The shoulder challenge is a fair charge: side-to-side contact, shoulder and upper arm against your opponent's, while you both go for a ball that is close enough to play. The Laws allow it only when the ball is within playing distance and it isn't careless, reckless or using excessive force. Pushing, holding or leading with an arm or elbow is a foul.
Set up
Only challenge when the ball is within playing distance: close enough that either of you could touch it by stretching out a leg. If it isn't, contact is a foul, not a charge.
Ball first, then body.
Get alongside your opponent, side to side, so your shoulder lines up with theirs. You must be going for the ball, not just going for them.
Side by side.
Bend your knees and keep your feet apart (at least about a foot) so your centre of gravity is as low as you can hold it.
Low and set.
Keep your elbow in against your side and your upper arm close to your body on the contact side.
Elbow pinned in.
Challenge
Make contact shoulder and upper arm to their shoulder, side to side. Aim for the shoulder area, never the middle of their back.
Shoulder on shoulder.
Hold your position through your hips and legs instead of dipping or dropping your shoulder into them. A dipped shoulder turns a fair charge into a barge.
Hips do the work.
Keep at least one foot on the ground. Don't jump or lunge into the contact.
Grounded.
Keep your eyes on the ball and, as you win the space, get your hips between your opponent and the ball.
Hips across, eyes on the ball.
Play it safe and fair
Use only the force the duel needs. A careless charge gives a direct free kick, a reckless one is a yellow card, and excessive force is a red card.
Strong, not wild.
Your arms are for balance only. Pushing off, holding, or using your arm or elbow against an opponent is a foul, and striking with an elbow can be a red card.
Hands off.
If your opponent is much taller or shorter, a true shoulder-to-shoulder contact may not be possible. Make your best effort at the shoulder area and back off the force rather than hitting high or low.
Match the contact to the player.
Feel it
A good shoulder challenge feels like leaning on a wall that's moving: low through the legs, elbow tight to your side, shoulder against shoulder, eyes on the ball. You hold your ground with your hips and feet, not by throwing your shoulder. The moment your arm comes out or the ball drifts out of reach, it stops being a fair charge.
Fix-its
- Elbow or arm out Pin the elbow against your side before contact. Arms are for balance only; pushing or holding is a foul.
- Dipping or dropping the shoulder into them Stay level and let your bent knees and hips hold the position. Dipping the shoulder makes it a barge.
- Charging when the ball is out of reach Check the ball first. If neither of you could touch it by stretching a leg, don't make contact; keep jockeying.
- Charging into their back Get alongside first so you meet shoulder to shoulder, side to side. A charge into the middle of the back is at least reckless.
- Getting knocked off balance Bend your knees, widen your feet and drop your centre of gravity before contact. Don't lunge in with the shoulder.
Drill
- Walk-through in pairs: ball between you, walk side by side and lean in shoulder to shoulder with elbows in and knees bent. Build to a jog only when both players stay low and keep their arms in.
- The Chase: two lines facing the coach. The coach plays a firm ball down the middle and the front pair race for it, competing shoulder to shoulder once it is within reach. Progress: the winner dribbles at a small goal about 40 feet away while the other tries to win it back.
- Penned In: 3–4 players in a small square. The coach passes in from a corner; keep the ball inside the square for five seconds to score a point. If there isn't enough shoulder contact, make the square smaller.
- Add it to 1v1 shielding battles: the defender may only use a fair charge (ball in reach, shoulder to shoulder, arms in) to win the ball. Stop the rep for any push, hold or elbow.
Sources
- IFAB — Laws of the Game, Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct, incl. Q&A (latest edition)
- IFAB — Laws of the Game, Glossary: Football terms (charge, playing distance, holding offence)
- US Youth Soccer — Skills School Manual (2017): curriculum p. 5, shielding p. 19, block tackle pp. 47–48
- Coaches Insider / Amplified Soccer — How to promote strength in shoulder-to-shoulder duels (2019)
- Ask A Soccer Referee — Parameters of the fair shoulder charge (USSF answer, 2010)
- Ask A Soccer Referee — A proper shoulder charge (USSF answer, 2011)
Last checked 2026-10-30.