Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Stop the Switch OOP 1/8

Stop the Switch

Objectives

Red team to defend the switch of play and try to score in one of the three goals which represent wingers & ST

Description

To coach the red team in and out of possession for block 1&2 (defend the switch & control the switch) & to manage the opposition

To coach the red team in and out of possession for block 3&4 (stop the switch & reinforcement) & to manage the opposition

Coaching details

Force Wide - Keep Play Predictable - Pressure on the Ball - Leave Furthest Players

Opposition Management

The Blue team to make the pitch big, maintain width, exploit the space, ball speed

Red team

1-4-2-3-1 with back four, 2 CMs & 10

Blue team

1-4-2-3-1 with fullbacks, CM, 10, wingers & ST

Block 2 Control the Switch

Challenges, Conditions or Targets Block 2:

Red team defends the blue team by preventing forward passes and forcing the opposition back and around keeping play predictable. Can the red team successfully force the blue team backwards after the switch and make play predictable.

What if the blue team switch successfully and get into a crossing position? 

The red team will then drop as a unit with the back four(closest fullback presses the winger in possession) covering the width of the penalty box and the two CMs picking up runners from outside the box. 

SSG

Area Size

Half Pitch

Positions /Players – roles and responsibilities

Red team GK-4-2-3-1 taken out 2 wingers (Coached)

Blue team GK-4-2-3-1 taken out 2 CBs (Managed)

Timings / Blocks of Work to Rest

3 x 4 minute blocks 1 minute rest in between

Problems & Solutions x 2

Problem 1 Blues look to switch play via the 6 and look to build through the fullbacks

Solution 1 red 10 looks to press/intercept pass to blue 6, red 9 looks to press the fullbacks. Defend over 2 lanes and leave the furthest player. Players to shift across pitch when the ball switches.

Problem 2 Blues look to switch play via their 9

Solution 2 Red 6 to cover passes to blue 9 coming from deep. Red CBs can look to jump in if square passes are coming from blue wingers. Try to defend over 3 lanes and press aggressively. 

Conditions / Challenges / Targets

If the red team can score after preventing a switch it is worth 3 goals 

If the blue team can switch the ball from lane 1-3 and score it is worth 2 goals

Opposition Management

Make the pitch big - Maintain width - Decision making when to switch - Who can switch - Exploit the space - Ball speed

Intervention Strategies

Terminal - Tactics board, explaining formations and positions, reinforcing principles of play

Concurrent - Recognise when to press, angle of run on the press, 

Walkthrough - To show success, errors or example of how you want the play to be, help the CMs positioning (not on same line)

Coaching process - To show the solutions to the problems, fix errors and positioning, to coach technical details, who to mark, when to press, force opposition wide

What If?

If the red team gets lots of success the blue 6 and fullbacks could drop deeper to give the reds more distance to cover to press them

Technical

Who marks who? Shifting across when a switch has been made. Who to press, when to press, angle of press. Make play predictable by forcing them back.       

Principles of play

Force wide - Keep play predictable - Pressure on the ball - Leave furthest players