Transition
Rest Defence Organisation: Five Second Counter-Press
Organise behind the ball while attacking
Transition
Team Shape
Defending
Premium
Rest Defence Organisation: Five Second Counter-Press 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.
Back to drill libraryTransition
Team Shape
Defending
Skill Practice
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Pressing
Counter Press
Duration
20 min
Players
10-20
Pitch size
Two thirds of a pitch
Ability levels
Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Rest Defence Organisation: Five Second Counter-Press — Marked area · Two thirds of a pitch
Step 1 of 4While 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.
- 4. On losing the ball the team has five seconds to win it back before dropping into shape.
- 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.
- 4On losing the ball the team has five seconds to win it back before dropping into shape.
Coaching points
- -Keep a spare player behind the ball at all times
- -Cover the central counter route first
- -Communicate who stays and who joins
- -Nearest player presses the ball instantly
- -Others screen the forward pass and squeeze up
Common mistakes
- -Everyone joining the attack
- -Rest defenders too deep to press
- -No cover on the far side