Aims and objectives

Once attack has been initiated: 5 central defensive MFs can

recover and defend goal
Opposite wide player can join the attack
Positioning & supporting roles of 3 MFs as play develops ahead
of them
Awareness of space left by initiating attack that could be
vulnerable to further counter-attack from opposition
Concentration and marking/covering roles of Ds & GK on
attacking team
Organisation and setup
Area 60x40yds, divided into thirds, with middle third 12x40yds
and goals placed 6yds behind each end line of practice area,
as illustrated
A middle channel is marked, running length of practice area.
20 players (incl. 2GKs), arranged 10v10, 1 ball
Teams arranged 5v3 in centre zone, 2v2 in each central end zone
and 1 wide player in each central wide zone
Practice starts with: 5 Attacking central players keep possession
against 3 Defenders
Once 3Ds gain possession, they release a wide player & build a
quick attack from ank, or play into strikers early
Further options include: use team mate released from marking
duties as support, pulling-o into wide defensive zone
COUNTERATTACK
FROM MIDFIELD
Please note:
These practices are in a standard format which a coach may personalise and adapt however he or she desires.
They are designed to provide diferent ideas and concepts of many aspects of football coaching and should be
customised to your own session requirements.
Coaching factors and outcomes
Releasing pressure with early pass to supporting wide player(s)
Moving forward quickly with ball under control
Assessing play whilst moving quickly with ball
Timing of runs of players in advanced positions
Inter-play and movement of As (in 2v2 situation)
Weight and quickness of forward passes
Timing and speed of supporting runs
Adaptation & Progression
Simple progressions for this practice are:
Recovering team initiate own counter-attack if possession
is regained
Begin with 4v4 in central zone & team gaining possession is
able to release one player into wide central area to initiate
counter-attack