Transition
Counter Wave Attack Transition
Defend repeated waves of attack
Transition
Attacking
Defending
Defend repeated waves of attack. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.
Back to drill libraryTransition
Attacking
Defending
Skill Practice
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Counter Attack
Age
Under 10 to Adults
Duration
22 min
Players
8-20
Area / pitch size
51 x 40 yards
Difficulty
Intermediate / Advanced
Equipment
Balls, Cones, Bibs, Full Goals
Coaching focus
Defend repeated waves of attack
Build a full 60-minute session around this drill
Warm-up to match, ready to print. Free — no card needed.
Objective
- -Defend repeated waves of attack
- -Attack quickly against a settling defence
- -Build game-realistic repetition
Setup
- 1A half pitch with attacking waves waiting on halfway in a 51 x 40 yards area.
- 2Place two mini goals on the halfway line for the counter-attacking side to aim at.
- 3Balls with each wave, keeper in goal, two sets of bibs.
How to play
- 1The first wave attacks the defenders and the goal.
- 2The moment the ball is dead the next wave attacks immediately.
- 3Defenders stay on for three waves before rotating.
- 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
- -Defenders reset the line between waves
- -Attackers strike before the defence is set
- -Communicate the new picture every wave
- -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
- -Waves waiting too long
- -Defenders not resetting shape
- -Dribbling into traffic when the counter is on
Related Football Drills & Sessions
- More football transition drills
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- Football drills for U14s
- Football drills for U15s
- Football drills for U16s
- Football drills for 8 players
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- Football session plans built around this theme
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