COUNTER ATTACK

The counterattack begins, at speed, at the moment the ball is won. There is no build up, no attempt to maintain possession or to move the ball about the back of the team to change the point of attack or to relieve pressure. The counterattack is designed to cut through pressure quickly and to beat pressure directly, at the risk of losing possession quickly.

During the counterattack, the ball should not stop moving forward, at full pace, toward the opponent's goal. Because the ball is played forward at full pace, and because intervening defenders are dealt with directly, all opponents who are farther from their own goal than the ball when the counterattack begins will be unable to defend. Only those defenders between the ball and the goal at the moment the counterattack begins need to be defeated, so the counterattacking side will attempt to go by them, taking any risk needed to get a shot. By attacking directly through each opposing defender in the way, either with attacking moves or quick combination play, each opposing defender is given only one chance to stop the counterattack, and most probably each will be forced to tackle. One defender beaten and a missed tackle or two results in a shot.

Counterattack After Defending a Corner

One of the best times to counterattack and score a goal is after the opponents attempt a corner kick. Normally opponents press a large number of players into the penalty area and commit most of their players forward.

Create the score opportunity

First, accept this key idea. The game of soccer, at the team level, is all about one team trying to change the point of attack faster than the opposing team can change its defending shape. If the attacking team can do this, opportunities to score are created.Have a look at Team Defense so that you are clear on what you need to accomplish and on terminology.watch The Umbro Pro Training Skill Factor introduced by Alan Shearer. This tape has nothing to do with skill or Umbro. It's about teaching individual, small group, and team tactics for defending, winning the ball, and transitioning to attack. The exercises provided work up from individual defending tactics (1v1).

You will also find a few good exercises in the video tape Coaching the Italian 4-4-2, which has nothing to do with 4-4-2 or Italy. There are many exercises, a few of which are about changing defending shape.

Make sure that you begin work with individual defending first, so that your players are confident and reliable in their 1v1 defending skills.

Move on to 2v1 and 2v2 defending, and make very certain that the defenders work hard to avoid getting caught flat, and they drop off and tuck in once the are not the first defender (when the ball moves away from where they are pressurizing).

Go directly to 4v4 play and coach from play. First, let the players practice changing shape as the ball moves left and right across the field, with the nearest player pressurizing and the remaining players either tucking in behind to provide support, or covering space away from the ball. Second, let one group of four just move the ball across the field at best pace, and let the defenders reorganize. Finally, play live, but stop play often, at least at first, to allow the players a chance to look around and see what kind of shape the defense is in.

With 5 or more defenders, you can place four or five balls on the ground in different locations approaching a defended goal, assign them numbers, and ask the defenders to react instantly as if an attacking team were present and had just changed the point of attack. Somewhat of a Chinese fire drill, but it allows the kids to rehearse rebuilding their defending shape and you can encourage communication.

Finally, play 5 attackers against a full defense with keeper, and make corrections as needed.