England Attack & Counter

Instructions/Setup:

This drill focuses on maintaining controlled possession on one side of the pitch while working on combination play to break down the opposition. The team in possession should focus on maintaining accurate, sharp passes to move the ball effectively and create scoring opportunities. After a goal is scored, or if the ball goes off-target, the player positioned on the central line can immediately counter-attack under pressure from a recovering defender.

This transition encourages both attacking and defending teams to react quickly, ensuring the game stays dynamic and continuous. The defenders’ objective is not only to recover the ball but also to press the counter-attacking player, forcing them to make quick decisions while under pressure. If the defending team wins possession, they can pass the ball forward to the counter-attacker to keep the pace high and maintain attacking flow.

Coaching Notes:

• Sharp Passing and Movement: Encourage players to make quick, sharp passes to maintain possession and move the ball through the area. This requires good communication and awareness of teammates' positions.

• Quick Transitions: As soon as possession is lost, the team must react quickly. The counter-attacking player should be ready to break forward, and the defenders should focus on recovering quickly to prevent the counter.

• Pressure on the Counter: Defenders need to close down the counter-attacking player aggressively, forcing them to make a decision under pressure. The attacker should focus on making quick, accurate decisions to exploit space.

• Defensive Awareness: Defenders should stay compact and communicate effectively to close down passing lanes and prevent an easy forward pass to the counter-attacker.

Progression 1: Introduce a Time Limit for Possession:

Set a maximum amount of time (e.g., 15 seconds) that the team in possession can maintain the ball before they must either attempt to score or pass to the counter-attacking player.

Focus: This progression increases the tempo and encourages faster decision-making from the attacking team, forcing them to maintain an attacking mindset while managing the possession time.

Progression 2: Increase Pressure on the Counter-Attacker:

Introduce a second defender who joins the counter-attack scenario, adding pressure and forcing the counter-attacker to make faster, more accurate decisions.

Focus: This progression challenges the counter-attacker to deal with increased pressure and improve their decision-making when under duress, simulating more realistic game situations.