Soccer Drills & Trainingby Play 2 Earn Sports

Soccer transition drills:153 you can watch in 3D

The moment the ball changes hands is when teams are least organised. Show players what to do in those few seconds.

Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

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See all 153 transition drills in the app
The sample drill Slow Pass Means Go: six players on a green field.
Try itSlow Pass Means Go

Drag a player, then press play. These are sample names: sign in and your real roster imports automatically. Try your own names, numbers and kit.

Transition drills train the seconds after the ball changes hands: going forward quickly when you win it, and reacting when you lose it. They run from U8 to adult teams, and most are for U12 and older. Here are a few to look at, and the app has all 153, each one playing in 3D.

8 of 153

Cut-Back from the Byline: 9 players at the start of the drill, in 3D on a green field. U12

Cut-Back from the Byline

10 min · 9 players

Steal the ball, break down the wing to the end line and pull it back for a late runner in the middle of the box.

  • After the steal, the first ball goes straight to the wide player so the break starts before the defenders can turn
  • Carry it almost to the end line, then roll the pull-back along the grass with the inside of the foot
Two-Box Possession: 11 players at the start of the drill, in 3D on a green field. U14

Two-Box Possession

10 min · 11 players

Keep the ball in one box, then play into the second box.

  • Keep the ball in the first box
  • Play forward at the right time
Win It Back in the Central Zone: 13 players at the start of the drill, in 3D on a green field. U14

Win It Back in the Central Zone

8 min · 13 players

Lose the ball in the central zone, then win it back straight away.

  • React to the loss
  • Press as a unit
Recovery Run to the Goal Side: 5 players at the start of the drill, in 3D on a green field. U12

Recovery Run to the Goal Side

14 min · 5 players

Sprint back past the ball to get goal-side of the attacker before the next pass arrives.

  • Sprint back on the inside shoulder, not behind the attacker
  • Get goal-side first, then look for the ball
Transition Rondo: Winners Keep the Ball: 12 players at the start of the drill, in 3D on a green field. U12

Transition Rondo: Winners Keep the Ball

16 min · 12 players

Keep the ball under pressure with quick passes and win it back fast when it is lost.

  • Pass before the presser arrives
  • The moment you lose it, the nearest player presses
2v1 to Goal Then the Defender Breaks Out: 4 players at the start of the drill, in 3D on a green field. U10

2v1 to Goal Then the Defender Breaks Out

12 min · 4 players

Finish a 2v1, then react as the defender wins the ball and breaks out to the mini goals.

  • Attack the defender at speed to make the 2v1
  • The defender steps in front, wins it and turns out
U14 7v7 Ten-Second Attack: 14 players at the start of the drill, in 3D on a green field. U14

U14 7v7 Ten-Second Attack

8 min · 14 players

Attack quickly and finish within ten seconds in a 7v7 game.

  • Attack at speed
  • Support the ball carrier
Losers Press Transition Rondo: 8 players at the start of the drill, in 3D on a green field. U16

Losers Press Transition Rondo

18 min · 8 players

Keep the ball to score, and the moment you lose it you press to win it back before the other team scores.

  • Six passes is a point for the team in possession; a regain is a point for the other team
  • The team that just lost the ball presses immediately: nearest player to the ball, the rest cut the square

145 more transition drills are in the app, each playing in 3D with the full set-up and steps.

See all 153 transition drills in the app

When you win the ball

Look forward first

The first look goes to the most forward teammate. If it is on, play it.

Run into space

Other players sprint ahead of the ball, not towards it.

Finish quickly

Set a time limit on the attack, so players get used to going straight to goal.

When you lose the ball

Win it back or delay

The nearest player goes straight at the ball, so a counter-attack cannot start easily.

Cover behind

Players further away drop back and fill the space behind the first player.

Change roles fast

Teams swap attack and defence on a signal, so reactions get quicker.

Questions

What does transition mean?

The moment a team goes from attacking to defending, or from defending to attacking, when the ball changes hands.

What age should teams work on transition?

The app has drills from U8, with most from U12 up. Younger players can start with a simple switch of direction.

How long do these run?

Most run for 10 to 20 minutes.

See all 153 transition drills in the app

Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Get early access
About the soccer drills app