Transition

Wide Channel 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.

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Transition
Attacking
Defending
Skill Practice
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Wide Play

Age

Under 10 to Adults

Duration

20 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

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Objective

  • -Defend repeated waves of attack
  • -Attack quickly against a settling defence
  • -Build game-realistic repetition

Setup

  1. 1A half pitch with attacking waves waiting on halfway in a 51 x 40 yards area.
  2. 2Mark five-yard channels down both touchlines with flat cones.
  3. 3Balls with each wave, keeper in goal, two sets of bibs.

How to play

  1. 1The first wave attacks the defenders and the goal.
  2. 2The moment the ball is dead the next wave attacks immediately.
  3. 3Defenders stay on for three waves before rotating.
  4. 4The practice is started by a pass into one of the wide channels.
  5. 5End actions only count when the ball has travelled through a wide channel first.

Coaching points

  • -Defenders reset the line between waves
  • -Attackers strike before the defence is set
  • -Communicate the new picture every wave
  • -Attack the outside shoulder and deliver early rather than over-dribbling

Progressions

  • +Defender allowed into the channel to make it live
  • +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

  • -Channel is a free zone with no defender at all
  • -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

  • -Switch the ball to the far channel before the end action
  • -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

  • -Waves waiting too long
  • -Defenders not resetting shape
  • -Everything funnelling into a crowded middle

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