Small-Sided Games
Counter Four Goal Game
Encourage switching play towards the free goal
Small-Sided Games
Attacking
Possession
Counter Four Goal Game is a 20-minute small-sided games drill for 6-18 players, suitable for Under 9 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs, mini 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 librarySmall-Sided Games
Attacking
Possession
Small-Sided Game
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Counter Attack
Duration
20 min
Players
6-18
Pitch size
40 x 34 yards
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Counter Four Goal Game — 4v4 small-sided game · 40 x 34 yards
Step 1 of 5Teams can score in either of the two goals they attack.
- 1. Teams can score in either of the two goals they attack.
- 2. Play restarts from the coach the moment a ball goes out.
- 3. Rolling substitutions keep the game flowing.
- 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
- Mini goals at each end
- Ball
- Blue v dark — score in the opposite goal
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Encourage switching play towards the free goal
- -Create constant decision-making
- -Maximise touches and involvement
Setup
- 1A pitch with two mini goals to attack on each end line in a 40 x 34 yards area.
- 2Place two mini goals on the halfway line for the counter-attacking side to aim at.
- 3Balls with the coach, two sets of bibs.
Coaching instructions
- 1Teams can score in either of the two goals they attack.
- 2Play restarts from the coach the moment a ball goes out.
- 3Rolling substitutions keep the game flowing.
- 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
- -Attack the goal that is least protected
- -Switch quickly when one side is crowded
- -Defend both goals as a unit
- -Counter in a straight line — the first pass forward beats the recovery run
Common mistakes
- -All players following the ball
- -Ignoring the far goal
- -Dribbling into traffic when the counter is on
Where this drill fits
- More football small-sided games drills
- More football attacking drills
- More football possession drills
- football drills for U10s
- football drills for U12s
- football drills for U14s
- football drills for U16s
- Football session plans built around this theme