Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Functional Practice Switching play in the final third using full backs and advanced central players.

Screen 1 : Block 1 (10 mins)

Key Factors

• switching play in the final third when playing in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-2-3 formation

Organisation

• half pitch practice
• unopposed drill
• 4 mannequins places in a 10-15m square 
• 4 red cones set up as shown in diagram, play starts nearest the half way line, cones 30-40 yards apart approx where full backs may set up on the pitch. 2 cones nearest 18 yard box set up 5m wider than the 18 yard box, approx where wide attackers would be in a attacking phase on match day.
• the red cones should be populated with defenders and wide players
• the 2 poles at the middle of the 18 yard box should be populated by attackers and central midfield players.

play starts from one of the full back positions and will alternate each start of the drill. 2 attackers sprint into the middle of the blue mannequins area then 1 player pulls out to the left or right of the top of the zone whilst the other player drops to the lower area and looks for space to link with his partner.

block 1: 6 minutes on 2 mins off

players understand that they work in pairs, fullbacks/wingers/central players

on the coaches whistle the central players make their move, the full back starting with the ball plays the pass to the furthest central player and then makes a forward run towards the red cone by the box, as this happens the opposite full back also makes his run.

the central player on the bottom of the diagram should turn to receive the ball from his partner who now has the ball at his feet and back to goal, the bottom player receives the ball and should look to switch play to the opposite full back, ensuring the ball is played in front of him, once the full back receives the ball they run with he ball to the wingers, once the ball is with one winger, both wingers sprint at full speed back to the half way line where the drill starts from the opposite side. the central players return to the back to their original positions at the back of the groups.

this drill should be played at full speed and should be done at 2-3 touch maximum. 

the work to rest ratio is 1:3, this drill should be done in competition season and should be relevant to the teams philosophy. 

Screen 3 : Block 3 (10 mins)

Key Factors

• block 3 as previous block except mannequins changed for passive defenders in blue

Organisation

• block 3 6mins on 2 mins off
• 1:3 work:rest 
• this block allows for some autonomy, the movements will be dictated by the 2 central reds and how they are marked by the 3 blues but the movements remain the same as in the previous 2 blocks.

this drill is the final drill before moving into the 11v11 match day practice which can be both passive and opposed.

key messages:

body positions on receiving the ball e.g. on the half turn, checking shoulders

weight of pass

type of pass

communication on and off the ball

organisation within the units

working in units, being effective off the ball and creating passing opportunities.