Counter Target Player Possession

Objective

• -Keep the ball with a forward purpose
• -Play into a target player under pressure
• -Support the target quickly after the pass

Setup

1. 1A pitch with a target player in an end zone at each end in a 40 x 32 yards area.
2. 2Place two mini goals on the halfway line for the counter-attacking side to aim at.
3. 3Balls with the target players, two sets of bibs.

How to play

1. 1Teams keep the ball and score by finding their target player.
2. 2The target sets the ball back and the team must keep it.
3. 3Targets rotate with outfield players every three minutes.
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.

Progressions

• +Counter must be finished inside five seconds
• +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

• -Award the counter goal for simply carrying over halfway
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Swap the counter goals for a dribble-through gate
• -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Hitting the target with no support
• -Only passing sideways and backwards
• -Dribbling into traffic when the counter is on