Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Small sided game (SSG) - Switching the play!

Screen 1

Equipment

- Bag of Footballs 

- Cones to mark out the pitch

- 2 Different sets of bibs to make 2 teams 

- 2 Goals 

- Pitch size of 64x40m (wide but narrow to create space out wide)

Players

- This drill is designed to be played out in a small sided game so you will need 2 teams with equal players (7v7, 9v9 or 6v6)

- The coach could hand pick players for the team they are focusing on to make sure the focus really comes out of the practice, for example 2 centre backs that are commutable on the ball, a number 6 who is comfortable receiving under pressure, wingers who can pick the ball top and drive and a striker who is comfortable receiving the ball with their back to goal. 

- The coach could also pick players for the other team that have the energy to apply a press and keep the press going throughout the session.

Player Details

Centre back - drop to receive then play quick. If the pass isn't on out wide then run with the ball into the space to make the defender make a decision (whether to press or drop off).

Winger - "Get chalk on your boots" (stay really wide to be available for the switch, then drive at the defender but if a shot or cross isn't available then recycle the ball to the centre back to switch the play again.

Number 6 - drop in-between the strikers to pick up the ball and create space for the pass out wide. Movement is key but sometimes standing still is a great skill.

Striker - stay high and occupy the defenders but be ready to receive the ball with the defender trying to win the ball back. 

Description 

During this drill the coach will try and get the blue team to utilise the space out wide to attack the opposition goal by switching the play.

The coach should try and get the players to figure out the 5 different way of switching the play which are: 

- Hollywood pass (Long diagonal from one side to the other)

- Going from the goal keeper to the centre back to then pass the ball into space in front of the winger.

- Playing through the number 6 to then go out wide.

- Going from the goalkeeper straight out to the winger 

- Recycling the ball from the winger back through the defence to then get the ball to the other side.

If the opposition team win the ball back then they will have 7 passes to score a goal before the practice restarts at the goalkeeper for the team who the coach is focusing on.

Half way through the drill the coach could allow the position team to change their formation to on of their choice to then change how the coaches team can switch the play or score a goal.

Conditions 

The coach could say that if the team trying to switch the play use only one of the three sectors (middle, left and right) then the goal will count as 1 but if they use all three of the sectors then the goal will count as 3.

The coach could put a restriction on the amount go touches the players can use so they can focus more on passing quick (quick passing to switch the play while the winger still has a large amount of space), this way the players won't dribble as much.