Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): SP IP SP leading into SSG OA2

Switching Play In Possession Specific Practice (10 mins)

Welsh principles of play: 

Understand when and how to switch play/ point of attack based on the pressure applied from the opposition.  

Organisation: 

Block 1 SP - T Lee

Block 2 SP - 

In possession (Blue): 

• The coach feeds the ball into the blue team.

• The blue team must switch play before they can score.

• When Blue successfully switches play they are awarded 2 points.

• If Blue successfully switch play and score they are awarded 3 points.

• If Reds stop the switch of play and successfully intercept the ball they can drive with the ball into the end zone, shaded area and are awarded 3 points.

Progressions:

Progression 1: players must not play the ball directly from one side to the other, the ball must be played through the middle of the pitch before it can be switched or a shot can be taken. 

• 60m x 50m area full area width.

• 12 - 16 players (7 Blue v 8 Red)

• 1 Gk to begin with (Red)

• Balls which will be with the coach and the server inside the shaded area.

• Blue team in possession attacking Red goal. 

• Shaded area is the target for Reds to drive into.

• SSG practice is tapered and marked with flat cones.

• 1 center zone, marked by the inner white lines. 
• 2 x 4 mins + 2 min intervention

Conditions, Challenges & Targets: 

• Conditions - 60 x 50m full width of the pitch, depth in the 3/4 of the pitch for specific. 
• SSG - 70 x 50m full width. 

• Challenges - Blue timed countdown to switch play and play forward (3-5 seconds).
• Blue switch play before they can score.
• Red if they win possession they try to reach the end zone. Red is limited to two touches or a timed countdown (3 seconds).
• Blue looking to create a combination play 

• Targets - Blue to switch play into the areas creating goal-scoring opportunities.
• Red in possession to reach end zone. Actively press the ball, break passing lines, defend narrow and prevent the switch of play.

Key Technical/ Tactical points: 

In possession:

• Play through, around, or over the opposition
• Make the pitch as big as possible, maintain width.
• Ball speed, Teasing opposition out of position
• Weight of pass, Direction of pass.
• Movement and body shape to receive.
• Decision making when to switch/ who can switch.
• Speed of switch - fast, slow, long lofted pass.
• Exploit the space.

• Force direction of play
• Defend Narrow and Compact.
• Leave the furthest player/s
• Stop the switch
• Work as a unit, distances between units.  
• Supporting roles of defensive players or unit around the ball

Interventions: 

• Concurrent - player-coach interaction during periods of play, the practice remains uninterrupted. 
• Terminal - player-coach intervention during predetermined breaks in play.
• Walkthrough - the coach utilizes this technique to give players a clear idea of what is required from a practice or block of work. "show players how you would like them to switch play, using a curve, playing with the backline".
• Coaching Process - the coach identifies a problem during play, provides feedback, rehearsal, and restarts practice from the same positions that the problem starts.

Sub Principles:

Breaking lines -playing through the lines - Final third combination play to finish.