Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): Defending The Counter Attack

(PDP) Defending the Counter Attack from Midfield (25 mins)

Practice organisation

• Half pitch with 30yd wide channel, marked with cones, across centre

of pitch, 2 target areas & goal at one end, set-out as illustrated.

• 14 players (5 Defenders, 6 Attackers, 2 Target players & GK), 1 ball.

• Practice starts with: coach serves ball into GK who rolls ball out to D’s.

• D’s aim to build play to deliver ball from middle zone to either of the

2 T’s just beyond half way line.

• If successful: T initiates counter-attack by feeding ball immediately

into one of the MF players in central zone.

• D’s recover quickly to combat the counter-attack (i.e. 5D’s v 6A’s).

• If possession is lost, A’s attempt to score quickly as D’s recover from

their failed attack.

Detail

• Players assess on recovery runs:

- Precisely where they need to recover-to.

- How deep to recover.

- Linking-up position with team mates.

• Understanding which D needs to apply pressure on ball

(effective communication necessary).

• Supporting D’s determine positions based on ball & A’s in dangerous

areas that threaten the goal.

• Simple progressions for this practice are:

- During any time of build-up by D’s: coach feeds ball into A’s, who

swiftly counter-attack & D’s quickly react.

- T’s become supporting players from behind A’s midfield.

Key coaching points

• On losing the ball when playing out from GK or

if unable to apply effective early pressure: D’s funnel back

towards goal to quickly establish numbers in central areas.

• Players behind ball delay attack.

• Deny passes & runs with ball into goal-scoring areas.

• Deflect attack away from central areas.

• Once regrouped: D’s defend assertively, applying pressure on ball &

denying passing options.