Equipment Needed
- Open space (no ball needed)
Build out your practice kit
This shadowing drill needs nothing but two players, but a basic coaching-aid kit keeps the rest of practice moving.
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- Pair up players a few yards apart.
- One player is the mover, the other is the shadow (defender).
Instructions
- The mover jogs, cuts, and changes direction within a marked area.
- The shadow stays between the mover and an imaginary goal, mirroring every movement.
- Switch roles every 30-45 seconds.
- Add a coach call of 'freeze' to check that the shadow is in good defensive position.
Coaching Points
- Always stay goal-side - between the mover and the goal you're protecting.
- Small, quick steps rather than big lunges.
- Watch the mover's hips, not their feet or head, to read direction changes.
Variation
Add a ball to the mover's feet once the shadowing habit is solid.