What kind of team do we want to be? We want to have the ball. The ball makes us happy. To have possession most of the time requires off-ball movement, communication, awareness, vision, technique, and hard work. Having the ball is also the best form of defending.
If having the ball makes us happy, what makes us mad? Losing it. Our team story this fall starts here. Losing it. Perhaps accidentally, perhaps taking too much risk, perhaps lacking support from our teammates. But now they have the ball. What do we do about it?
We get it back as quickly as possible. We implement the 6 second rule. You lose it… you turn into a hound dog. Attack the ball carrier ruthlessly. 110 percent effort. Be a menace. For 6 seconds.
First session: Coaches won’t worry about other players not supporting the counter press. Focus only on the player who loses the ball and make it clear this is ground zero for expected intensity level. If physical expectations are high upon losing possession, we will lose it less often. Establish the responsibility to your team. If you don’t do it, next man up!
- Day 1: Play possession. Coaches focus only on player effort after losing the ball. How do you win it back? Hound dog. Be aggressive and be smart.
- Activity: Small sided possession games.
- Small focus groups (technical work): 1v1’s: “fast, slow, side, low.” Forcing the opponent where you want them to go. Using your butt to block out the attacker and win the ball.
- Day 2: First circle of two players surround opponent on ball. Second line or circle goes man to man and squeezes to cut off all passing lanes. Third line or circle covers potential long passes. “Keeper sweeper.” Detail. Whenever teammate moves up field,, cover for their position
- Big Group Activity: Small sided games, stay on if you win – encourage your teammates
- Big Group Activity: Sprints: 20 yard. 40 yard. 60 yard.
- Small focus groups (technical work): 1v2’s, win the ball back together
- Day 3: When we win it back in their half, what do we do? Head up. We get burst of movement from a runner and try to play a quick through ball to goal.
- Small focus groups (technical work): turn, head up, through ball to runner