Counter Turnover Game

Objective

• -React quickly to winning and losing the ball
• -Attack fast in the seconds after a turnover
• -Get organised fast when possession is lost

Setup

1. 1A pitch with mini goals at both ends and a coach ball supply on the side in a 42 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.

How to play

1. 1Play a normal game with the coach serving new balls at random.
2. 2Every turnover starts a five-second attacking window.
3. 3Goals in the window count double.
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

• -Slow reaction to the turnover
• -Everybody attacking with no cover
• -Dribbling into traffic when the counter is on