Free Soccer Drills
Skill
16
Supporting The Counter | Skill Practice (16-P2)
Organisation / Set Up
Practice 2 of Theme 16 Supporting the counter, is an opposed practice with 3 teams of 3 in a 20 by 20 yard square, split into 4 quadrants. A 5 by 5 yard central area is set for 3 defenders before one defender presses a team of 3 who attempt to keep possession. One team must have 3 players positioned in each of the other squares awaiting the ball to be transferred after 10 passes.
Key Coaching Points
- (Tactical) Speed of support and of dispersal to create space
- (Technical) Touch and passing quality to keep possession when winning the ball.
- (Psychological) Speed of thought to transition between a defensive mentality to an attacking mentality and vice versa.
Key Coaching Point | 1
Receiving teams players must then move quickly to support their teammate in the square, whilst the previous passing team spreads out into 3 different squares, a defender will now press this new group of 3 passing players. If a defender intercepts, they must transfer through a teammate to an awaiting team, change roles as shown.
Progressions & Constraints 1
Progress, so that the team winning possession must disperse into zones and keep possession with longer passes, with the team losing possession becoming defenders.
Progressions & Constraints 2
Reduce the challenge, by conditioning the possession team to 2 touch, allowing defenders more chance of winning the ball by pressing early to regain..
Player Numbers | 1
This shows how the practice can be set up if 6 players are available.
Player Numbers | 2
This shows how the practice can be set up if 12 players are available.
Key Questions
- How can you create space for yourself and teammates?
- What effective decisions can you make when regaining possession?
- How are defenders pressing or delaying and how does this affect decisions on the transition?
