Team Shape
Line Breaking Shape Game: Five Second Counter-Press
Break lines with passes and carries
Team Shape
Possession
Passing
Premium
Line Breaking Shape Game: Five Second Counter-Press is a 20-minute team shape drill for 10-20 players, suitable for Under 12 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 libraryTeam Shape
Possession
Passing
Small-Sided Game
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Pressing
Counter Press
Transition
Duration
20 min
Players
10-20
Pitch size
50 x 40 yards
Ability levels
Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Line Breaking Shape Game: Five Second Counter-Press — Marked area · 50 x 40 yards
Step 1 of 4A point for every pass or carry that beats an opponent's line.
- 1. A point for every pass or carry that beats an opponent's line.
- 2. Goals count double if preceded by two line breaks.
- 3. Six minute games.
- 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
- -Break lines with passes and carries
- -Maintain shape while progressing
- -Recognise when the line is beatable
Setup
- 1Pitch marked into three horizontal zones.
- 2Two teams in a set formation with keepers.
- 3Balls behind both goals.
Coaching instructions
- 1A point for every pass or carry that beats an opponent's line.
- 2Goals count double if preceded by two line breaks.
- 3Six minute games.
- 4On losing the ball the team has five seconds to win it back before dropping into shape.
Coaching points
- -Receive on the back foot of the opponent
- -Break lines with pace on the pass
- -Support ahead and behind the receiver
- -Nearest player presses the ball instantly
- -Others screen the forward pass and squeeze up
Common mistakes
- -Passing sideways in front of the block
- -Receiver marked before the pass
- -No support after the line break