volume 2 counter attack

FROM THE SIDE LINE VOLUME 2

COUNTER ATTACK

CONTENTSstarting position for the counter attack

profile of a counter attacking team

what is counter attack?

when to play counter attack

why play counter attack?

how to play counter attack

types of counter attacks

counter attack with striker

counter attack with combination play

counter attack with wide players

counter attack from the gk

counter attack from the corner

technical requirements of playing counter attack

risks of playing counter attack

patterns to play counter attack

session examples of counter attack

STARTING POSITIONS FOR THE COUNTER ATTACK

PROFILE OF A COUNTER ATTACKING TEAM

a solid defensive unit that can soak up pressure

players that have excellent skills in marking, tackling, good positioning, team work, high work rate and concentration

players that can break at pace

players that have good dribbling, crossing , long range passing and shooting abilities

high levels of fitness and a mentality that can change from defence to attack in seconds.

technically skilful players that are able to make the right decisions at speed and can execute the right decision

players that can remain disciplined within their roles

goalkeepers with the ability to distribute quickly and accurately into space

players that can play long balls into space behind the opposition

WHAT IS COUNTER ATTACK

a style of play where quick one and two touch passes, and getting to goal as fast as possible when the opposing team has pushed up trying to score are crucial. A counter attack is a quick attacking play by a team who was just on the defensive.

WHEN TO PLAY COUNTER ATTACK

the strengths of the team allow for counter attacking to be played

possession has just been won in your half and opposition have pushed their players into your half creating space behind in their half

dead ball situations (corners, free kicks, offsides and throw - ins) where the keeper receives the ball and can release fast

open play where possession has been regained through

- pressing

- interception

- challenge

WHY PLAY COUNTER ATTACK

the team might have faster players then the opposition

The opposition are technically stronger and are going to keep possession of the ball for longer

conditions of the field may not favour a possession style of play

the opposition might be chasing the game and are forced to push players forward leaving space behind them

opposition style of play - high press

to regain possession of the ball and play forward early to not allow the opposition time to retreat and regroup

to exploit opposition and create goal scoring opportunities

HOW TO PLAY COUNTER ATTACK

coach/team dependant as each team will have a different make up of players

starting with a solid/organised defensive structure that is patient and disciplined to allow the other team to keep possession

as soon as possession is won the team is looking to get forward as fast as possible

early pass release over the top into space

fast dribble/running with ball into space

quick one-two passing through the middle

switching playing from one side of the field to the other

support of players breaking forward as fast as possible

quick restarts from set pieces

TYPES OF COUNTER ATTACKS

DIRECT/CLASSIC COUNTER ATTACK:

- The fastest way to get to the opponent’s goal.

- Can be done through long passing, through balls or long aerial balls

- When the team is looking to get behind the opposition’s defence

- Opposition’s style of play will determine weather to play direct

- FBs that advance into high areas

- Opposition play a very high line

- your forwards are faster then the opposition and are prepared to run into the

space where the ball is played

- opposition are trying to press high up the field

- opposition are slow at getting organised after losing possession of the ball

- Most effective from set-pieces when the opposition have committed players forward to try score from the dead ball situation or possession has been won deep in your defensive third and a player can play forward behind the defenders into space

TYPES OF COUNTER ATTACKS

POSSESSION/COLLECTIVE COUNTER ATTACK

- achieved through quick 1 - 2 passing/ take overs ect

- link up play through a striker laying the ball back, quick inter-changing passing in the midfield and through balls for overlapping FB to run onto

- the ability to play at a fast tempo in very tight areas while still moving forward to attack the goal

- movement on the ball and off the ball of players to create space in tight areas and to draw defenders out of position

- can be used to pull the opposition to one side of the field to attack the other side through switching play

- if the opposition are playing a very compact defence penetrating can split the defence to get behind them

- rotation of players to create space for other players to run into

TYPES OF COUNTER ATTACK

SOLO/INDIVIDUAL COUNTER ATTACK

- looking to attack space by running with the ball or explosive dribbling

- draws defenders towards the ball carriers creating space for supporting runners

- not as fast as a direct ball gives players time to make runs to support the player ahead of the ball

- draws defenders across to one side which can leave the other side of the field open and space to be exploited

- can create situations where a 2 v 1 develops as the defender as to close the player on the ball

COUNTER ATTACK WITH STRIKER

counter attack with COMBINATION PLAY

COUNTER ATTACKING WITH WIDE PLAYERS

COUNTER ATTACKING WITH OVERLAPPING FULLBACKS

FB

COUNTER ATTACKING FROM THE GK

COUNTER ATTACKING FROM THE CORNER

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS OF PLAYING COUNTER

ATTACKdefensive mentality of the team as a whole to remain compact

discipline to allow the opposition to keep possession of the ball

the ability to pass accurate balls behind your opposition over varying distances

players that have vision and can play with their heads up to see ahead of the game

ability to make the correct decisions at speeds

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS OF PLAYING COUNTER

ATTACKplayers that are able to make direct runs with the ball or can dribble as speed

players that are capable to beat defenders in 1 v 1 situations

extremely quick supporting players

players that can finish under pressure

players with a mentality to change from defending to attack once they win possession of the ball

RISKS OF PLAYING COUNTER ATTACK

when you are already a goal down the opposition don't need to push players into your half

trying to play counter attacking football with players that are not capable to attack with speed and leave themselves exposed trying to push players forward

trying to get players to play balls into space that are not technically sufficient enough to play into space

players that cannot remain disciplined/concentrated in defensive roles for the full game/ or don't have a defensive mentality after losing possession

players remaining patient and not committing to situations trying to win possession of the ball when its not on

teams countering the counter if the counter does not end in a dead ball situation

PATTERNS TO PLAY COUNTER ATTACK

FROM WHERE THE BALL IS WON WE ARE LOOKING TO PLAY TO THE ST FEET TO PLAY BACK TO MIDFIELDER TO PLAY WIDE FOR THE WIDER PLAYER TO RUN ONTO WHERE

TWO SITUATIONS CAN DEVELOP. 1. CUT IN AND GO FOR GOAL IF THE DEFENDER DOES NOT COME ACROSS 2. DRAW THE DEFENDER ACROSS AND LOOK FOR A SUPPORTING PLAYER

THE OPPOSITION FULLBACKS HAVE ADVANCED INTO HIGH AREAS

SUPPORT TO THE BACK POST

IF THE CB DOES NOT ALLOW THE ST TO TURN LAY BACK TURN AND OFFER SUPPORT IN THE BOX

PLAYER DECISION BASED ON THE SITUATION

SUPPORTING RUNS FROM MIDFIELD


FB PLAYS INTO THE OPEN SPACE FOR THE ST TO MAKE A DIAGONAL

RUN

OPTION 1OPTION 2

FB PLAYS INTO THE ST,ST PLAYS BACK TO CM,CM PLAY BACK TO ST

THROUGH THE TWO CB’S


GK THROWS TO FB,FB RUNS WITH THE BALL. FB CUTS IN TO CREATE SPACE TO PLAY THE

BALL DOWN THE LINE FOR LW TO CROSS OR CUT IN

GK THROWS TO FB,FB RUNS WITH THE BALL. IF THE DEFENDER FOLLOWS THE LW THEN

FB DRIBBLES THROUGH HIMSELF

OPTION 2OPTION 1


OPTION 3

GK RECEIVES THE BALL FROM A SET PIECE AND THROWS OUT FOR THE FB TO ATTACK THE SPACE. WHEN THE DEFENDERS COME ACROSS FB PLAYS A DIAGONAL BALL

INTO THE SPACE FOR THE ST AND RW TO ATTACK

GK WINS POSSESSION FROM SET PIECE AND THROWS FOR FB

OPEN SPACE FOR FB TO ATTACK

SUPPORT RUNS

DIAGONAL BALL INTO SPACE

SESSION EXAMPLESset - up: working on a full field with coned off areas

the width of the 18 y box 16 players. 6 v 6 plus in defensive half with a neutral

in the other half another neutral on the side who comes into the game when the ball goes to the other half. objective is to keep possession in deep areas

before looking to play/run with the ball and link up with the neutral in the opposite half. once neutral is found 6 players can break and score with only two defenders allowed to

recover. progression : players have to score in a time frame

increase number of recovering defenders add pressure against the neutral players

coaching points: body positions of players movement of players to create space for areas to attack

speed of support players to get forward runs ahead of the ball to keep tempo of the attack

execution of correct decision at speed end product

SESSION EXAMPLESset - up: working in 40 x 40 with small goals in each corner. 3 v 2 in each half with a target man

playing for the 2 defenders to start the game the attackers have to drop to

the centre circle then the neutral plays to one of the defenders to try get the ball into their 3

attackers to score progression : team have to win possession and

score in a time limit team can only score in a limited amount of

passes coaching points: defensive transition into the

circle setting up situations to win the ball and finish

into a small goal creating passing options for the defenders to try

get the ball forward into the attackers quick restarts so the defenders don't have time to

drop into the circle and get organised

SESSION EXAMPLESset - up: working on full field that is divided into thirds. attacking third 2 v 1. middle third 5 v 5 and

defensive third 1 v 2 in possession two attackers can run into the final third

creating a 3 v 2 situation progression : team can only score in a time frame after

winning possession allow more defenders to make recovery runs

when the keeper receives they can play straight into the striker

coaching points: retaining possession till the counter is on

movement in the middle third to create options to either play through balls, or players running with the

ball into the final third strikers movement to create space for the players to

attack. end product

if gk wins possession can he play direct quick supporting runs to create an advantage in the

final third

SESSION EXAMPLESset - up: full field, 5 v 5 possession in one half with two green neutral playing for the team in possession. once the other team win possession they must counter against the two neutral CBS, and try score against the keeper. game starts once the team that countered are back and

start with possession of the ball progression: teams can only score a certain way

add a time limit teams must score in coaching points: interceptions to win the ball

allowing a quick start decision making of players in relation to where

possession is won quick transition from defending to attacking

supporting players breaking forward movement of players

execution of attack at speed

SESSION EXAMPLESset - up: working on a full field with 10

cones marking the players defensive shape. to start coach passes to any player at a cone and from their the team must attack the

other goal after they have scored they must recover to their defensive shape(a cone) progression : a 2 defenders (CBS) to add

pressure add a time let to when the players have to

score and recover by limit the amount of touches

coaching points: the different counter attacking options

react immediately to defensive transition react to when in possession of the ball

player rotation and creating space for other players to attack

Documents

volume 2 counter attack