Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): General Practice - OP - Defend the Switch in Play

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Nathan Catherall

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Name:	Nathan Catherall
City:	Nr. Mold
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

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

Key Points:

Out of possession

Force the direction of play
Defend narrow
Leave the furthest player
Stop the switch

In Possession

Make the pitch big
Who can switch play
Exploit the space
Ball speed

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Arrival Activity & Warm Up

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Arrival Activity & Warm Up (10 mins)

All players dribbling in the 15x15 box, with a ball each.

On the coaches command players will complete a ball mastery skill:

Toe Taps
Tick Tocks
Advanced Toe Taps
Sole Rolls
L-Move
V-Snap
Maradona / 360
Scissors
Step Over
Inside Outside
Inside Hook Turn
Outside Hook Turn
Cruyff Turn

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 2

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Screen 2

Learning Objectives:

- Understand how to stop a switch of play based on the pressure applied.

- Understand how to force players away from central areas to delay/stop the switch.

Organisation:

- Area size: 40 x 30 .

- Equipment: Balls, bibs, cones, disc markers.

- Coach to rotate around pitch and change coaching position.

- 5 v 5.

- The pitch into 3 thirds and has tapered corners.

- 2 teams are playing in a 3 v 3 in the half of the pitch in which the ball is in.

- Each team has 2 players locked into the opposite corners of the pitch to represent an outlet for the switch.

- The team in possession is to try and transfer the ball to the opposite corner. When this ball is played, all players should vacate the half and continue to keep the ball purposefully, considering the switch at the earliest opportunity. The out of possession team is to work in a unit to stop the switch/transfer to the opposite corner.

- When the out of possession team regains possession, the teams will transition according.

The coach is coaching the out of possession team and manages the in possession team to ensure session aims are pursued.

Conditions, Challenges & Targets:

Defending team:

Conditions - Only allowed to occupy 2 zones, leaving the furthest man free.

Challenges - Can you press the ball and win it within 8 seconds?

Targets - Avoid split passes on the floor, force play wide.

Individual Targets - To make 3 interceptions/blocks within the last block.

Attacking team:

Condition - No switching from A to A or B to B.

Challenges - Can you play the switch on the first touch?

Targets - Switch the play by playing through, around or over opposition lines and keeping possession.

Coaching Points:

Out of possession:

- Be narrow.

- Force play wide.

- Speed and angle of the initial press.

- Supporting roles for defensive players around the ball.

- Leave the furthest man free.

In possession:

- Make the pitch big.

- Who can switch.

- Fastball speed.

- Rotation of players (who plays the pass swaps place with the receiver).

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): SSG - Screen 1

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SSG - Screen 1

SSG Session - Set-Up

9v8 small-sided game.
8 Blues (managed team) playing 3-4-1 (from a standard 4-4-2 formation).
9 Reds (coached team) playing 4-2-1-1 with a goalkeeper (from a standard 4-4-1-1 formation).

Using a half-pitch and full width.
Pitch split into three zones, using the 18 years box as a guide.
A full-sized goal for the blue team to attack.
Three mini-goals for the red team to attack.

Explanation

Blues (managed) look to score in large goal. Blues to switch play, using the two outside channels as guides.

Reds (coached) look to defend the large goal. Reds to defend against the switch and look to score on the break in any of the three small goals.

Blues to occupy all three channels at all times (either the full-back, the winger or both must stay out wide). The blue team must continually use the switch in play, taking full advantage of the full-backs and wingers out wide to create the attack.

Reds to stay narrow and compact (occupy a max of two channels). Only red full-backs to enter outside channels (creating a potential 2v1 situation for the blue team).

Natural overload-induced due to reds having a keeper and therefore forfeiting an outfield player.

Throw-ins as normal. Reds do not have corners, the blue team do. If a goal is scored, restart from Blue 4, or if the ball goes out for a goal kick.

Challenges and targets

The blues get 2 points for every goal scored for a switch of play including the cross.
The red team to score in any of three goals 1 point for central goal 2 points for either wide goals.
Limit touches for the blues to keep the game at high intensity.
Reds must only play direct at their target goals, to encourage them to lose possession of the ball.

Coaching points

Blue (Managed) team:

Create overloads in wide areas
Patience in possession to move opposition around
Player rotations

Red (Coached) team:

Not touch tight to players (keep an arm's length and in front to stop players running in behind and drifting wide)
Start narrow and allow the ball to go wide initially, then lock players in the channel.

Realism

When playing both teams need to be realistic in their starting positions.
Movement when playing from the back.
Speed of play - knowing when to be patient and when to be direct and utilise the switch of play to find space.
Encouraged to try and switch the play but maintain the realism. i.e. if the blues are through on goal they should try and score not switch the play.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): SSG - Screen 2

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SSG - Screen 2 (15 mins)

Blocks

Block 1 - 0-4 mins

Red CF to sit deep, preventing the CM's from getting the ball.
Can blue's use CB to make the switch in play when appropriate.

Block 2 - 4-8 mins

Red CF to press CB
Can the Blue team find a CM to make the switch

Block 3 - 8-12 mins

Reds to block both of the blue CM's & the CB from receiving the ball
Can the blue team use the CF to make the switch

Block 4 - 12-15 mins

Reds prevent the blues from having overloads out wide.
Can blues move the reds to enable them to switch when crowded out?

Key Out Of Possession Concepts

Encouraged to maintain realism in regards to pitch geography.
Protecting central areas.
High press to put the blue defenders under pressure.

Interventions (to be used as & when appropriate)

Concurrent
Terminal
Coaching Process
Walk-Throughs

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