Passing

Diamond Rotation Passing: Shadow Pressure

Pass and move with quality

Passing
Receiving
First Touch
Premium

Diamond Rotation Passing: Shadow Pressure is a 14-minute passing drill for 4-16 players, suitable for Under 8 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

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Passing
Receiving
First Touch
Technical Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Opposed
Under Pressure
Game Realistic

Duration

14 min

Players

4-16

Pitch size

15 x 15 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Pitch set-up: Diamond Rotation Passing: Shadow Pressure1215 x 15 yards

Diamond Rotation Passing: Shadow Pressure — Two lines working across the area · 15 x 15 yards

Step 1 of 5Pass around the diamond and follow your pass to the next cone.

  1. 1. Pass around the diamond and follow your pass to the next cone.
  2. 2. Change direction on the coach's call.
  3. 3. Add a second ball once the pattern is smooth.
  4. 4. A shadow defender applies half pressure and can win the ball only after the first touch.
  5. 5. Rotation: Join the back of each corner queue.
  • Ball
  • Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
  • Two facing lines — pass and follow
  • Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

  • -Pass and move with quality
  • -Open the body to receive
  • -Build a passing rhythm

Setup

  1. 1Four cones in a diamond, players at each corner.
  2. 2One or two balls in the pattern.
  3. 3Spare players join the back of each corner queue.

Coaching instructions

  1. 1Pass around the diamond and follow your pass to the next cone.
  2. 2Change direction on the coach's call.
  3. 3Add a second ball once the pattern is smooth.
  4. 4A shadow defender applies half pressure and can win the ball only after the first touch.

Coaching points

  • -Weight the pass to the receiver's back foot
  • -Open the hips before the ball arrives
  • -Communicate with a name and a call
  • -Take the touch away from pressure
  • -Protect the ball with the far foot and body

Common mistakes

  • -Passing across the body
  • -Standing still after the pass
  • -Under-hit passes into feet

Where this drill fits

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