Defending
Back Four Shifting Unit: Target Zone Bonus
Shift as a connected back line
Defending
Team Shape
Pressing
Back Four Shifting Unit: Target Zone Bonus is a 18-minute defending drill for 6-18 players, suitable for Under 11 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.
Back to drill libraryDefending
Team Shape
Pressing
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Playing Through The Thirds
Positioning
Combination Play
Duration
18 min
Players
6-18
Pitch size
Half pitch
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Back Four Shifting Unit: Target Zone Bonus — Crossing and finishing — wide delivery into the box · Half pitch
Step 1 of 4Servers pass across the width and the back line shifts to stay compact.
- 1. Servers pass across the width and the back line shifts to stay compact.
- 2. On a forward pass the nearest defender presses and others cover.
- 3. Two minutes work, one minute talk-through.
- 4. Extra points for playing into marked pockets between the lines before finishing.
- Cones mark the area
- Full goal
- GK = goalkeeper
- Dashed lines = wide crossing channels
- Ball
- C = coach / server
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Shift as a connected back line
- -Hold and squeeze the line together
- -Cover behind the pressing full-back
Setup
- 1Back four across the pitch with cones marking shifting reference lines.
- 2Four servers spread across the width to move the ball.
- 3Keeper in goal behind the line.
Coaching instructions
- 1Servers pass across the width and the back line shifts to stay compact.
- 2On a forward pass the nearest defender presses and others cover.
- 3Two minutes work, one minute talk-through.
- 4Extra points for playing into marked pockets between the lines before finishing.
Coaching points
- -Move as the ball travels, not when it arrives
- -Keep the distances between defenders tight
- -Communicate the line: press, drop, squeeze
- -Find the pocket on the back foot of the defender
- -Support the receiver quickly on both sides
Common mistakes
- -Line breaking and stretching
- -Ball watching instead of shifting
- -No talk between defenders