Shadow Play Shape Work

Objectives

• -Rehearse the team's attacking shape
• -Understand individual roles in possession
• -Move the ball with the shape intact

How to set it up

1. 1Mark out the working area at Full or three-quarter pitch. Put a cone on each corner so the boundary is obvious to the players.
2. 2Mark the shape's key positions with cones on the pitch.
3. 3Team lines up in the chosen formation.
4. 4Mannequins or poles as passive opponents.
5. 5Kit for this practice: Balls, Cones, Bibs. Keep a supply of spare balls beside the coach so a lost ball never stops the practice.
6. 6Split 8-20 players into two or three even groups. Run two stations side by side if you have the space, so lines never grow beyond four players.
7. 7Set the area up before the players arrive, then walk them through the shape once at a jog before the first live repetition.

How to run it, step by step

1. 1Get the players into position and walk the first repetition through slowly so everybody knows where they start and where they go.
2. 2Team moves the ball through the thirds unopposed following set patterns.
3. 3Coach freezes play to check positions.
4. 4Build up to walk, jog then match pace.
5. 5After their action each player follows their pass and joins the back of the next line, so everybody rotates through every position in the practice.
6. 6The repetition ends when the ball reaches the final target or leaves the area. The next player starts straight away.
7. 7Freeze the practice once or twice per round, make one coaching point to the whole group, then restart immediately.

What each player does

Working player

Takes the repetition: receives, executes the team shape action and finishes the sequence at match pace.

Server

Delivers a consistent, firm ball on the coach's call, then collects a spare ball ready for the next repetition.

Waiting players

Stand behind the start cone with a ball ready, watch the repetition in front of them and step in the moment it finishes.

Coach

Stands where the whole picture is visible, serves or calls the start, and makes one clear point per freeze.

Timings and organisation

• -Run 5 rounds of roughly 4 minutes inside the 18 minute slot.
• -Give 45-60 seconds of rest between rounds so the quality of the work stays high, and use that gap for your coaching point.
• -Rotate roles at the end of every round so each player works, serves and defends across the practice.
• -If the practice is too easy, move to a progression rather than adding more repetitions. If players are struggling, drop to a regression for one round and then build back up.

Common mistakes

• -Drifting out of position
• -Players in the same line
• -Ball speed too slow
• -Standing still and watching instead of moving into the next position