Transition
4v4 Transition Game: Five Second Counter-Press
React instantly to turnovers
Transition
Small-Sided Games
Pressing
Premium
4v4 Transition Game: Five Second Counter-Press is a 18-minute transition drill for 8-16 players, suitable for Under 10 to Adults at intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs, mini 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
Small-Sided Games
Pressing
Small-Sided Game
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Counter Press
Duration
18 min
Players
8-16
Pitch size
35 x 30 yards
Ability levels
Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
4v4 Transition Game: Five Second Counter-Press — 4v4 small-sided game · 35 x 30 yards
Step 1 of 4Games last two minutes, the winning team stays on.
- 1. Games last two minutes, the winning team stays on.
- 2. New balls come in from the coach immediately on a goal or out of play.
- 3. Continuous rotation of teams.
- 4. On losing the ball the team has five seconds to win it back before dropping into shape.
- Cones mark the area
- Mini goals at each end
- Ball
- Blue v dark — score in the opposite goal
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -React instantly to turnovers
- -Attack quickly when the ball is won
- -Recover shape when it is lost
Setup
- 1A 35 x 30 pitch with mini goals at each end.
- 2Two teams of four with a resting team on the side.
- 3Balls stored around the pitch.
Coaching instructions
- 1Games last two minutes, the winning team stays on.
- 2New balls come in from the coach immediately on a goal or out of play.
- 3Continuous rotation of teams.
- 4On losing the ball the team has five seconds to win it back before dropping into shape.
Coaching points
- -First thought forward on winning the ball
- -Sprint back goal-side when it is lost
- -Talk through every transition
- -Nearest player presses the ball instantly
- -Others screen the forward pass and squeeze up
Common mistakes
- -Standing after a turnover
- -Slow reaction to the new ball
- -Everyone attacking with nobody covering