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Counter Rotating Diamond

Build clean passing angles in a rotating shape

Passing
Receiving
Possession

Counter Rotating Diamond is a 16-minute passing drill for 4-16 players, suitable for Under 9 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

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Passing
Receiving
Possession
Technical Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Counter Attack

Duration

16 min

Players

4-16

Pitch size

26 x 26 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Pitch set-up: Counter Rotating Diamond123426 x 26 yards

Counter Rotating Diamond — Passing diamond · 26 x 26 yards

Step 1 of 5Ball travels round the diamond with players following their pass.

  1. 1. Ball travels round the diamond with players following their pass.
  2. 2. Every fourth pass is played across the diamond to switch the pattern.
  3. 3. Change direction on the coach's call.
  4. 4. The team in possession starts each rep in their own half and must build forwards.
  5. 5. Turnovers earn a direct counter at the mini goals worth two points.
  • Cones mark the area
  • Ball
  • Cones mark each station in the shape
  • Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

  • -Build clean passing angles in a rotating shape
  • -Link the pass to the movement that follows it
  • -Improve weight and accuracy of the ball

Setup

  1. 1Four cones in a diamond with a player on each in a 26 x 26 yards area.
  2. 2Place two mini goals on the halfway line for the counter-attacking side to aim at.
  3. 3One ball to start, spares beside the coach.

Coaching instructions

  1. 1Ball travels round the diamond with players following their pass.
  2. 2Every fourth pass is played across the diamond to switch the pattern.
  3. 3Change direction on the coach's call.
  4. 4The team in possession starts each rep in their own half and must build forwards.
  5. 5Turnovers earn a direct counter at the mini goals worth two points.

Coaching points

  • -Open the body before the ball arrives
  • -Pass to the back foot
  • -Follow the pass at pace
  • -Counter in a straight line — the first pass forward beats the recovery run

Common mistakes

  • -Standing still after passing
  • -Passing into the wrong foot
  • -Dribbling into traffic when the counter is on

Where this drill fits

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