Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on attacking and counter attacking. There are some interesting teaching points on this subject (and many others) in the DVD Attacking: Coaching the English Professional League 4-4-2 by David Williams, former Manchester United U18 coach.
Start with 3 forwards and 2 midfielders attacking against 4 backs, 1 midfielder and a keeper on a half field with a full sized goal.
The attacking team is trying to score and can be as patient as they want in working the ball into spaces. There is nothing special about this game UNTIL THE BLACK TEAM WINS THE BALL.
Let’s assume the yellow team has done a combination down the right side and crosses the ball.
If the keeper wins the ball the black team tries to cross the midfield line with possession within 10 seconds
A goal for the yellow team counts as 2 points. If the black team wins the ball and crosses midfield with possession within 10 seconds that counts as 1 point.
Each team would get 10 attacks and the team with the most points at the end wins.
You can do this with different numbers (it could be a 6 v 6 or 8 v 8) but the key is to emphasize to the defending team that when they win the ball they must transition quickly into the attack (and likewise the attacking team must transition to defense).
If you can get your team conditioned to look to make this transition quickly (and by transition I mean mentally although the physical conditioning part is as important) it will make a big difference in your games.
There are some interesting teaching points on this subject (and many others) in the DVD Attacking: Coaching the English Professional League 4-4-2 by David Williams, former Manchester United U18 coach.
Have a great day!
Lawrence
