Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Counter-attacks: Regains in the final third

2v1 into 3v2 wave game15 mins

Topic

• Winning the ball high

Principle

• Pressing to regain in the final third

Time

• 4 x 3-minute blocks

Players

• 14, including 10 outfield players and 4 goalkeepers

Space/equipment

• Two pitches of 20m x 20m/Balls, 2 mannequins, flat markers and 2 goals

Description

• This is a 2v1 into 3v2 wave game, plus goalkeepers, played on a pitch split in half. A minimum of 14 players can be split across two identical pitches.
• Play starts with one team receiving the ball from their goalkeeper. They attempt to score from a 2v1 situation, but they must progress beyond the halfway line – denoted by two mannequins and/or flat markers, before shooting.
• If the single opposition defender wins possession, they should try and score in the possession team's goal as quickly as possible.
• At the end of the initial attack, a ball is served into the second team, for whom two players located outside the pitch on halfway join the action to create a 3v2 counter-attacking situation.
• Once that 3v2 situation has finished, the practice restarts with the original 2v1 situation.
• The initially defending team should rotate which player starts as the single defender and which two join from the side.
• The coach can introduce a time limit on attacks to improve the speed of transitions.

Coaching points

• Pass detail: Coaches should encourage a high level of detail in the players’ passing. Passes should allow forward players to run on to the ball without having to check their runs. The weight, accuracy and timing of pass should all be considered.
• Fast forward runs: Once a transition has occurred, the team that wins possession should have players running forward as quickly as possible. Players should be challenged to accelerate as quickly as possible, both on and off the ball.
• Using an overload to attack: Teams should be encouraged to use the spare player when attacking, either as a passing option or a decoy. Players can shape like they are attempting to combine and then move the ball to beat their opponent, or drive at their opponent to commit before playing a slide pass to a teammate.
• Defending underloaded: The out-of-possession team should attempt to direct the attacking team into wide areas. Once this has happened, they should attempt to cut off passing lines to the spare player in order to make the 2v1 or 3v2 situation into a 1v1 or 2v2 situation.

5v5 transition game20 mins

Topic

• Winning the ball high

Principle

• Pressing to regain in the final third

Time

• 3 x 5-minute blocks

Players

• 12, including 10 outfield players and 2 goalkeepers

Space/equipment

• 40m x 30m/Balls, bibs, flat markers and 2 goals

Description

• This is a directional 5v5 (plus goalkeepers) transition game. The pitch is split into two halves.
• The attacking team attempts to make 10 passes before being able to play out of their own half and have an attempt at the opposition goal.
• If the attacking team loses possession, the defending team should attempt to counter-attack as quickly as possible to score. They do not have to make any set number of passes before scoring in the goal in the half in which they won the ball.
• If a goal is scored, the team that conceded restarts the game and becomes the team trying to make 10 passes. If the ball goes out of play, the team attempting to make 10 passes restarts the game.

Progressions

• Progress to award a team two points if they are able to score within six seconds of winning possession.
• Reduce the number of passes a team has to make before playing out of their half. This should make the defending team press more aggressively.

Coaching points

• Setting traps: The out-of-possession team should attempt to set traps for their opponents to play into, that allow them to win the ball. They should coax the opponents into playing passes into areas where they can intercept the ball. Players’ body positions and being on the front foot will allow them to intercept the ball successfully.
• Fast forward runs: Once a transition has occurred, the team that wins possession should have players running forward as quickly as possible. The players should be challenged to accelerate both on and off the ball.
• Pass detail: Passes should 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, and the weight on the final pass should enable first-time finishes.
• Counter-pressing: If a team loses possession in their own half, they should be encouraged to counter-press. This will mean that immediate pressure is applied to the team attempting to counter-attack.