Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): U16 - Finishing The Attack (Counter Attacking)

Technical Activation 1 (5 mins)

Up, Back & Through

Players combine 1 touch, working on wall pass to set support underneath and punched passes through to the target players. Rotations from the side of the practice into the playing zone imitating arriving around the back of defenders on the blindside before moving the ball 1 touch and add a physical component to the practice.

Coaches should step into the practice to demonstrate when the pattern would be most effective and where the pressure would be. In this case towards the player nearest to the ball, opening the passing lane to the next line of attackers and affording the other attacker room to move off the shoulder and receive the set underneath.

Technical Activation 3 (5 mins)

In this third variation, the pressure is is jumping from a screening position onto the nearest midfielders back, so the 2 midfielders can offer angles of support towards the ball, on a  more lateral line and use the pass around the corner and sharp movement beyond the pressure to eliminate the defender with a 1-2 combination.

2v1 Attacking Waves (15 mins)

Players start in close proximity as if representing a 10 slipping the winger down the side of a CB on the counter-attack to exploit the space and finish the attack 2v1.

The practice will be continuous for 4 minutes, with players immediately joining queues on the other side of the game when their phase has finished. This practice is not blended and so the game dies as soon as the defender stops the attack or secures possession. This is to ensure high intensity and high repetition for the attackers.

Conditioned Game (25 mins)

Teams must play through the thirds to scorer and can't play backwards from the final third after entering. Focus on finishing with speed and direct intent when in the attacking areas of the pitch. Aggressive attacking play with high collective demands on taking chances and being ruthless. When a team scores a goal they earn an extra goal for every player they have in the final third.

For example if 4 players have entered the final third to finish the attack the team would score 5 points (1+4).