Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): U17 Academy Session - Counter Attacking

1v1s (15 mins)

Organisation

• Mark out a 30m x 30m exercise area.
• Position a full-size goal at 1 end of the exercise area.
• Place a goalkeeper in the goal.
• Split the group into 2 teams of 5 (reds and blues).
• Position a cone a few metres inside the penalty area and on either side of the goalposts.
• Place 3 blue players at the right-hand cone and 3 red players at the left-hand cone.
• Lay a second pair of cones (marked 1 and 2 in the graphic above) just beyond the playing area, towards the halfway line, and in line with the points where the penalty arc intersects with the penalty area.
• Place 2 blue players at cone 1 and 2 red players at cone 2.

• The exercise starts with the players positioned at the cones marked 1 and 2 in possession.

• The first orange player at cone 2 plays a diagonal pass to the first orange player at the left-hand cone nearest to the goal, who drops to receive the ball before shooting on goal unopposed.

• The orange player who shot on goal takes up a position on the edge of the penalty area in readiness to defend against the blue player at the right-hand cone nearest to the goal, who receives a diagonal pass played by the blue player at cone 1 and tries to beat the orange defender before shooting on goal.

• The sequence continues in this way with opposed scenarios, with the players at cones 1 and 2 taking it in turns to play the ball into their team-mates.

• Players should be aware of the pressure from the defender to best orientate their first-touch. In this instance with the defender not tight, rather than receiving the ball on the safe side with their back to goal, the receiving player could take a positive first-touch, using their front foot, to then engage with the defender.
• Good practice: the receiving player, aware of the deep position of the defender, receives the ball on the front foot and can immediately drive at and take on the defender.
  
• When receiving under pressure, players should look to orientate their first-touch away from the oncoming defender to attack the space. Timing their movement to receive the ball on the move can help the attacker gain momentum and a positional advantage over the defender.
  

Counter Attacking SSG

Primary Focus

Counter Attacking

Create The Attack

Variety of Finishes

Organisation

5v5 + 5

Area Size

Half Pitch with a middle zone or half way line in which a 1v1 must be left in there when teams are on the attack

Timings

3 mins x 4 games - Each team takes a turn of being the outside players.

In the final game, play winner stays on.

Conditions

Vary Conditions for each game:

1. If goal is scored on one touch inside the box it is worth 2

2. If goal is scored outside the box it's worth 2

3. I f goal is scored from a cross - 2 points

4. Each team starts with (eg. 5 points) If Team concede a goal then they lose a point. First team to lose all their points loses the game.