. 2Place a marker at every receiving position so players know where to set the ball before it arrives.
  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. 4Ball enters from the coach and the first receiver is on two touches from that moment.
  5. 5Count completed sequences under the touch limit — best of three 3-minute rounds.

Coaching points

  • -Ten to twelve yards between units
  • -Body shape open to ball and player
  • -Everybody moves when the ball moves
  • -First touch out of the feet and into the direction of the next pass

Progressions

  • +Drop the central players to one touch
  • +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

  • -Allow three touches while the picture is being learned
  • -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

  • -Two touches in your own half, free touches in the final third
  • -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

  • -Units drifting apart
  • -Players ball-watching and losing their reference
  • -Taking a settling touch that kills the tempo

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Overload Shape Walkthrough

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Tempo Shape Walkthrough

Teach the team's defensive shape at walking pace

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Age band
Under 11 to Adults
Players
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Kit
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Transition Shape Walkthrough

Teach the team's defensive shape at walking pace

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Age band
Under 11 to Adults
Players
8-18
Time
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Area
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Kit
Balls, Cones, Bibs
Focus
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Pressure Shape Walkthrough

Teach the team's defensive shape at walking pace

Intermediate / Advanced
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Age band
Under 11 to Adults
Players
8-18
Time
20 min
Area
52 x 38 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones, Bibs
Focus
Skill Practice
Team Shape
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Continuous Shape Walkthrough

Teach the team's defensive shape at walking pace

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