Drills for Improving Your Counter-Attack

with Schellas Hyndman,
Grand Canyon University Head Men's Soccer Coach;
former FC Dallas (MLS) Head Coach; 2010 MLS Coach of the Year;
former SMU Head Coach; guided SMU to 22 NCAA Tournaments in 24 years as Head Coach, won 15 conference titles and was named conference coach of the year eight times; NSCAA (now United Soccer Coaches) Director of Coaching Emeritus

Counter-attack soccer has evolved into more than just a moment in a game. This new style of soccer is becoming the fundamental attack for many teams in the world. In this DVD, Schellas Hyndman focuses on how you can incorporate counter-attack soccer into your style of play.

Coach Hyndman thoroughly breaks down moments of transition in a game and how your players can recognize those moments. He does a great job teaching the key elements of counter-attack and then shows, through multiple exercises, how to apply those elements to a practice session. Players will learn the different types of counter-attacks and how each helps the team.

3 Types of Counter-Attack

Counter-attack can be defined in many ways. It's important for players to understand the different methods to counter-attack effectively. Coach Hyndman emphasizes three methods that teams use to generate a counter attack:

• Running and dribbling with the ball into the opponent's area
• Two to three quick passes forward
• Long balls over the top

His progressive training activity illustrates all three of these methods. A great measure of flexibility is afforded for you to pull out the segments that make the most sense in your own circumstance.

Counter-Attack Practice Segments

Coach Hyndman moves the session along from discussing angles and pockets of where players can receive the ball to begin the counter-attack, to playing against more defenders with a different array of numbers advantages.

Practice builds up to players being put in different situations where they have to make decisions on how to counter-attack. Coach Hyndman stops play to describe how players can make a sound decision in these moments. He also discusses several key elements to counter-attack such as:

• Immediate forward action
• Teammates' willingness to support
• Finding swift solutions to problems by looking for opportunities

Coach Hyndman discusses the differences between a fast break and collective counter and between a solo counter and advanced counter.

4v4+1 Exercise

Most of the drills in this video start from a 4v4+1 set up. Coach Hyndman brilliantly incorporates quick ball speed, immediate forward action, a minimum number of passes and fast finishing into this activity. The activity can be expanded into numerous alternate iterations such as a 3v2, 5v1 or 5v2 counter. It's useful to be able to select the counter that best suits your own team.

Relying on his professional experience as a player and coach, Schellas Hyndman outlines the basis of an effective counter-attack, then illustrates the development of a counter attacking mindset. Under the high pressure of these progressive activities, your players will learn to rapidly penetrate under the pressure of a recovering defensive unit.

70 minutes. 2017.