Transition

Transition End Zones

React within three seconds of winning or losing the ball

Transition
Attacking
Defending
Possession

Transition End Zones is a 20-minute transition drill for 8-16 players, suitable for Under 10 to Adults at intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, bibs, cones. 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
Attacking
Defending
Possession
Small-Sided Game
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable

Duration

20 min

Players

8-16

Pitch size

35 x 25 yards

Ability levels

Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Pitch set-up: Transition End Zones123C35 x 25 yards

Transition End Zones — Marked area · 35 x 25 yards

Step 1 of 3Score by dribbling into or receiving a pass in the opponent's end zone.

  1. 1. Score by dribbling into or receiving a pass in the opponent's end zone.
  2. 2. Coach serves a new ball immediately when one leaves the pitch.
  3. 3. Play 4-minute rounds.
  • Cones mark the area
  • Dashed lines = zones / thirds
  • Ball
  • C = coach / server
  • Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

  • -React within three seconds of winning or losing the ball
  • -Attack quickly into space
  • -Recover shape as a team

Setup

  1. 1Pitch with a 3-yard end zone at each end.
  2. 2Two even teams, coach with spare balls on the side.
  3. 3No goals or keepers.

Coaching instructions

  1. 1Score by dribbling into or receiving a pass in the opponent's end zone.
  2. 2Coach serves a new ball immediately when one leaves the pitch.
  3. 3Play 4-minute rounds.

Coaching points

  • -First thought after winning it: can I play forward?
  • -First thought after losing it: press or recover?
  • -Spread on attacking transition, compact on defensive
  • -Run to receive in the end zone, don't stand in it

Common mistakes

  • -Slow reaction after turnovers
  • -Ball watching instead of recovering
  • -Forcing a difficult forward pass every time

Where this drill fits

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