Cover Shadow Rondo

Teach defenders to press with their body positioned in a passing lane, using the cover shadow so one player removes two options at once.

12x12 yard square, five attackers on the outside (one per side plus one floating), two defenders inside. Balls beside the square.

1. Attackers keep the ball with two touches. Defenders press in a pair.
2. Defenders score 2 points for an interception and 0 for a tackle. Attackers score 1 for every 8 consecutive passes.
3. The first defender presses on an angle that puts their body between the ball and the nearest attacker; the second defender screens the next pass.
4. Rotate defenders every 90 seconds or after two interceptions.
5. Play four rounds and keep the defender pair scores on a board.

• Approach on a curve so your shadow covers a passing lane.
• Second defender: read the first defender's shadow and cover the pass they can't.
• Show the ball carrier one pass, then jump it.
• Stay on your feet; a tackle earns nothing here.

• Defenders sprint straight at the ball and get played around every time; slow the last two steps and bend the run.
• The second defender chases the same pass as the first; the second defender's job is the next pass, not this one.
• Attackers use the floating player too little so the shadows are easy; tell the floater to keep moving to the open side.

• Attackers go to one touch.
• Add a third defender and grow the square to 15x15 for a 6v3.
• Defenders must intercept and then complete a pass to a coach outside the square.

• Attackers allowed three touches.
• Shrink the square to 10x10.
• Defenders press one at a time while the other watches.

• Tackles score zero; only interceptions count for the defenders.