Team Shape
Compact Defensive Shape: Restart Realism
Hold a compact defensive block
Team Shape
Defending
Pressing
Compact Defensive Shape: Restart Realism is a 18-minute team shape drill for 8-20 players, suitable for Under 11 to Adults at 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 libraryTeam Shape
Defending
Pressing
Skill Practice
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Set Pieces
Game Realistic
Organisation
Duration
18 min
Players
8-20
Pitch size
Half pitch
Ability levels
Intermediate / Advanced
Objectives
- -Hold a compact defensive block
- -Shift together with the ball
- -Stay connected between the lines
Setup
- 1Defensive unit in shape across the half pitch.
- 2Six servers positioned around the outside.
- 3Cones marking the maximum width and depth of the block.
Coaching instructions
- 1Servers move the ball around the outside while the block shifts.
- 2On a pass inside, the nearest player presses and others cover.
- 3Two minute sets with feedback between.
- 4All restarts are played as in a match — throw-ins, goal kicks and corners rather than a coach ball.
Coaching points
- -Ball side compact, far side tucked in
- -Keep the lines within twelve yards
- -Move as the ball travels
- -Shape up quickly on every restart
- -Talk to organise before the ball is live
Common mistakes
- -Far side players staying wide
- -Lines splitting apart
- -Slow shifting