Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): FAW / UEFA B License - Specific into SSG / Defending the switch of play

Specific (10 Mins) (20 mins)

Specific Practice / Out of Possession - Defending the switch of play

Framing 'The Welsh Way Principles' – Out of Possession

Focus: Preventing the Switch

Objectives:- 

Understand when and how to stop a switch of play based on the pressure applied by the defending team 

Specific Practice

Out of Possession Team – Red (Coached) Set up in a (GK) 1-4-2-1 (representative of a 1-4-2-3-1) In Possession Team – Blues (Managed) Set up in a 1-2-2-3 (representative of a 1-4-3-3) 

How:- 

The coach is to work with ONE team only, out of possession, in this case the reds on how they stop the switch of play. When the reds have possession they wont be coached but will look to break lines on the counter attack by passing into common player or score by passing into one of the mini nets or by driving forward with the ball past the half line. The coach will manage the opposition to switch play and ensure realism for both teams for the duration of the session. 

Explanation: 

The opposition in possession have to switch play after getting the ball into a wide zone before they score. This will give the coach the opportunity to work on the defensive principles of stopping the switch of play/ dealing with a switch of play. The red team here are illustrated as occupying two out of the three zones to limit the space and time of the players in possession. If the red team win the ball they must then counter attack in 5 seconds & get the ball into either mini net/ passed half way line. 

Teams can 'score' by:- 

1. The blue team scoring from open play will be one goal, scoring directly from a switch in play will be worth 2 goals & switching play from a wide zone to the opposite wide zone and scoring against the GK / reds will be worth 3 goals. 

2. The reds on gaining the ball will be on a 5 second time limit to to score from a counter attack and break lines, scoring past the keeper will be worth one goal, passing into either mini nets will be worth two goals. 

3. Ball to always start from Blue team goal keeper.

Problem 1

The blue team are freely and frequently switching the play with ease with very little pressure?

Solution

-Coached team (Reds) adopt a higher line but stay narrow

-CM's apply pressure, '10' also but arches his runs to block passing lanes  

Challenges, Conditions & Targets 

1. The conditions are half pitch practice with tapered lines from half way as shown. The targets for the blues are the wide zones either side of the practice and the fixed goal. For the red team it's the mini nets or drive past half way. 

2. The challenges are the blue team MUST switch play before scoring. 

3. The red team out of possession MUST fill 2 out of the three zones when defending leaving the furthest player/s. The reds are also challenged with scoring from a counter attack. 

4.The two blue wingers MUST be on two touch or three seconds in possession. This gives you the problem as the coach that you want but keeps things realistic. 

Key Points: 

Out of possession:- 

Force direction of play 

Defend narrow 

Leave the furthest player/s 

Stop the switch 

In possession (Not coached):- 

Playthrough, around or over the opposition 

Ball speed 

Weight of pass 

Use of width and depth 

Direction of pass 

Movement to receive 

Interventions:- 

Concurrent 

Terminal 

Walk Through 

Coaching Process