Defence vs attack drill with wingers

Diagram of a defence vs attack drill with wingers on a half pitch, showing four central zones and two wide winger channels marked by cones.
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This defence vs attack drill with wingers is a half-pitch, zoned game that trains wide runs, crossing decisions, and defending crosses, then rewards a composed regain by letting the defending team break out and build to a midfield mini-goal — all under a 3-touch limit to keep the tempo high and decisions sharp.

Setup

Use half a pitch with a full-size goal and goalkeeper. Set up two wide winger channels (one each side) and four central zones using cones, as shown in the drill image.

Play 7v8 + 1 goalkeeper (GK not counted). Numbers can be adjusted as long as the zone structure and winger roles stay the same.

Red attack with a 2-1-2 shape in the central zones plus two wingers in the wide channels. Blue defend in a 3-1-3-1 across the central zones. Place a small goal around midfield for blue to score into.

Equipment Needed

  • Half pitch + one full-size goal with a goalkeeper
  • 1 small goal (midfield target)
  • Cones to mark zones and channels
  • Footballs (to keep restarts quick)
  • Bibs (to separate teams)

Rules & Instructions

  • Start Play: Red restart the attack from midfield.
  • Touches: Maximum three touches per player for the full exercise.
  • When Red Have the Ball:
    • Blue stay inside the central zones (no defending in the winger channels).
    • Red wingers stay in the wide channels and can move up and down them.
    • Only the two red strikers can operate in the last two central zones.
    • Only red strikers can shoot at the full-size goal (wingers cannot shoot).
  • When Blue Win Possession: Play becomes free — all players can move anywhere as blue build and score in the small goal.
  • Scoring: Red score in the full-size goal; blue score in the small midfield goal (from any area).
  • Restarts (After Goals): If red score, blue restart from their goal with the goalkeeper starting. If blue score, red restart from midfield.
  • Ball Out of Play: Throw-ins follow official football rules. No corners: red corner → red restart from midfield; blue corner → blue restart from their goal (GK).

Coaching Tips

  • Demand early delivery from wide areas when the picture is on (cross or cut-back).
  • Coach strikers to arrive on the move (front post, back post, penalty spot timing).
  • When red have the ball, cue blue to shuffle together inside the central zones and protect the box before the cross.
  • On blue regains, insist on clean first touch and a simple first pass before trying to score.
  • Keep the three-touch rule honest: scan before receiving so the next action is already decided.

Why It Works for Adult Amateur Teams

Adult amateur teams often struggle with two things at once: creating quality service from wide areas and defending the box without losing structure. This game forces both, because the winger channels create repeated crossing moments while the zonal defending demands coordinated movement and coverage.

The midfield mini-goal adds a realistic transition target. When blue win it, they’re rewarded for keeping the ball and building forward — not just blocking and clearing — which makes the drill feel closer to match demands.

Key Outcomes

  • More consistent winger runs and better delivery choices under pressure
  • Improved striker timing and finishing from realistic wide service
  • Stronger zonal defending habits when protecting the box
  • Cleaner transition moments when defenders regain possession
  • Better team shape retention during attack-to-defend and defend-to-attack phases

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