Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Switching play

Screen 1 (20 mins)

Topic - Switching Play

Welsh Way Principles - Switching Play - Understand when and how to stop a switch of play based on the pressure applied by the defending team

Pitch Dimensions - 30x40 

Intensity - 4 minutes by 1 minutes break x4. (20 minutes total)

Equipment - cones, 2 mini goals, balls, bibs and 1 goal. 

Technical - Managing Space, Passing, Movement

Tactical - Switching Play, Playing away from press

Physical - Aerobic endurance

Social - Communication 

Psychological - Bravery, Confidence

Session Detail

This is a 5v5 (plus goalkeepers) game. One team defends and other attacks, you can switch these teams after each break if required. In this diagram the blue's are defending and will play a 1-4-1 formation. and the reds are attacking. 

The pitch is split into 3 zones, zone 1, zone 2, and zone 3. The defending team are only able to defend 2 zones at a time, such as zone 2 and 3 (this is to make it more game realistic), where as the attacking team can occupy any zone they like at any time. This is to present opportunities for a switch of play. 

The attacking teams aim is to score in the main goal, if the defending team win the ball they can either shoot into the mini goal or dribble over the line of zone 2. 

The attacking team should aim to occupy all zones at all times to stretch the pitch and create switching opportunities. with the defending team playing a 1-4-1 this should create 1 on 1 opportunities when the play is switched. 

Detail 

Managing Space - The 3 zones makes it clear to use the space effectively, get the wide player in the zone opposite to the side with the ball to be in line with the 18yard box, challenge the attacking team to suck the opponents in before playing away from pressure quickly. 

Movement away from ball - Central players should make runs in behind to stretch the defence, wide players should make double movements to lose opponents and create a passing lane to receive the ball and run at the opposition.

In Possession -

Stay wide and be brave

Decision making of when to switch

Rotations to create switch

Speed of switch (are we switching to keep possession or to attack)

Out of Possession -

Can we defend the wide areas,

Can we force them back

Speed of press, can we slow our feet down.

Progressions 

If the team switches the play and scores, the goal will be multiplied by the amount of switches before the goal.