Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Counterattacking/Counterpressing, using standard Offense v. Defense structure

Screen 1 (30 mins)

Play is 11v11 (or reduce to suit your numbers) and takes place on a half-field.

Choose desired offensive and defensive shape. Here, Red are attacking in a 433 (2-3-2-3 in this phase), while Blue are defending in a 442.

Play begins with Red in possession, attempting to penetrate and score, and proceeds normally. Blue may score on the cone goals at half field.

If Blue wins the ball, Red are immediately tasked with winning the ball in the Zone in which it was lost.

If successful, a point is awarded to Red and play continues with Red once again attempting to score. A point may also be awarded if Red forces Blue back one Zone.

If Blue successfully plays out to the next Zone, a point is awarded to them, but they may still proceed and attempt to score on the cone goals.

Coaching points:

-Positional sense of the Red team while pressing: pressure the ball and the most dangerous (usually forward) passes. Takes full-team awareness, commitment, and choreography.

-Take advantage of lack of shape and cohesion of Blue, don't let them establish spacing and possession.

-Awareness of Blue team: how to break the counterpress? Quickly switch fields, or split defenders with an upfield pass? Other?

Progressions:

-Once the counterpressing ideas begin to take shape, place a time limit on winning the ball (win it within 6 seconds, then the "magic" 3 seconds)

-Make 3 additional (vertical) splits in the field (as in the 18-zone field breakdown), and force the press and ball-win to happen in a specific sector (force to sideline, or force inside where help exists?)

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