Shadow + Burst: Blind-Side Run
Off-Ball Movement
Legend
- players
- opponents or partner
- ball
- core action
How it works
Stay in a defender's blind spot while the ball circulates, then burst into space the moment a pass is triggered.
What you need
- cones
Your focus
Elite forwards manipulate defenders by staying in their blind spots and timing runs to perfection. This drill builds the awareness, patience, and explosive trigger needed to execute at match speed.
Player positions themselves just outside a cone's vision, 2 o'clock or 10 o'clock position.
Player shuffles to maintain blind-spot position as the cone turns (parent rotates it).
When parent calls 'now', player explodes into the space on the far side of the cone.
Do 8 reps, 4 from each side.
Track reaction time: under 0.5 seconds is the target.
Goal
You've got it when you burst into space within 0.5 seconds of the trigger and arrive in stride.
Helpful cues
- Stay patient, don't move early
- Blind spot is 2 steps behind the defender's shoulder
- Explosive first step, no wind-up
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Pre-signal the direction of the burst.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Add a ball, coach feeds into space as player bursts.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.