Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Counter Attacking - Look far first

3v0/3v2 (25 mins)

Instructions:

• The coach plays the ball into the keepers hands, upon catching the ball he throws it into the CF. The CF has two touches to set the attacking players that run from the post to attack the opposite goal unopposed to start. Round two, the above is recreated but in a three v three situation. Whichever side the ball is set to, the same side defender must get around the pole and recover to defend creating a numbers up situation for the counter attacking team.

Coaching Points:

• Quality and touches of the CF - protect the ball, and quality sets.
• Movements of the two players to sprint to join the attack. 
• No straight lines in our movement, work off each other.
• Run through the ball, don't stop, always gamble.
• Angle runs towards the goal where possible.
• Get open, finishing actions v defenders. Find the spare man.

Progressions/Regressions:

• Round 1 - Unopposed reps.
• Round 2- 3v3 - defender recovers around pole.

Teams:

• Kwon/Alex/Ignacio/Liam/J Brown/Damola/Tristan/Mark/Nolan
• Oakley/Will/Sheyi/James H/Ivory/Eck/DD/Degny/Amir
• Rashod/Roger

6v4 to 8v6 (20 mins)

Organization:

1/2 Field

One large goal and three or four counter goals set up on the halfway line

Six defenders - set up in a back four and two central midfield players

Eight attackers - four players start inside set up in a front three and one central midfielder

Instructions:

The defending team start each sequence building out the back 6v4 - objective is to score in one of the small counter goals. Players must be past the markers to score.

If the attacking team wins the ball they play 8v6 to goal - players behind the counter goals come into the game if their is a change of possession. If the defending team scores building out the back the coach calls a number and one of the attacking players drives in on the dribble or passes in to start the counter attack.

Coaching Points:

Pressing from the front - how to shift and close space

Building out the back - shape, mobility, movement to get open and play forward, combinations to break pressure

Attacking Transition - runs ahead of the ball - creating numbers up situations to play behind opponent

Defensive Transition - counter pressure - react and close quickly, ability to slow down opponent and reorganize

Progressions:

Coach can start the exercise by passing or playing a ball inside the area when movement breaks down - creating a different trigger.