Triangle Split and Counter
Six attackers move the ball around a three-player triangle screen, find a ground pass between its two covering defenders, then react when a regain turns into a four-goal counterattack.
- 12 min
- 9–12 players
Drill · U15
Reset After Clearance
A defensive pair clears a first low service, then looks up and reorganises before a separately released second ground ball.
- Duration
- 12 min
- Players
- 5–10 (ideal 5)
- Defending
- Transition
- Scanning
Setup
Step 1 of 2
One complete 5-player group is shown. Two blue servers occupy separate wide starting positions with a ball each; blue 3 waits as a central receiver. Two red defenders protect the receiving space. A flat marker identifies a clear ground-clearance route away from all players. Only one ball can be active at a time.
Coaching points
- Setup: Two blue servers occupy separate wide starting positions with a ball each; blue 3 waits as a central receiver. Two red defenders protect the receiving space. A flat marker identifies a clear ground-clearance route away from all players. Only one ball can be active at a time.
- Play: Blue 1 gently serves into red 1’s clear receiving space. Red 1 settles and directs a controlled ground clearance towards the flat marker. Stop that ball completely before blue 2 is released. Red now scans the second server, communicates first pressure and cover and adjusts to the new route.
- Play continued: Blue 2 makes one gentle ground pass towards blue 3; red earns one for a clean interception with both defenders reset. A blue reception ends the attempt without a shot.
- Reset and rotation: Stop after the second pass, or immediately if the first clearance has not stopped in a safe place. Collect both balls with everyone stationary and rotate all five roles each episode. Rest after three turns each and mirror service sides; this is a bounded two-phase rehearsal, never simultaneous multiball play.
- Numbers: The diagram shows 5 players. With up to 10, use a second complete group in a separate area. Odd spare players rest off the area and rotate into a playing role every 45 seconds; everyone has equal turns.
- Coach focus: The first clearance is not the end of responsibility. Look towards the next source of the ball, check the teammate’s position and call the new roles before the second service. A safe settled clearance is preferable to a forceful kick.
- Safety: Two sequential ground balls with an explicit complete stop between phases; no aerial clearance, heading, contact, slide, keeper or occupied-foot tackle. Keep the clearance area empty and stop for converging routes. Retrieve only after both balls are stationary.
Equipment
- Ball · 3 per group, including a spare
- Flat Marker · 1 per group
- Flat Marker · 4 per group for field and zone corners, in addition to pictured markers
- Bib · 5 per group; colours match the pictured roles
Progressions
- Easier Pause after the first clearance and name both new defensive responsibilities before releasing blue 2.
- Harder Blue 2 may choose a nearby safe service angle before release so red rescans and adjusts; retain the complete first-ball stop and gentle service.
