By Andrew Caruso
My teams always are very good at quick counter attacking and I spend zero amount of time on it. I have witnessed coaches (teams) that spend a great deal of time on this topic (one session in every six or more sessions) with minimal results. How do I do it?
Simply everyday, no matter what the topic, we always get to the main part of the session of playing with a restriction. But whatever the restriction, if a player wins the ball in the vicinity of the goal he has only one pass and a total of no more than 5 touches!
This is done no matter what the restriction of the day is: Whether the restriction is a wall pass, takeover, overlap, channel play, target player, cross or whatever. Obviously the restriction is related to the day’s instruction. Incidentally, I don’t use the word restriction, but use it here due to convention because that is the term generally used.
I call my restrictions, inducements, because that is what they really are. I simply put down a vest about 18 yards from the goal; this varies widely according to the activities purpose and the space being used.
Vest placed on field is about 20 yards from the goal—though it varies according to the instruction of the day. Any ball won in front of the vest abandons the inducement and a shot is taken with no pass or one pass maximum and less than a total of five touches. The five touches are also subject to the level of players and purpose of the day.
It makes little difference if the game is only 4v4 plus keepers or even 7v7 or 11v11.
This obviously adds no time what so ever devoted to quick counter attack and yet it is done everyday in a game environment so that it is definitely translated to the actual game contests. I regret that this technique is not more widely taught since it is so easy, efficient and valuable to quick counter attack development.
Related to this whole phenomenon are all the possession activities that we all do. For sure possession is a critical activity, but it could be more productive if there was more variety such as in the typical 5 + 5 vs 5 possession there were a target player about 20 yards away and the defensive team when they won the ball were required to deliver it to that target player as soon as possible. The target could shoot with no more than two touches or simply return the ball to the team that delivered it to him.
This of course could be with no keepers or two keepers. If the shot option is permitted the grid players receive another ball immediately and continue possession. If desired, one grid player could join the target player. In this case there is likely a lone defender.
Another entire area, especially noticed with novice coaches is when moving from one activity to another there is a waste of time or at least generally slow movement. I frequently demand that we move from one activity to another very rapidly. Naturally we have appropriate water breaks.
Another area that destroys transition play, obviously a bit different than quick counter attack, but certainly closely allied is slow play in scrimmages (especially throw-ins, etc.), in situations with no or token defense, and other situations. Far too often as soon as the thrower is ready to put the ball in play a teammate is open, yet delay occurs and by then the defense has everyone covered.
This habit comes from a behavior that is common in young players and as coaches do not seem to change this bad habit. Clearly, at other times when no one is open the thrower should wait a moment until a decent option is available.
One of the best cures for this whole domain is competitive exercises, have active defenders whenever appropriate, and virtually keeping score whenever possible. Timed exercises also help.
In short, if you expect quick counter attack and rapid transitions these events must be part of everything you do, because we all know how we train, is how we play.
Some coaches, some very astute, allow practice without shin guards. We always practice with full equipment so that the simulation of training to games is as close as possible.
Anecdote: If ever I forget to put down the vest for the quick counter attack line, players remind me to do so. I find that interesting because they only remind me of things that they like and want to do!
So, not only does this method do a good job of preparing the team for quick counter attack, but apparently also raises the level of motivation in general, and raises the level of quick counter attack!