Defending
Back Four Shifting Unit: Five Second Counter-Press
Shift as a connected back line
Defending
Team Shape
Pressing
Premium
Back Four Shifting Unit: Five Second Counter-Press is a 18-minute defending drill for 6-18 players, suitable for Under 11 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.
Back to drill libraryDefending
Team Shape
Pressing
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Counter Press
Transition
Duration
18 min
Players
6-18
Pitch size
Half pitch
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Objectives
- -Shift as a connected back line
- -Hold and squeeze the line together
- -Cover behind the pressing full-back
Setup
- 1Back four across the pitch with cones marking shifting reference lines.
- 2Four servers spread across the width to move the ball.
- 3Keeper in goal behind the line.
Coaching instructions
- 1Servers pass across the width and the back line shifts to stay compact.
- 2On a forward pass the nearest defender presses and others cover.
- 3Two minutes work, one minute talk-through.
- 4On losing the ball the team has five seconds to win it back before dropping into shape.
Coaching points
- -Move as the ball travels, not when it arrives
- -Keep the distances between defenders tight
- -Communicate the line: press, drop, squeeze
- -Nearest player presses the ball instantly
- -Others screen the forward pass and squeeze up
Common mistakes
- -Line breaking and stretching
- -Ball watching instead of shifting
- -No talk between defenders