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 91 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: Switch To Score — defending drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
2v2 Recovery Defending: Five Second Counter-Press — defending drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
2v2 Recovery Defending: Target Zone Bonus — defending drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
2v2 Recovery Defending: Overload Rotation — defending drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
2v2 Recovery Defending: Restart Realism — defending drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
2v2 Recovery Defending: Two-Goal Decision — defending drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
2v2 Recovery Defending: Limited Touch Build-Up — defending drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Pressing Trigger Practice: Switch To Score — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Pressing Trigger Practice: Five Second Counter-Press — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Pressing Trigger Practice: Target Zone Bonus — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Pressing Trigger Practice: Overload Rotation — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Pressing Trigger Practice: Restart Realism — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Pressing Trigger Practice: Two-Goal Decision — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Pressing Trigger Practice: Limited Touch Build-Up — pressing drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Counter-Press Box: Switch To Score — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter-Press Box: Five Second Counter-Press — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter-Press Box: Target Zone Bonus — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter-Press Box: Overload Rotation — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter-Press Box: Restart Realism — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter-Press Box: Two-Goal Decision — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter-Press Box: Limited Touch Build-Up — pressing drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Transition Rondo Squares: Switch To Score — possession drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Transition Rondo Squares: Five Second Counter-Press — possession drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Transition Rondo Squares: Target Zone Bonus — possession drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Transition Rondo Squares: Overload Rotation — possession drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Transition Rondo Squares: Restart Realism — possession drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Transition Rondo Squares: Two-Goal Decision — possession drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Transition Rondo Squares: Limited Touch Build-Up — possession drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
Counter Attack Waves: Switch To Score — attacking drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter Attack Waves: Five Second Counter-Press — attacking drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter Attack Waves: Target Zone Bonus — attacking drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter Attack Waves: Overload Rotation — attacking drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter Attack Waves: Restart Realism — attacking drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter Attack Waves: Two-Goal Decision — attacking drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Counter Attack Waves: Limited Touch Build-Up — attacking drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Switch To Score — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Five Second Counter-Press — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Target Zone Bonus — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Overload Rotation — transition drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Restart Realism — transition drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Two-Goal Decision — transition drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Limited Touch Build-Up — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Turnover To Two Goals: Switch To Score — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Turnover To Two Goals: Five Second Counter-Press — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Turnover To Two Goals: Target Zone Bonus — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Turnover To Two Goals: Overload Rotation — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Turnover To Two Goals: Restart Realism — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Turnover To Two Goals: Two-Goal Decision — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Turnover To Two Goals: Limited Touch Build-Up — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Defence To Attack Breakout: Switch To Score — transition drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Defence To Attack Breakout: Five Second Counter-Press — transition drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Defence To Attack Breakout: Target Zone Bonus — transition drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Defence To Attack Breakout: Overload Rotation — transition drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Defence To Attack Breakout: Restart Realism — transition drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Defence To Attack Breakout: Two-Goal Decision — transition drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Defence To Attack Breakout: Limited Touch Build-Up — transition drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Rest Defence Organisation: Switch To Score — transition drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Rest Defence Organisation: Five Second Counter-Press — transition drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Rest Defence Organisation: Target Zone Bonus — transition drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Rest Defence Organisation: Overload Rotation — transition drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Rest Defence Organisation: Restart Realism — transition drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Rest Defence Organisation: Two-Goal Decision — transition drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Rest Defence Organisation: Limited Touch Build-Up — transition drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Formation Switch Practice: Switch To Score — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Formation Switch Practice: Five Second Counter-Press — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Formation Switch Practice: Target Zone Bonus — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Formation Switch Practice: Overload Rotation — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Formation Switch Practice: Restart Realism — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Formation Switch Practice: Two-Goal Decision — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Formation Switch Practice: Limited Touch Build-Up — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 13 to Adults
Three Team Rotation Games: Switch To Score — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Three Team Rotation Games: Five Second Counter-Press — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Three Team Rotation Games: Target Zone Bonus — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Three Team Rotation Games: Overload Rotation — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 8 to Adults
Three Team Rotation Games: Restart Realism — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Three Team Rotation Games: Two-Goal Decision — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 8 to Adults
Three Team Rotation Games: Limited Touch Build-Up — small-sided games drill, 20 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 91 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.