Crossing Waves: Clear Wide and Counter
Three red defenders defend crosses against three blue attackers, with a neutral on each wing. A clearance that reaches a neutral becomes a counter-attack on the blue goal.
- Age
- U15–Senior
- Players
- 10–14
- Duration
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Intensity
- High
- Area
- 50 × 40 m
- Type
- Tactical
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Waves
- Objectives
- Technical: Crossing
- Tactical: Defensive organisation, Attacking transition
- Concepts worked on
- Technical:Heading
- Tactical:MarkingCoverCounter-attackWidth
Training diagram
The red clearance goes wide to a neutral: red counter-attacks the blue goal with both neutrals.
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Neutral / support
- Goalkeeper
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Shot
- Ball
- Cone
- Goal
A version of Defending Crosses: Clear and Step Out with a goal at each end and a neutral on each wing. The clearance is no longer just getting rid of the ball: it has to go wide to a neutral, because a good clearance turns straight into an attack. A poor clearance gives the second ball to blue, who attack again with the neutrals.
Objective
Clear crosses towards the wings to find a neutral and turn the clearance into a fast counter-attack.
Organisation
- 40 × 50 m pitch with a goal and goalkeeper at each end.
- A 6 m channel on each wing with a neutral in each. Neutrals play with the team in possession and stay in their channel.
- Three red defenders defend their goal against three blue attackers waiting in the box.
How it works
- Each wave starts with a cross from a neutral, alternating wings.
- Blue try to score. Red must clear towards a wing.
- If the clearance reaches a neutral, red attack the blue goal with both neutrals (5 v 3).
- If the clearance does not reach a neutral, or blue win the second ball, blue attack the red goal again with the neutrals.
- The wave ends with a goal, the ball going out or a save. 8 crosses, then swap roles. Goal = 1 point.
Coaching points
- Body between attacker and goal, eyes on the ball.
- Clear high and towards the wing, not through the middle: look for the neutral.
- After clearing, step out together and join the counter-attack straight away.
- Blue: if the clearance reaches a neutral, recover goal-side immediately.
Progressions
- The neutral who receives the clearance has two touches.
- The counter-attack must finish within 10 seconds.
Regressions
- Crosses thrown by hand, slower.
- Blue cannot press the neutral who receives the clearance.
Variations
- Start each wave with a corner instead of a cross.
Key principles
- Clear wide, not through the middle.
- From the clearance to the counter-attack without a pause.
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