Transition

Rest Defence Organisation

Organise behind the ball while attacking

Transition

Team Shape

Defending

Rest Defence Organisation is a 20-minute transition drill for 10-20 players, suitable for Under 13 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

Team Shape

Defending

Skill Practice

Intermediate

Advanced

Full Squad

Adult Suitable

Goals Needed

Duration

20 min

Players

10-20

Pitch size

Two thirds of a pitch

Ability levels

Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Rest Defence Organisation — Marked area · Two thirds of a pitch

Step 1 of 3While attacking, two defenders and a midfielder must remain in the rest defence zone.

1. While attacking, two defenders and a midfielder must remain in the rest defence zone.
2. If the defending team counters they score in the halfway goals.
3. Twelve attacks then swap.

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

Objectives

-Organise behind the ball while attacking
-Stop the counter before it starts
-Balance risk and security

Setup

1Attacking team of eight against a defending six plus keeper.
2Two counter target goals at halfway.
3Cones marking the rest defence zone.

Coaching instructions

1While attacking, two defenders and a midfielder must remain in the rest defence zone.
2If the defending team counters they score in the halfway goals.
3Twelve attacks then swap.

Coaching points

-Keep a spare player behind the ball at all times
-Cover the central counter route first
-Communicate who stays and who joins

Common mistakes

-Everyone joining the attack
-Rest defenders too deep to press
-No cover on the far side

Equipment needed

Balls

Cones

Bibs

Full Goals

Age groups

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