Transition

Defence To Attack Breakout

Break out of the defensive third at speed

Transition

Playing Out From The Back

Attacking

Premium

Defence To Attack Breakout is a 20-minute transition drill for 10-20 players, suitable for Under 11 to Adults at 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.

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Transition

Playing Out From The Back

Attacking

Skill Practice

Intermediate

Advanced

Full Squad

Youth Friendly

Adult Suitable

Goals Needed

Duration

20 min

Players

10-20

Pitch size

Three-quarter pitch

Ability levels

Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Defence To Attack Breakout — Marked area · Three-quarter pitch

Step 1 of 3Defending team wins the ball and breaks out to score in the halfway goal.

1. Defending team wins the ball and breaks out to score in the halfway goal.
2. They must complete three passes before scoring.
3. Ten repetitions then swap.

Cones mark the area
Dashed lines = zones / thirds
Ball
Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

-Break out of the defensive third at speed
-Find the first forward pass
-Support the breakout in numbers

Setup

1Defending unit plus keeper in their own third.
2Attacking unit pressing them, with a target goal at halfway.
3Balls with the coach behind the goal.

Coaching instructions

1Defending team wins the ball and breaks out to score in the halfway goal.
2They must complete three passes before scoring.
3Ten repetitions then swap.

Coaching points

-First pass out of the pressure zone
-Wide players push high immediately
-Carry the ball if the pass is not on

Common mistakes

-Everyone dropping deep on the regain
-Aimless clearance
-Slow support runs

Equipment needed

Balls

Cones

Bibs

Full Goals

Age groups

Under 11

Under 12

Under 13

Under 14

Under 15

Under 16

Adults

Progressions

+Switch To Score: two switches before scoring
+Five Second Counter-Press: three seconds to win it back
+Target Zone Bonus: only goals started from a pocket count
+Add a competitive scoreline for the last round

Regressions

-Switch To Score: switch earns a bonus point rather than being compulsory
-Five Second Counter-Press: eight seconds and fewer opponents
-Target Zone Bonus: widen the pocket zones
-Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

-Switch To Score — A goal only counts after the ball has been switched from one side of the pitch to the other.
-Five Second Counter-Press — On losing the ball the team has five seconds to win it back before dropping into shape.
-Target Zone Bonus — Extra points for playing into marked pockets between the lines before finishing.
-Overload Rotation — One team plays with an extra player for two minutes then the overload rotates.
-Restart Realism — All restarts are played as in a match — throw-ins, goal kicks and corners rather than a coach ball.
-Two-Goal Decision — Each team attacks two small goals, so defenders must decide which threat to cover.
-Limited Touch Build-Up — Maximum three touches in your own half, unlimited once you pass the halfway line.
-Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch