19/09/22, 00:23 Transition Play - Elite Soccer

SIGN IN (HTTPS://ELITESOCCERCOACHING.NET/LOGIN) MENU

(https://elitesoccercoaching.net/)

Home (https://elitesoccercoaching.net) Transitions (https://elitesoccercoaching.net/transitions/) Transition Play

TRANSITION PLAY
By: Clinton Lancaster (https://elitesoccercoaching.net/coach/clinton-
lancaster/)

KEY
DOWNLOAD SESSION (HTTPS://WWW.ELITESOCCERCOACHING.NET/WP-
SETUP CONTENT/UPLOADS/2021/11/ISSUE-137-LANCASTER-TRANSITION-
PLAY.PDF)

Area Half a pitch

Equipment Balls, bibs, cones, 4 mannequins, 2 full size goals

No. of players 16 players + 2 goalkeepers

Session time 30mins

https://elitesoccercoaching.net/clinton-lancaster/transition-play/ 1/9
19/09/22, 00:23 Transition Play - Elite Soccer

SIGN IN (HTTPS://ELITESOCCERCOACHING.NET/LOGIN) MENU

(https://elitesoccercoaching.net/)
The main focus of this session is on transitional play, where we aim to hit the wide
areas of the pitch as quickly as possible. We then look at the many variations of
how we hit the wide areas. For example, playing the ball wide directly from the
goalkeeper, or playing it into the striker and then out wide, or sliding passes out
wide from central areas.

This session gets everyone engaged as it has a variety of components that we can
work on. It also allows my staff to work on other areas of play. I can allocate one
coach to work on defending the cross, while another coach works on the press and
how we prevent the possession team from building an attack and playing forward
and wide.

This session allows players to be creative in the final third. It focuses on the quick
transition that allows players the freedom to attack the goal at pace and quickly
score. On the flip side of the attacking transition, we can also use it to look at the
defensive transition and how players should recover at speed.

It’s not a session we run every week, but it is one we will revisit if we recognise that
we need to hit the wide areas against our upcoming opponents. If we notice that
our forthcoming opposition like to get their full backs high when in possession, we
will use this session as a reminder to the players to hit those wide spaces in
behind.

“We will revisit this session if we recognise that we need to hit the
wide areas against our upcoming opponents”

TRANSITION GAME
We set up on half a pitch with a goal and a goalkeeper at each end. The main
playing area is coned of to the width of the penalty area and an 18-yard box is
marked out in front of each goal. A wide channel flanks the main playing area on
either side and mannequins are positioned outside the halfway line as starting
points for the wide players and full backs.

We’re using 16 outfield players split into two teams of eight. In each half a pair of
central defenders come up against two strikers in a 2v2, or a 3v2 including the
goalkeeper. The wide players and full backs for each team wait outside of the main
playing area in the wide channels on either side of the halfway line. The attacking
teams wingers should be positioned at the mannequins in their attacker’s half, as
shown.

https://elitesoccercoaching.net/clinton-lancaster/transition-play/ 2/9
19/09/22, 00:23 Transition Play - Elite Soccer

Play starts with the red goalkeeper, who passes the ball out to a central defender to
SIGNsituation.
build play from the back in a 3v2 IN (HTTPS://ELITESOCCERCOACHING.NET/LOGIN) MENU
(https://elitesoccercoaching.net/)

[1a]

1. Play starts with a pass from the keeper and the red possession team builds from the back. In each half a
pair of central defenders come up against two strikers in a 2v2
2. The red possession team looks to pass the ball forwards into a striker in the attacking half. The red striker
then combines with a wide player on the outside
3. The red wide player crosses, with the forwards making well-timed runs to meet the ball and finish
4. The red attacking team’s wide player on the opposite side of the pitch can join in by making a supporting
back-post run
5. The opposition full backs can also make recovery runs to help their team to defend, but they can only do
so once the ball has crossed the halfway line

“What I am looking for in this session is an awareness of how to exploit

the wide areas of the pitch as quickly as we can”

[1b]

https://elitesoccercoaching.net/clinton-lancaster/transition-play/ 3/9
19/09/22, 00:23 Transition Play - Elite Soccer

SIGN IN (HTTPS://ELITESOCCERCOACHING.NET/LOGIN) MENU

(https://elitesoccercoaching.net/)

1. If the red forwards fail to get on the end of the cross and it is claimed by the blue keeper, the ball can be
distributed immediately into one of the two blue strikers
2. The striker brings an outside wide player into the game with a pass out into the wide channel and the
blues counter-attack
3. The recovering full backs and the attacking wide players from the previous attack should now sprint back
into their original starting positions in the outside channels

“We encourage players to slide passes across the floor. The aim is to
attack quickly, so we need players to recognise the type of pass that
will allow that”

The aim for the possession team is to pass the ball forwards into a striker in the
attacking half. The red striker then combines with a wide player on the outside, who
has made a supporting forward run to receive. The attacking team aims to produce
a cross and a finish, with the forwards making well-timed runs to meet the ball.

The attacking team’s wide player on the opposite side of the pitch can join in by
making a supporting back-post run into the main playing area, creating an initial 3v2
overload in favour of the red attacking team. One opposition full back from each
wide channel can also make recovery runs to help their team to defend, but they
can only do so once the ball has crossed the halfway line, as shown [1a].
https://elitesoccercoaching.net/clinton-lancaster/transition-play/ 4/9
19/09/22, 00:23 Transition Play - Elite Soccer

If the red forwards fail to get on the end of the cross and it is claimed by the
SIGN IN (HTTPS://ELITESOCCERCOACHING.NET/LOGIN) MENU
opposition goalkeeper, the ball can be distributed immediately into one of the two
strikers on their team. The practice now continues in the opposite direction, with
(https://elitesoccercoaching.net/)

the blue striker bringing an outside wide player into the game with a pass out into
the wide channels. The recovering red full backs from the previous attack should
now sprint back into their original starting positions in the outside channels, as
shown [1b].

On receiving the ball from the keeper, the striker can link up with either outside
wide player and, as a progression, the wide player can also now drive inside the
main playing area with the ball and is free to shoot at goal from an angle. The
opposite wide player continues to join the attack by making runs to the back post
area, as shown [1c].

The session can be progressed further by allowing the possession team to build play
with a pass directly into the wide area rather than going straight into the striker
first.

[1c]

1. On receiving the ball from the keeper, the striker can link up with either outside wide player
2. As a progression, the wide player can also now drive inside the main playing area with the ball and is free
to shoot at an angle
https://elitesoccercoaching.net/clinton-lancaster/transition-play/ 5/9
19/09/22, 00:23 Transition Play - Elite Soccer

COACHING POINTS
SIGN IN (HTTPS://ELITESOCCERCOACHING.NET/LOGIN) MENU
What are the key things to look for?
(https://elitesoccercoaching.net/)

What I am looking for in this session is an awareness of how to exploit the wide
areas of the pitch as quickly as we can. I want to see players winning the ball in our
half and then playing forward quickly to get in behind the opposition full back. If we
are unable to play forward quickly, then the next best option is to maintain
possession and build.

Once we win the ball, we need to recognise whether our striker can receive or if we
can play directly wide. I am therefore looking at the striker’s body positions: have
they been pinned by the defender or are they moving into pockets of space?

I’m then looking for the quality of the pass into the wide areas: is it to feet, is it into
space? What does the pass say to the wide player: play off one-touch or play off
two-touch? Lastly, we want to see good supporting movement from the attacking
team.

What are the typical mistakes players might make and how do I avoid them?

A typical mistake players can make is to force play wide when it isn’t on. Sometimes
players must turn the option down and build play a different way.

Another common mistake occurs when players look to play a high ball into the wide
area. This makes it harder for the wide player to play off one-touch. To remedy this
we encourage players to slide passes across the floor. The aim is to play and attack
quickly, therefore we need players to recognise the type of pass that will allow that.

How long does the session last?

It can last for 30 minutes. This includes jumping in with coaching points and
progressions. I have always found the players enjoy this session, so don’t be afraid
to overrun it slightly. The most important thing is that you make your messages
clear.

RELATED

https://elitesoccercoaching.net/clinton-lancaster/transition-play/ 6/9