Counter-attacking and recoveries

We will use this session on our high load day during the week. The session is designed to replicate a quick attack in transition and reactions from attacking players, with a huge emphasis on high-speed running for physical output and sprint distance, in the areas of the pitch where we anticipate these situations occurring. 

The session is always competitive and you can make it an actual competition by keeping scores. This creates an element of fun and also a winning mentality. We will run this drill or something adapted relevant to the opposition we are facing once a week, with a clear purpose pertinent to the opponent and structure we are anticipating we will come up against.

ACTIVITY

We set up on a three-quarter pitch.

Players take up roles relevant to their position - defenders defend, attackers attack. We create a situation of a turnover and a 3v3 attack; the first attack is a 3v2 with a recovering midfielder, making it 3v3 [1a] ...

[1a]

1. Reds seek to reach goal at opposite end

2. Blues recover and look to gain possession, replicating a transition to defence

... as the reds look to score at the opposite end [1b]. 

[1b]

1. Reds attack

2. Red player breaks through
3. Red player scores goal

As soon as that ball is dead, two out of the three attackers react to stop the advancing full backs in 1v1 duels,
with the spare attacker making a direct recovery run back up the pitch [1c].

We run this for three blocks of four minutes each. We can progress this by building in incentives for attackers and defenders: fewer recovery runs for attackers if they score and a second ball to attack, more recovery time and fewer recovery runs for defenders for winning duels and stopping the attack. We can also add a recovering midfielder defensively on the initial counter-attack to promote the speed of the attack.

[1c]

1. As soon as the first ball is dead, balls are played to two full backs

2. Two attackers react to track back and create two 1v1 duels

3. The spare attacker makes a direct recovery run back up the pitch

COACHING POINTS

What are the key things to look out for technically and tactically?

Speed of the attack, timing of release and support, creating overloads and manipulating defenders with movements and runs, type of finish, and reactions.

What are the typical mistakes players might make and how do I avoid them? 

Speed of the attack, timing of release and support, creating overloads and manipulating defenders with movements and runs, type of finish, and reactions.