APL – Mantras & Shapes

All players should know and understand our core mantras:

• Control, Look, Pass & Move: This is our core mantra to aid our players/ teams to retain possession
• Shape: Refer to our positional graphics
• Press: Our first out of possession mantra to win the ball back as quickly as possible
• Sweeper Keeper: Allow our goalkeeper to be involved in our possessions, utilising all players on the pitch
• Eiffel Tower: Help the players understand their defensive positioning racing back after a defensive transition
• Rocket: To help the players understand patterns of play to get up the pitch quickly after an attacking transition.

Under 8’s Mantras:

• Open Body Shape: To receive in the pocket and to be able to play forward
• Width: Positioning to utilise the whole pitch
• 1×2 Combination: A technical mantra to receive behind your marker

Make sure to set each team up correctly, following the coaching methodologies we have:

Starting shape – This helps the players to understand their starting positions

Defensive shape (Eiffel Tower) – Helps the players to understand their defensive positioning to race back after a defensive transition

Attacking shape (Rocket) – Helps the players to understand how to move up the pitch after an attacking transition.

Materials and Assets:

https://www.s4kleagues.co.uk/

S4K Football Charter

S4K University:

S4K Football Academy U7 & U8s