Attacking
Half-Space Attacking Patterns: Five Second Counter-Press
Attack through the half-spaces
Attacking
Passing
Team Shape
Half-Space Attacking Patterns: Five Second Counter-Press is a 20-minute attacking drill for 8-18 players, suitable for Under 12 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs, full 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 libraryAttacking
Passing
Team Shape
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Pressing
Counter Press
Transition
Duration
20 min
Players
8-18
Pitch size
Half pitch
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Half-Space Attacking Patterns: Five Second Counter-Press — Finishing set-up — serve, receive, shoot · Half pitch
Step 1 of 5Attacks must go through a half-space channel before a shot.
- 1. Attacks must go through a half-space channel before a shot.
- 2. Defenders clear beyond halfway to score.
- 3. Twelve attacks then swap roles.
- 4. On losing the ball the team has five seconds to win it back before dropping into shape.
- 5. Rotation: Swap roles.
- Cones mark the area
- Full goal
- GK = goalkeeper
- S = server
- Ball
- Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
- Shooter becomes the next server
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Attack through the half-spaces
- -Combine between the lines
- -Create a shot inside the box
Setup
- 1Half pitch split into five vertical channels with cones.
- 2Attacking unit of six against four defenders and a keeper.
- 3Balls at the halfway starting position.
Coaching instructions
- 1Attacks must go through a half-space channel before a shot.
- 2Defenders clear beyond halfway to score.
- 3Twelve attacks then swap roles.
- 4On losing the ball the team has five seconds to win it back before dropping into shape.
Coaching points
- -Occupy the half-space on the back foot of the defender
- -Wide player holds width to open the channel
- -Combine quickly once inside the pocket
- -Nearest player presses the ball instantly
- -Others screen the forward pass and squeeze up
Common mistakes
- -Everyone in the central channel
- -No width to stretch the block
- -Slow ball speed into the half-space