Transition
Counter Attack Waves
Break at speed after regaining possession
Transition
Attacking
Finishing
Counter Attack Waves is a 20-minute transition drill for 9-18 players, suitable for Under 10 to Adults at intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, bibs, cones, full goals. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.
Back to drill libraryTransition
Attacking
Finishing
Skill Practice
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Duration
20 min
Players
9-18
Pitch size
Half pitch
Ability levels
Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Counter Attack Waves — Goalkeeping set-up — serve, save, reset · Half pitch
Step 1 of 3Coach plays a ball to a group who attack the goal at speed.
- 1. Coach plays a ball to a group who attack the goal at speed.
- 2. As soon as the attack ends, the next group starts immediately.
- 3. Add one defender per wave as the practice progresses.
- Cones mark the area
- Full goal
- GK = goalkeeper
- C = coach serving, S = second server
- Ball
- Cones mark the keeper's starting positions
- Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
- Keeper distributes back to the server
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Break at speed after regaining possession
- -Support the counter from deep
- -Finish the attack quickly
Setup
- 1Half pitch with a goal and keeper.
- 2Groups of three waiting on halfway.
- 3Coach with a ball supply beside the goal.
Coaching instructions
- 1Coach plays a ball to a group who attack the goal at speed.
- 2As soon as the attack ends, the next group starts immediately.
- 3Add one defender per wave as the practice progresses.
Coaching points
- -First pass forward if it is on
- -Carry the ball into space at pace
- -Support runs beyond the ball, not behind it
- -Finish first time where possible
Common mistakes
- -Too many touches slowing the break
- -Support arriving late
- -Overplaying near the box