Counter Long Range Zone

Objective

• -Strike cleanly from outside the area
• -Judge when the long shot is on
• -Improve technique on the driven ball

Setup

1. 1A shooting zone marked 22-28 yards from goal in a 41 x 36 yards area.
2. 2Place two mini goals on the halfway line for the counter-attacking side to aim at.
3. 3Plenty of balls at the edge of the zone, keeper in goal.

How to play

1. 1Player receives on the edge of the zone and takes one touch out of the feet.
2. 2The strike must be hit before leaving the zone.
3. 3Rebounds are live for a follow-up finish.
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

• -Shooting from impossible angles
• -Ball bouncing before the strike
• -Dribbling into traffic when the counter is on