Drill category

Football team shape drills

Team-shape drills help older groups understand distances, cover and moving as a unit in and out of possession.

What to coach

Stay connected as a unit
Shift together, not individually
Recognise the trigger to drop

Filter the team shape drills Football session plans

All 112 football team shape drills

Every drill below has its own page with the full setup, coaching points, progressions and a pitch diagram.

Possession 4v4+3 — possession drill, 20 min, Under 8 to Adults
2v2 Defending Units — defending drill, 18 min, Under 5 to Adults
Pressing Triggers — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Playing Out From The Back — playing out from the back drill, 25 min, Under 10 to Adults
Team Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Switch The Play Practice — possession drill, 20 min, Under 8 to Adults
Rebound Board Clearance & Recovery — defending drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
Back Four Shifting Shape — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
Front Three Pressing Traps — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
Attacking Shape & Width — team shape drill, 22 min, Under 12 to Adults
Defending Corners As A Unit — set pieces drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
6v6 Thirds Conditioned Game — small-sided games drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
Long And Short Switching — passing drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
Back Four Shifting Unit — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Defending A Low Block — defending drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
Cover And Balance Triangle — defending drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Mid Block Pressing Shape — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
Positional Possession Grid — possession drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Four Corner Possession — possession drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
Half-Space Attacking Patterns — attacking drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
Split And Drive Out — playing out from the back drill, 16 min, Under 11 to Adults
Rest Defence Organisation — transition drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Shadow Play Shape Work — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Compact Defensive Shape — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Line Breaking Shape Game — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
Formation Switch Practice — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Directional Possession Match — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Defending Recovery Runs — defending drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Overload Switch Play Grid — passing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Underload Switch Play Grid — passing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Two-Touch Switch Play Grid — passing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Tempo Switch Play Grid — passing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Transition Switch Play Grid — passing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Pressure Switch Play Grid — passing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Continuous Switch Play Grid — passing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Rotation Switch Play Grid — passing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Combination Switch Play Grid — passing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Wide Channel Switch Play Grid — passing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter Switch Play Grid — passing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Finishing Switch Play Grid — passing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Overload Back Four Slide — defending drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Underload Back Four Slide — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Two-Touch Back Four Slide — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Tempo Back Four Slide — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Transition Back Four Slide — defending drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Pressure Back Four Slide — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Continuous Back Four Slide — defending drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Rotation Back Four Slide — defending drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Combination Back Four Slide — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Wide Channel Back Four Slide — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Counter Back Four Slide — defending drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Finishing Back Four Slide — defending drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Overload Four Zone Keep Ball — possession drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Underload Four Zone Keep Ball — possession drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Two-Touch Four Zone Keep Ball — possession drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Tempo Four Zone Keep Ball — possession drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Transition Four Zone Keep Ball — possession drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Pressure Four Zone Keep Ball — possession drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Continuous Four Zone Keep Ball — possession drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Rotation Four Zone Keep Ball — possession drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Combination Four Zone Keep Ball — possession drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Wide Channel Four Zone Keep Ball — possession drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter Four Zone Keep Ball — possession drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Finishing Four Zone Keep Ball — possession drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Overload Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Underload Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
Two-Touch Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
Tempo Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
Transition Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Pressure Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
Continuous Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Rotation Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Combination Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
Wide Channel Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
Counter Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Finishing Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Overload Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Underload Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Two-Touch Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Tempo Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Transition Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Pressure Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Continuous Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Rotation Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Combination Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Wide Channel Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Counter Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Finishing Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Overload Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Underload Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Two-Touch Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Tempo Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Transition Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Pressure Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Continuous Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Rotation Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Combination Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Wide Channel Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Counter Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Finishing Shape Walkthrough — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Overload Numbers Up Shape Game — team shape drill, 22 min, Under 11 to Adults
Underload Numbers Up Shape Game — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Two-Touch Numbers Up Shape Game — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Tempo Numbers Up Shape Game — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Transition Numbers Up Shape Game — team shape drill, 22 min, Under 11 to Adults
Pressure Numbers Up Shape Game — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Continuous Numbers Up Shape Game — team shape drill, 22 min, Under 11 to Adults
Rotation Numbers Up Shape Game — team shape drill, 22 min, Under 11 to Adults
Combination Numbers Up Shape Game — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Wide Channel Numbers Up Shape Game — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Counter Numbers Up Shape Game — team shape drill, 22 min, Under 11 to Adults
Finishing Numbers Up Shape Game — team shape drill, 22 min, Under 11 to Adults

Drills by age group

Team Shape drill questions coaches ask

How many football team shape drills are there on Football Coach Hub?

There are 112 football team shape drills in the library, each with a setup, coaching points, common mistakes, a progression and a regression so you can run it with mixed abilities.

What equipment do I need for team shape drills?

Most drills need only a ball per player, cones and bibs. You can filter the drill library by the kit you actually have, including mini goals, full goals, poles, ladders and rebound boards.

How long should a team shape practice last?

Ten to fifteen minutes on one technical practice is usually enough before players need a change of picture. Follow it with the same theme inside a small-sided game.