Team Shape

Attacking Shape & Width

Hold width and depth in possession

Team Shape
Attacking
Possession
Premium

Attacking Shape & Width is a 22-minute team shape drill for 10-22 players, suitable for Under 12 to Adults at intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, bibs, cones, full goals. 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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Team Shape
Attacking
Possession
Match
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Team Tactics
Wide Play

Duration

22 min

Players

10-22

Pitch size

Two thirds pitch

Ability levels

Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Pitch set-up: Attacking Shape & Width123Two thirds pitch

Attacking Shape & Width — Marked area · Two thirds pitch

Step 1 of 4Game with a rule that a player must occupy each wide channel.

  1. 1. Game with a rule that a player must occupy each wide channel.
  2. 2. Goals count double when the ball comes through a wide channel.
  3. 3. Rotate the wide players every three minutes.
  4. 4. Rotation: Rotate the wide players every three minutes.
  • Cones mark the area
  • Dashed lines = zones / thirds
  • Ball
  • Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
  • Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

  • -Hold width and depth in possession
  • -Create space centrally by stretching the pitch
  • -Rotate positions without losing shape

Setup

  1. 1Two thirds of a pitch with full goals and keepers.
  2. 2Wide channels marked five yards in from each touchline.
  3. 3Teams in a shape that matches match day.

Coaching instructions

  1. 1Game with a rule that a player must occupy each wide channel.
  2. 2Goals count double when the ball comes through a wide channel.
  3. 3Rotate the wide players every three minutes.

Coaching points

  • -Wide players stay high and touchline wide
  • -Central players offer between the lines
  • -Switch the play when the far side is free
  • -Rotate only when the ball is safe

Common mistakes

  • -Wide players drifting inside and crowding the middle
  • -No depth so the pitch is short
  • -Ball stuck on one side

Where this drill fits

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