Small-Sided Games
Counter Four Goal Game
Encourage switching play towards the free goal
Small-Sided Games
Attacking
Possession
Encourage switching play towards the free goal. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.
Back to drill librarySmall-Sided Games
Attacking
Possession
Small-Sided Game
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Counter Attack
Age
Under 9 to Adults
Duration
20 min
Players
6-18
Area / pitch size
40 x 34 yards
Difficulty
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Equipment
Balls, Cones, Bibs, Mini Goals
Coaching focus
Encourage switching play towards the free goal
Objective
- -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.
How to play
- 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
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
- -All players following the ball
- -Ignoring the far goal
- -Dribbling into traffic when the counter is on
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Encourage switching play towards the free goal
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Encourage switching play towards the free goal
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Encourage switching play towards the free goal
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Tempo Four Goal Game
Encourage switching play towards the free goal
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Small-Sided GamesAttackingPossession
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 6-18
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 40 x 34 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
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Transition Four Goal Game
Encourage switching play towards the free goal
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Small-Sided GamesAttackingPossession
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 6-18
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- 32 x 26 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Small-Sided Game
Small-Sided Games
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Pressure Four Goal Game
Encourage switching play towards the free goal
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Small-Sided GamesAttackingPossession