Soccer Drills - Counter Attack
Catch your opponents off guard
There is hardly any other moment in a game, where teams are more vulnerable than during a counter attack. Just after they lost the ball, players have to transition from an attacking to a defending mindset. And that's a big challenge. On the other hand, it is a huge scoring opportunity for your team if you can immediately play a fast counter attack shortly after gaining possession of the ball.
To help you fill your training schedule with creative and effective exercises, we have some drills and variations in our football database for you. Creative coaches can then use these templates to create their own exercises in our planet.training web software.
4 vs 2 with counter attack
Set Up:
For this exercise you will need one half of a regular pitch, where a “4 vs 2” will be played. 10 meter in front of the halfway line, set up a pole goal (Width of penalty area). Place enough balls behind both goals. Divide the group into teams of 4 and line up one goalkeeper between the posts. Two players of the defending team will wait as substitutes next to the goal.
Execution:
This exercise consists of a regular “4 vs 2” game, with both teams having the opportunity to score a goal. The attacking team (green) will start the game from the pole goal and will try to make use of the majority situation, through a quick passing game. The game will restart in front of the pole goal, with the attacking team maintaining ball possession after a goal or a missed shot. If the two defenders can intercept the ball from the attacking team, they will have the opportunity to score a counter attack goal by dribbling across the goalline of the pole goal. After two minutes the two waiting defenders will come into the game for the other two. Playing time: Two 4 minute games will be played with each team being the attacking team once.
Category: Soccer Training, Football Exercises, Counter Attack, Outnumbered, Youth, Juniors, Seniors
Switching play with shot on goal in a 2vs1
Set Up:
Use 4 cones to set up a field of approx. 40m x 40m. Set up a big goal at one of the base lines - You can set up the same exercise twice within one field (see additional drawing). Set up position cones 1-3: Cone 2 around the halfway line - Cone 3 approx. 5-10m behind the halfway line. At least two players each at position 1 & 2 and one attacking and one defending player at position 3 - One goalkeeper per goal. All balls to position 1
Execution:
Player 1 starts the switching play with a high cross pass to player 2. Player 2 controls the ball, starts a quick dribbling before passing it to player 3. Player 3 moves towards the ball after getting separation from the defender with a quick juke move. Player 2 now joins the attack, which creates a 2v1 situation. Player 3 now has the option to go for the shot on his own or pass the ball to player 2 to finish the drill with a goal. Rotation: 1->2->Defender->3->1->2-> etc.
Defending the Counter Attack - "1 vs 3" to "3 vs 3”
Set Up:
Set up 2 Defender's stations (Orange) approx. 30m in front of the goal. Set up 3 Offensive Player's stations (white) 5m in front. One Defender is positioning himself 15m in front of the goal. Players line up at the stations - place balls at the center white station.
Execution:
This exercise starts with the center attacking player passing the ball to either the left or right wing player. As the pass is played, the two defenders, lining up behind the offensive players, start running backwards to support the defensive player in the orange zone. The defender in the orange zone tries to slow down the approaching white team, to make use of the defensive recovery by the two running defenders. The approaching defenders, have to get into a good defensive position as quickly as possible - to prevent the white team from scoring.
1 vs 2 - Attack and Counter
Set Up:
Set up two goals with poles (width 3m) opposite of the big goal. Two defending zones (Size: 20m x 5m) are set up with each four cones. Distance between the zones is 5m. Determine two defenders and a goalkeeper, the other players line up behind a cone that is set up between the two pole goals. Each player at the cone should get a ball.
Execution:
The coach signals first player at the cone to start dribbling towards the two defenders waiting in their zone. Attacking player needs to dribble past both defenders, which are not allowed to leave their individual zones. If offensive player gets passed both defenders, he tries to score the goal against the goalkeeper. In case one of the defenders is able to intercept the ball, both defensive players will run a counter attack in a "2 on 1" against the previously attacking player.
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Register nowAfter the dribbling is before the score
Dribbling exercises do not make up for an entire soccer practice yet. Although it is one of the most important skills for a fast and modern football game, these skills should always be combined with other training topics. A dribbling can be a perfect start for a pass or a shot on goal. Football coaches can use their creativity. To give you some ideas and practice examples for your next training session, have a look at our other pages, that are filled with lots of soccer drills
