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Possession

Counter Four Zone Keep Ball

Keep possession while moving the ball between zones

Possession
Team Shape
Passing

Counter Four Zone Keep Ball is a 20-minute possession drill for 8-18 players, suitable for Under 10 to Adults at intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs. 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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Possession
Team Shape
Passing
Skill Practice
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Counter Attack

Duration

20 min

Players

8-18

Pitch size

38 x 34 yards

Ability levels

Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Pitch set-up: Counter Four Zone Keep Ball123438 x 34 yards

Counter Four Zone Keep Ball — Four-corner square · 38 x 34 yards

Step 1 of 5The team in possession must complete three passes before changing zone.

  1. 1. The team in possession must complete three passes before changing zone.
  2. 2. A zone change scores one point.
  3. 3. Defenders press with limited numbers per zone.
  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
  • Dashed lines = zones / thirds
  • Ball
  • Cones mark each station in the shape
  • Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

  • -Keep possession while moving the ball between zones
  • -Create numerical advantages in each zone
  • -Coach when to keep and when to progress

Setup

  1. 1A square split into four equal zones in a 38 x 34 yards area.
  2. 2Place two mini goals on the halfway line for the counter-attacking side to aim at.
  3. 3Balls with the coach, two sets of bibs.

Coaching instructions

  1. 1The team in possession must complete three passes before changing zone.
  2. 2A zone change scores one point.
  3. 3Defenders press with limited numbers per zone.
  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

  • -Move the ball to move the defence
  • -Occupy all four zones
  • -Change zone when the press arrives
  • -Counter in a straight line — the first pass forward beats the recovery run

Common mistakes

  • -Everybody in the ball zone
  • -Forcing the zone change too early
  • -Dribbling into traffic when the counter is on

Where this drill fits

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