Coaching Corner: Counter Attacks
By Klaus Pabst, German staff coach, and Roy Morris, English youth coach  (Courtesy of Success in Soccer from the NSCAA Coaching Newsletter - August 18, 2004)

• Using cones, mark a 15 x 25-yard field.
• Players A (who has a ball), B and C stand at three of the cones.
• Player D stands in the center of the field.

Sequence

• Player A passes the ball to Player D, who passes it directly back to A.
• A passes the ball to B (who is moving to meet it) and moves to the center. D moves to B's position.
• B passes diagonally to C, then runs straight to the spare cone. C makes a square pass to B.
• B passes to A, who passes it directly back to B, and the exercise starts again in a different direction.

•  The objective is to get the ball forward quickly and under control with emphasis on delivery of the ball into the path of the player making the run.
• The outside player, who receives a diagonal pass, has to move forward quickly to show for the pass (emphasis on quick acceleration).
• Guidelines for inside players: Open body shape, so they can see all players/passing options. Show for long passes down the field. Use a body feint to get open.
• When passing to the player in the middle, players should imagine an opponent pressing for the ball and play the ball to the foot furthest away from the opponent, to assist the player receiving the ball.

• Setup is the same as Exercise 1.

Sequence

• Players execute the same counter-attack sequence as in Exercise 1, except now the player in the middle (D) can choose:
• either to drop the ball back to the passer,
• or to pass it directly to the outside player on the opposite side, shifting the area of play directly (instead of A passing to D, who then passes to B).
• If (A) receives the ball, (D) makes the rune, and vice versa.

• Since A can observe the game situation better, A's pass should tell the player in the middle whether to return the ball or shift the area of play directly.
• A hard pass means to shift the area of play, and a soft pass means to send the ball back.
• Players should recognize opportunities to make the run with appropriate timing and speed.
• The outside player's sprint creates a change of speed in the sequence.
• Work out the sequence in detail. The coach should correct, explain and demonstrate each situation.

• Players use a standard width field, but only 75 yards long.
• Using cones, mark out two 5 x 5-yard boxes where the two sidelines meet the centerline.
• A forward plays against a defender in front of the goal with goalkeeper.
• Three players stand in each box, in triangle formation. Each group has a ball.
  
  Sequence
• The players in the boxes pass the ball back and forth, one-touch.
• At the coach's signal (visual or audible), the players in one box start an attack on the goal, along with the forward.
• The players on the left and right boxes take turns attacking.

• Set running paths: Players should maintain their triangle formation while attacking.
• Set passing lanes as well.
• At the coach's signal, players should "explode" in different directions.
• The forward should stay constantly in motion, using changes of speed and body feints to get open.
• The forward should face diagonally with an open stance (not backwards) in order to get a better view of the situation (including the goal and all players).
• All players should adopt a positive attitude towards scoring and shoot as soon as an opportunity arises -all players should focus on accurate finishing.

2. Set up

• 1/2 Pitch to attack, 1/4 pitch to defend (this can be adjusted to suit the ability of the players involved).
• Two teams play 5 v. 5 on two goals with goalkeepers.
• Each team stands in its own half before play begins, except for one forward from each team, who faces off against a defender in the defender's half.

Sequence

• The coach starts play by throwing a ball into the center of the field, to one team.
• The attackers secure the ball in their own half first, while their opponents move up and 'press' them.
• The attackers try to start a counter-attack against their opponents, using their forward in the other half. If the attackers score, they start a new attack from their goalkeeper.
• If they lose the ball, their opponents immediately start a counter-attack on the other goal, using their own forward. After this attack the resting team replaces one of the other teams.

• Set running paths and passing lanes, as in the previous exercise.
• Whenever a team wins the ball, they should make space and spread the game out.
• In counter-attack situations, players should use one touch whenever possible to speed up play and quickly support the attack.

  Web Administrator    Ken Gamble