Tactics / Transitions
Defend the counter
When we lose the ball with players forward, the nearest defender slows the break down instead of diving in, and everyone else sprints back goal-side.
Why it works
A counter-attack is at its most dangerous in the first few seconds. Slowing the ball carrier down buys time for teammates to get back. A tackle that misses gives them a free run at goal.
What players do
- Nearest defender: get goal-side, side-on, and back off slowly. Do not dive in.
- Show the ball carrier towards the touchline, away from goal.
- Second defender: stand between the next attacker and goal, so one pass does not beat you both.
- Everyone else: sprint back on a line to our goal, not to the ball.
- Keeper: talk, and be ready to come out for a ball played in behind.
Common mistakes
- Diving in near halfway, so one touch takes them past you.
- Backing off in a straight line, so they run straight at goal.
- Midfielders jogging back while watching the ball.
With young players
Good from 7v7. The FA's words for it, delay, cover and balance, work at every age.
Drawn on a 105 × 68 m pitch, showing the part where it happens. Orange attacks left to right and the other team is in blue; numbers are the usual shirt numbers for each position.
Put it into your own team's plan in the team builder, and see what it asks of each player.
What it asks of each player
The same idea, from every line of the team. Set it up for your own team in the team builder.
- GKGoalkeeper
- Talk to your defenders and stay ready for the ball in behind.
Position guide: Goalkeeper
- DEFDefenders
- First defender delays and shows wide. Second defender covers the next attacker.
Position guide: Centre-back · Full-back
- MIDMidfielders
- Sprint back goal-side, on a line to our goal.
Position guide: Holding midfielder · Central midfielder · Attacking midfielder
- ATT
Practices that train it
Start with the first, and build up to the game.
transition · 15 min · 9 to 14, plus 2 goalkeepers
Attack, then defend: waves
Two attack one. When the attack ends, the one defender and a new partner attack the other way against the players who just attacked. Nobody rests for long, and everyone switches quickly between attacking and defending.
attacking · 15 min · Groups of 3
2v1: pass or go?
Two attackers against one defender. The player on the ball decides: dribble past, or pass to a teammate who is free.
defending · 10 min · Just you
Close down and jockey
Sprint out to a ball, brake with short steps, arrive side-on an arm's length away, then back off slowly showing it to one side. The footwork for pressing and for defending one against one.