Drill category

Football transition drills

Transition drills coach the five seconds after the ball turns over — counter fast, or recover shape immediately.

What to coach

React the moment it turns over
First pass forward
Nearest player delays

Filter the transition drills Football session plans

All 123 football transition drills

Every drill below has its own page with the full setup, coaching points, progressions and a pitch diagram.

Possession 4v4+3 — possession drill, 20 min, Under 8 to Adults
1v1 Defending — defending drill, 15 min, Under 5 to Adults
Pressing Triggers — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Transition End Zones — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Four Goal Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
Attacking Overloads 3v2 — attacking drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
Counter Attack Waves — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
3v3 Continuous Games — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
Rebound Board Clearance & Recovery — defending drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
3v2 Attack To Goal — finishing drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Defensive Recovery Runs — defending drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
Front Three Pressing Traps — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
Counter Press Five Seconds — transition drill, 18 min, Under 12 to Adults
3v2 Transition Breaks — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
2v2 Recovery Defending — defending drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
Pressing Trigger Practice — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Counter-Press Box — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Transition Rondo Squares — possession drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game — transition drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
Turnover To Two Goals — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Defence To Attack Breakout — transition drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Rest Defence Organisation — transition drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Formation Switch Practice — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Three Team Rotation Games — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 8 to Adults
Defending Recovery Runs — defending drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Four Goal Transition Game — transition drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Three Team Small-Sided Game — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 8 to Adults
Overload Recovery Run Defending — defending drill, 17 min, Under 10 to Adults
Underload Recovery Run Defending — defending drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
Two-Touch Recovery Run Defending — defending drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
Tempo Recovery Run Defending — defending drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
Transition Recovery Run Defending — defending drill, 17 min, Under 10 to Adults
Pressure Recovery Run Defending — defending drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
Continuous Recovery Run Defending — defending drill, 17 min, Under 10 to Adults
Rotation Recovery Run Defending — defending drill, 17 min, Under 10 to Adults
Combination Recovery Run Defending — defending drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
Wide Channel Recovery Run Defending — defending drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter Recovery Run Defending — defending drill, 17 min, Under 10 to Adults
Finishing Recovery Run Defending — defending drill, 17 min, Under 10 to Adults
Overload Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Underload Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Two-Touch Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Tempo Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Transition Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Pressure Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Continuous Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Rotation Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Combination Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Wide Channel Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Finishing Pressing Trigger Grid — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Overload Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Underload Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Two-Touch Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Tempo Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Transition Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Pressure Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Continuous Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Rotation Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Combination Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Wide Channel Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Counter Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Finishing Counter Press Box — pressing drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Overload Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Underload Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
Two-Touch Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
Tempo Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
Transition Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Pressure Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
Continuous Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Rotation Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Combination Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
Wide Channel Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
Counter Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Finishing Halfway Line Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Overload Three Team Rotation Game — small-sided games drill, 22 min, Under 5 to Adults
Underload Three Team Rotation Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Two-Touch Three Team Rotation Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
Tempo Three Team Rotation Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
Transition Three Team Rotation Game — small-sided games drill, 22 min, Under 9 to Adults
Pressure Three Team Rotation Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Continuous Three Team Rotation Game — small-sided games drill, 22 min, Under 5 to Adults
Rotation Three Team Rotation Game — small-sided games drill, 22 min, Under 5 to Adults
Combination Three Team Rotation Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
Wide Channel Three Team Rotation Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
Counter Three Team Rotation Game — small-sided games drill, 22 min, Under 9 to Adults
Finishing Three Team Rotation Game — small-sided games drill, 22 min, Under 5 to Adults
Overload Reaction Sprint Pairs — speed & agility drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
Underload Reaction Sprint Pairs — speed & agility drill, 10 min, Under 9 to Adults
Two-Touch Reaction Sprint Pairs — speed & agility drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
Tempo Reaction Sprint Pairs — speed & agility drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
Transition Reaction Sprint Pairs — speed & agility drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
Pressure Reaction Sprint Pairs — speed & agility drill, 10 min, Under 9 to Adults
Continuous Reaction Sprint Pairs — speed & agility drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
Rotation Reaction Sprint Pairs — speed & agility drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
Combination Reaction Sprint Pairs — speed & agility drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
Wide Channel Reaction Sprint Pairs — speed & agility drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
Counter Reaction Sprint Pairs — speed & agility drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
Finishing Reaction Sprint Pairs — speed & agility drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
Overload Turnover Game — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
Underload Turnover Game — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Two-Touch Turnover Game — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Tempo Turnover Game — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Transition Turnover Game — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
Pressure Turnover Game — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Continuous Turnover Game — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
Rotation Turnover Game — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
Combination Turnover Game — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Wide Channel Turnover Game — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter Turnover Game — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
Finishing Turnover Game — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
Overload Wave Attack Transition — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
Underload Wave Attack Transition — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Two-Touch Wave Attack Transition — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Tempo Wave Attack Transition — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Transition Wave Attack Transition — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
Pressure Wave Attack Transition — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Continuous Wave Attack Transition — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
Rotation Wave Attack Transition — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
Combination Wave Attack Transition — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Wide Channel Wave Attack Transition — transition drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter Wave Attack Transition — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
Finishing Wave Attack Transition — transition drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults

Drills by age group

Transition drill questions coaches ask

How many football transition drills are there on Football Coach Hub?

There are 123 football transition drills in the library, each with a setup, coaching points, common mistakes, a progression and a regression so you can run it with mixed abilities.

What equipment do I need for transition drills?

Most drills need only a ball per player, cones and bibs. You can filter the drill library by the kit you actually have, including mini goals, full goals, poles, ladders and rebound boards.

How long should a transition practice last?

Ten to fifteen minutes on one technical practice is usually enough before players need a change of picture. Follow it with the same theme inside a small-sided game.