Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): Attacking Transition - Counter Attack with speed

10v8 ZONED TRANSITION GAME (20 mins)

Counter attacking game with 6 passes to score in final third. max 4v3 in this zone, but countering team should always look to have 1 man over.

The teams are set up as shown. The possession team, attacking top to bottom, features a goalkeeper, two centre-backs, three midfielders and a front line of three. The defending team sets up with two banks of four and a front two.

• The player in the middle zone, who is the deep midfielder for the possession team, cannot be pressed. The defending team are not allowed in this middle zone.

• The in-possession team starts with the ball with their player in the middle zone. They are attempting to score in one of the three target goals on the end line.

• If the defending team wins possession, they should attempt to find the 2v2 situation in the far zone to try and score. One of the players in the defensive third is allowed to join in this counter-attacking situation, while the player in the middle zone is allowed to recover to prevent the 2v2 situation occurring for too long.

Progressions

• Allow one defender to enter the central zone to pressure the ball-carrier. They are not allowed to tackle.
• Allow one of the two attackers on the defending team to drop into the middle zone to combine play when possible.
• Allow two of the defending team to counter-attack with the two attackers in the final third.

COACHING DETAIL:OUT OF POSSESSION - COMPACT BLOCK (defending team)

The defending team should create a compact block that is hard to play through.

Managing the distances in and between units is important in making it hard for the in-possession team, which will hopefully force an error.
As the ball moves, it is important that the defending team also moves. This way, they can ensure the distances in and between units remain compact, but not too close together to make it easy to play around.


COACHING DETAIL:OUT OF POSSESSION - COUNTER PRESS (attacking team)

The moment possession is lost we should counter press immediately with a nearest (the ball) and next (pass) philosophy to stop any forward action or transition moment.

COACHING DETAIL: ATTACKING TRANSITION 
Mobility

Once a transition has occurred, the team that wins possession should have their two attackers playing with opposite movements.

One should be an option to play behind, and the other an option to set for an up, back and through combination to the other striker.
FAST FORWARD RUNS

When the defending team has won the ball, they should have players running forward as quickly as possible. These players should be challenged to go from 0-100 as quickly as possible, both on and off the ball.
PASS DETAIL - Penetration

Coaches should encourage a high level of pass detail on counter-attack, and demand passes that allow forward players to run on to the ball without having to check their runs.

Players should be encouraged to think ‘forward first’ when passing the ball.