Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending the Switch of Play

Session Design and Rules

Coaching Session - Defending the Switch of Play

Session Design/ Setup: 1/3rd of a pitch | 6 (Red Team; 1-3-2 Formation; 1x GK, 3x CB's and 2x CM's) vs. 6 (Blue Team; 3-3 Formation; 3x CM's, 1x LW, 1x RW and 1x ST) | Red Team (Coached)/ Blue Team (Opposition) | Block 1 (Defending the Small Switch of Play)/ Block 2 (Defending the Big Switch of Play)

Session Objectives: Red Team must attempt to prevent Blue Team from switching play. There will be a total of two blocks, in which, Red Team will be posed problems to solve - the first block will have the Red Team trying to prevent the small switch of play (Blue Team playing the ball across the pitch via short passes to each player) and the second block will focus on the Red Team trying to prevent the big switch of play (Blue Team playing long passes across to the opposite side of the pitch). 

In order for Red Team to find success, they must try and achieve the following:

- Press the ball, as a unit

- Keep opposition play predictable (in front)

- Force opposing play into wide areas and away from goal

- Communicate as a defensive unit, shifting across the pitch whilst getting pressure on the ball simultaneously

Coaching Interventions/ Tactical Input:

- Information/ focus relating to nearest player and an aggressive press

- Tactical information given to players who are not pressing explicitly (covering pitch areas/ space or preventing passing options)

- Red Teams' ability to defend as a unit and remain narrow, leaving Blue Teams' spare player

- Red Teams' ability to force Blue Team to play into wide areas

Session Organisation: 

- Ball starts with Red Team GK

- Red Team scores mini goals

- Blue Team scores in 11-a-side goal

Rules/ Incentives:

- Red Team earn 2x goals for pressing, winning the ball and scoring

- Blue Team earn 2x goals for appropriately exploiting the use of their spare player and scoring 

- Goals scored in any other manner (scoring without pressing, loss of possession or regular play) provide no incentives, but regular points (1x)

Block 1 - Defending the Small Switch (Progression) (5 mins)

Blue Team must pass around the pitch using short passes, trying to move the ball to their spare man - doing so and scoring will result in double rewards.

The Red Team must press the ball as a unit, shifting across the pitch as the ball is passed around - adequate pressure on the ball will force Blue Team to recycle possession, moving the ball from one side of the pitch to another without being able to create opportunities to score.

There will be an onus on tactical information given to Red Teams' players, specifically focusing on the aggression that they utilise to press, the positions that they occupy and the directions that they are attempting to force the ball/ Blue Teams' play. 

If Red Team can press successfully and win the ball

Block 2 - Defending the Big Switch (Progression) (5 mins)

As the ball is played from one area of the pitch to another, Red Team must shift across the pitch as a unit and get pressure on the ball to try and force Blue Team to switch the, hindering their success of creating opportunities to score.

Red Teams' closest players will be responsible for pressing aggressively, whilst their furthest players will be responsible for covering areas of the pitch (shaded zones)

Blue Team are looking to score via utilising their spare player (earning x2 goals as a result), but, they can also score through any other means.