Annual training plan · U9–U13

Week 14: Counter-Pressing for Kids

3 complete training sessions with 12 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

The last two sessions dealt with attacking transition. Players were asked to look to play forward quickly and to get to a finish purposefully.

This week continues with defensive transition – what to do immediately after losing the ball. As with attacking transition, the emphasis is on brave and active transition behaviour. The main focus will therefore be on getting into the counter-press quickly. It is about encouraging players to put pressure on the ball again immediately after losing it.

The aim is to demand this behaviour until players counter-press instinctively. Young players in particular tend to switch off completely for a short time after losing the ball. But the aim this week is for the players' first thought to be winning the ball back straight away.

However, an effective counter-press requires more than the player nearest the ball putting pressure on the opponent in possession. It is also important that the other team-mates keep a compact shape and create equal numbers or an overload on the ball side. This should cut off the passing options and create the chance to double up.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

The training session starts with a cognitive warm-up. The aim is for the players to be able to coordinate the movement of their feet while directing their attention to other tasks at the same time. This exercise is intended to help the players look up from the ball more often in matches while keeping control of it at the same time.

This is followed by a 15-minute athletic exercise in which speed and also reactions are key.

Exercises 3 and 4 then aim to improve defensive transition. Keep demanding that the players attack the ball directly after losing possession. This requires a certain amount of patience from you as the coach until this behaviour is carried out intuitively.

In both exercises, the transition for the defending teams takes place with a numerical advantage. This makes it possible for the defenders to double up on the player on the ball or even attack them with several players.

Drill 1

Cognitive Drill: Action Circle

15 min
  • Exercise 1: Every player has a ball lying in front of them and performs step-overs alternately with the left and the right foot. At the same time the coach sets tasks that have to be solved without interrupting the footwork — for example arithmetic tasks or visual tasks.
  • Exercise 2: Every player takes a tennis ball in each hand. Both balls are thrown up a few centimetres at the same time and caught again with the arms crossed. They are then thrown up again and caught without the arms crossed. Step-overs over the ball continue to be performed at the same time.
  • Exercise 3: The ball is rolled back and forth between the feet. At the same time the players throw an additional ball to each other in a random order around the circle, catch it and throw it on to the next player.
  • Exercise 4: The ball is rolled back and forth, the coach stands in the centre of the circle. Numbers for different actions are agreed beforehand, for example catching or a header. The coach throws the ball and calls a number; the player carries out the corresponding action.

Note: The aim of the drills is to make the footwork a secondary matter and to give the brain additional work. As a result, match situations are recognised more quickly and the players can react more quickly.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: The players stand in a circle, the coach in the centre.

Equipment: One ball per player, two additional balls and two tennis balls per player.

Players: The whole group.

Coaching points
  • The aim of the drills is to make the footwork a "secondary matter" and additionally to keep the brain busy with further tasks. This means that match situations can be recognised more quickly and reacted to
Drill 2

Reaction and Speed

20 min

Exercise 1

  • Two players run from the tall cones towards the halfway line or the cone line respectively.
  • Player 1 tries to get to the ball first, either on the left or on the right, in order to finish; while doing so, Player 1 changes direction quickly at least once or twice.
  • Player 2 tries to copy the same movement and to get to the ball sooner.

Exercise 2

  • As in Exercise 1, but Player 1 touches the tall cones in a changing order, and Player 2 does the same.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two red and two yellow tall cones as starting points, about eight to ten yellow and four red cones as a ball line and a halfway line plus two mini goals.

Equipment: 4 tall cones, about 14 cones and 2 mini goals.

Players: Pairs are formed.

Coaching points
  • The striker should beat the defender with a body feint.
Drill 3

Rondo 4 vs 2 with Follow-Up Action

20 min
  • In each square a 4 vs 2 is played alternately; the four players play for possession.
  • If one of the two defenders wins the ball, that defender plays it into the path of the team-mate.
  • This player tries to score in the full-size goal as quickly as possible.
  • The player who lost the ball immediately tries to prevent the goal.
  • The other group takes its turn when the four players have played ten passes in a row — that scores a point — or when the defenders win the ball and finish; a goal also scores a point.

Note: After three rounds on each side, different players go into the middle.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight cones form a square at each of the two top edges of the penalty area; plus the full-size goal.

Equipment: 8 cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Two teams in blue and yellow; plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • After 3 rounds on each side, put different players in the middle
Drill 4

6 Plus 2 vs 4 with Counter-Pressing

20 min20 x 40 metres
  • Team A in yellow plays with six players on the outside and two inside.
  • Team B with four players chases the ball while Team A keeps possession with a maximum of two touches.
  • When in possession the outside players may only stay on the outside.
  • If Team B wins the ball, Team A goes into counter-pressing immediately and tries to win the ball back. The outside players may now move inside as well.
  • Team B tries to dribble out of the area. If Team A wins the ball, play continues straight away.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the playing area.

Equipment: Cones and several balls.

Players: The teams are organised for an 8 vs 4.

Coaching points
  • The outside players always play vertically and not square.
  • When possession is lost all players join in the counter-pressing.
  • The players in the centre put the player on the ball under pressure immediately.
The complete session as a ready-made training plan – with animated drills in the web app. Go to the web app

Session 2

4 drills

The first 35 minutes of training are spent working on coordination. First with an agility ladder, and in the second part in the form of a reaction and sprint exercise.

This is followed by 2 exercises on transition play. Exercise 3 is a form of the 3-colour game, played with mini goals. This makes it necessary to get into counter-pressing immediately and to block the passing lanes to the mini goals.

After that, a small-sided game is played in a 5 vs 4, with the main coaching focus on the defensive transition play of the team with the numerical advantage.

Coaching points for this session
  • Put the player in possession under pressure immediately
  • Close down at high speed
  • Create an overload near the ball
  • Double up on the opponent if possible
Drill 1

Passing and Running with Coordination

20 min
  • Player A passes the ball to Player B and runs through the agility ladder.
  • Player B takes the ball in their stride behind the cone and passes back to the opposite cone.
  • Player B then also runs through the agility ladder.
  • After every pass the players run over the agility ladder on their right-hand side and join the queue again on the other side.

Variations:

  • First play with three touches: first touch, taking the ball in stride and the pass.
  • Later with two touches: take the ball in their stride straight away and pass.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two cones mark the opposite positions; two agility ladders lie next to them.

Equipment: 2 cones, 2 agility ladders and several balls.

Players: Two groups at positions A and B.

Coaching points
  • First with 3 touches: first touch, taking the ball in stride and the pass
  • Later with 2 touches: take the ball in their stride straight away and pass
Drill 2

Reaction Sprints

20 min
  • The coach holds up one or both cones and points with the foot at a cone on the ground.
  • If both cones are held up, both players run to the cone indicated.
  • If only one colour is held up, the player indicated runs to the cone indicated; the other player runs to the diagonally opposite cone.

Variations:

  • Run the drill with a ball.
  • Use two players per colour.
  • Turn at the cone and run back to the middle.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four coloured cones form a playing area, four more coloured cones lie in front of the coach.

Equipment: 8 cones in different colours, bibs and balls.

Players: Two players take up position in the centre of the playing area. The coach holds two cones in the bib colours of the two players.

Drill 3

Counter-Pressing: 3-Colour Game

20 min
  • The coach calls out a colour, which plays as the defending team, and plays the ball to the attacking team.
  • The team with the numerical advantage — for example Yellow and Blue together — tries to play a set number of passes to keep possession and may then finish on one of the mini goals. A goal earns each of the two teams in possession one point.
  • The ball may only be played in the middle zone; the finish also only takes place from the middle zone.
  • If the team with fewer players wins the ball, the team with the numerical advantage goes into counter-pressing immediately. After winning the ball the team with fewer players may finish on the small goals straight away; a goal earns that team two points.
  • If the ball is out of play, the coach immediately brings a new ball into play and names a new team to play with fewer players.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: The playing area is marked out in three zones, with the middle zone bigger than the two outer zones. In addition there are two mini goals.

Equipment: 2 mini goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Three teams of three players each.

Coaching points
  • Two defenders go into pressing, one defender tries to intercept passes.
  • Use the numerical advantage to create space and combine quickly.
Drill 4

Fast Counter-Pressing

25 minAs shown in the graphic
  • The player behind the small goals starts the drill with a pass to one of the team-mates.
  • The team in possession tries to get a finish on goal in the 5 vs 4.
  • If the defending team wins the ball, it finishes on the counter-attack goals.
  • After losing possession the team with the numerical advantage immediately goes into counter-pressing.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark out a rectangle in front of the penalty area. At one end there is the full-size goal with a goalkeeper, at the opposite end two small counter-attack goals side by side.

Equipment: 1 full-size goal, 2 counter-attack goals, 6 cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams playing 5 vs 4, each in their own colour of bibs, one player with a ball behind the small goals plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Create a numerical advantage near the ball immediately.
  • Put the passing options near the ball into the cover shadow.
  • Cover the passing lanes in behind.
  • Put the player in possession under pressure immediately.

Session 3

4 drills

Like the previous training session this week, today's session also starts with a coordination exercise. The extensive coordination training helps the players to carry out technical and also tactical sequences more easily.

In Exercises 2-4, the work then returns to the focus of these training weeks – defensive transition play, specifically counter-pressing. In Exercises 2 and 4, transition play is trained in small-sided games and in Exercise 3 in a 1 vs 1.

Here the players have to make the transition directly after their own shot on goal. A match situation in which players particularly tend to switch off briefly.

In Exercises 2 and 4, the transition has to be made from a possession game. Here you should not only pay attention to the counter-pressing, but also to the now defending team getting from a wide and deep shape into a compact shape around the ball.

Coaching points for this session
  • Put the player in possession under pressure immediately
  • Close down at high speed
  • Create an overload near the ball
  • Organise compactly
  • Double up on the opponent if possible
Drill 1

Coordination with Colour Commands

20 min

The players dribble freely in the playing area. The coach gives one of three commands:

  • Same colour: Every player runs to a cone of their own colour.
  • Different colour: Every player runs to a cone that does not match their colour.
  • Colour to colour: The coach calls out two colours, for example blue to red or yellow to white.

Players who do not reach a cone on the command or go to the wrong one get an extra task, for example a lap of dribbling at speed around the playing area.

Variations:

  • Remove one cone of one colour and play the format as “musical chairs”.
  • Remove one cone of each colour.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Rectangle, marked out with four cones at the corners. Coloured cones lie spread out in the playing area.

Equipment: 4 cones to mark the playing area, coloured cones and bibs in the same number of colours, 1 ball per player.

Players: One team per colour. There must be the same number of bibs and cones of each colour. In the example 4 players each play in red, yellow and blue.

Coaching points
  • Insist on different dribbling variations.
  • After the command, first lift the head.
Drill 2

Counter-Pressing in a 5 vs 3+2

25 min20 x 25 metres
  • The game is played 5 vs 3 at first, with the team in numerical superiority playing for possession.
  • The two players on the touchlines do not join in at first.
  • As soon as the team with fewer players wins the ball, the outside players join in as well and complete that team.
  • The game is now played 5 vs 5 on the whole pitch; both teams look to score.
  • The team that was previously outnumbered attacks the full-size goal, the team that previously had the extra players attacks the small goals.
  • As soon as a finish has been taken or the ball goes out of play, the drill starts again.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: A pitch of 20 x 25 metres is set up in front of the goal; it runs from the penalty spot line to the two mini goals.

Equipment: 1 goal, 2 mini goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Ten players in two teams; two players initially stand on one touchline each. Plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Get into the counter-press quickly.
  • Get to the finish quickly.
Drill 3

Finishing + Quick Transition

20 min
  • Player A sets off dribbling about 20 metres in front of the goal and looks to finish.
  • At that moment Player B sets off and also tries to finish.
  • Player A tries to prevent this with a quick transition.
  • Then another player starts from position A again, and Player B defends.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two goals are set up at right angles to each other.

Equipment: 2 goals and several balls.

Players: Pairs of players at positions A and B; plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Demand an active transition after the finish.
Drill 4

Quick Transition After Losing Possession

25 min
  • The team with the extra players plays for possession.
  • The team with fewer players tries to finish at one of the two goals immediately after winning the ball.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; there is a goal at each end.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams; one team plays with one or two players more. Plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • The team with the extra players makes the game big when in possession.
  • Close down the space immediately after losing possession.
  • Put the player in possession under pressure and create numerical superiority near the ball.
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