Attacking
Counter Final Third Entry
Break into the final third with purpose
Attacking
Passing
Finishing
Counter Final Third Entry is a 22-minute attacking drill for 8-18 players, suitable for Under 10 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs, 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 libraryAttacking
Passing
Finishing
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Counter Attack
Duration
22 min
Players
8-18
Pitch size
50 x 40 yards
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Counter Final Third Entry — Finishing set-up — serve, receive, shoot · 50 x 40 yards
Step 1 of 5The attacking team builds up in the first zone with limited defenders.
- 1. The attacking team builds up in the first zone with limited defenders.
- 2. Entry into the final third releases two supporting runners.
- 3. The attack must finish inside ten seconds of entry.
- 4. The team in possession starts each rep in their own half and must build forwards.
- 5. Turnovers earn a direct counter at the mini goals worth two points.
- Cones mark the area
- Full goal
- GK = goalkeeper
- S = server
- Ball
- Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
- Shooter becomes the next server
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Break into the final third with purpose
- -Combine between midfield and attack
- -Finish the attack with a shot on goal
Setup
- 1A pitch split into a build-up zone and a final third in a 50 x 40 yards area.
- 2Place two mini goals on the halfway line for the counter-attacking side to aim at.
- 3Balls with the build-up team, keeper in goal.
Coaching instructions
- 1The attacking team builds up in the first zone with limited defenders.
- 2Entry into the final third releases two supporting runners.
- 3The attack must finish inside ten seconds of entry.
- 4The team in possession starts each rep in their own half and must build forwards.
- 5Turnovers earn a direct counter at the mini goals worth two points.
Coaching points
- -Enter the final third with the head up
- -Runners go beyond, not around
- -Finish the attack quickly
- -Counter in a straight line — the first pass forward beats the recovery run
Common mistakes
- -Slow, sideways build-up
- -Entering with no support
- -Dribbling into traffic when the counter is on
Where this drill fits
- More football attacking drills
- More football passing drills
- More football finishing drills
- football drills for U10s
- football drills for U12s
- football drills for U14s
- football drills for U16s
- Football session plans built around this theme