Counterattack
A counterattack is a special type of
attack to the opponent's goal. The counterattack has two important features.
- The counterattack begins, at
speed, at the moment the ball is won. There is no build up, no attempt to
maintain possession or to move the ball about the back of the team to change the point of
attack or to relieve pressure. The counterattack is designed to cut through pressure
quickly and to beat pressure directly, at the risk of losing possession quickly.
- During the counterattack, the ball
should not stop moving forward, at full pace, toward the opponent's goal. Because
the ball is played forward at full pace, and because intervening defenders are dealt with
directly, all opponents who are farther from their own goal than the ball when the
counterattack begins will be unable to defend. Only those defenders between the ball and
the goal at the moment the counterattack begins need to be defeated, so the
counterattacking side will attempt to go by them, taking any risk needed to get a shot. By
attacking directly through each opposing defender in the way, either with attacking moves
or quick combination play, each opposing defender is given only one chance to stop the
counterattack, and most probably each will be forced to tackle. One defender beaten and a
missed tackle or two results in a shot.
Counterattack After Defending a Corner
One of the best times to counterattack and score a goal is after the
opponents attempt a corner kick. Normally opponents press a large
number of players into the penalty area and commit most of their players
forward.
Read Counterattack After Defending
a Corner for ideas and exercises to improve your team's chances of
scoring after the opponents take a corner.
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