Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): OA3 defending the switch of play

Defending Switch of play

Key Factors 

Specific / Defending the Switch of Play/ Out Possession

Mode: Function 

Welsh way principles 

To understand when and how to stop the switch of play based onthe pressure applied by the defending team. 

Organisation 

Area size: Half a pitch, 3 small goals on the half way line

Cones - length from the halfway line to the edge of the box 10 yards apart, width touchline to touchline.

8v8 with a goalkeeper.

Shaded area is the attacking third for the blues.

Defending team to set up as a 4-1-2 or 4-3 (4 defenders and 3 midfielders as if we were playing a 4-3-3). Net to resemble striker and 2 wingers).

Attacking team set up as a with 4-1-3 or 5-3 (resembling a 4-3-3 with 3 attackers up top, 3 midfielders and 2 full backs joining to attacking support. This creates an overload in wide areas making more problems for the defending team).

Split the area into 3 channels using flat markers.

Explanation

Coach Reds & Manage Blues 

Blue team will try and switch the play from the left channel to the right channel or through all three (Visa versa) if successful they canattack the goal unopposed scoring with a 1st time finish. 

Reds and Blues MUST stick to their channels!Reds must defend the switch from the blues and anticipate their passes and cut any balls through ,around or over the channels. Ifsuccessful the must score in a small goal in the same channel they won the ball in.  

Details: 

Focus on the 4Ds of Defending - Defend, Deny, Deflect & Delay. 

Defenders - To make the area as narrow and compact as possible, forcing blues to playing and around, enticing them to force theirpasses and make mistakes. Use the channels as reference point when the ball is moved across, shuffle as far as possible keepingit narrow. Anticipate the switch and press quickly to put the blues on the back foot. Forcing them away from the attacking third. 

As soon as the attacker looks to play the switch the midfielder needs to see the pass and travel & press to meet the ball on his touch. 

We can also look at delaying & denying attackers etc. 

- Closest player to the ball press quickly. 

- Stay narrow & Compact 

- Anticipate the switch of play. 

- Step high make it difficult for the blues to play. 

- Man mark and staytight to players. 

In Possession: 

- Pass into small goal in the same channel it was won. 

- Defending Switch of Play 

- Make pitch big 

- Decision making when to switch 

- Exploit space 

- Ball speed 

Out Possession: 

- Stay narrow & compact. 

- Defend & Cover (1 presses, 2nd player covers behind) 

- Force wide 

- Pressure the ball  

Targets, challenges & conditions 

- Focus on the 4 D's of defending 

- Reds Press high and quickly. 

- Reds score in small goals. 

- Reds must score in a goal in the same channel it was won. 

- Blues to switch the play before attacking the attacking third. 

- Blues to attack unopposed if successful with the switch. 

Key points 

- Organisation 

- anticipation 

- Speed 

- Communication 

- Decision Making 

- Pressure 

- 4D's of defending 

- Reference points 

- Positioning  

Interventions 

- Concurrent 

- Terminal 

- Coaching process 

- Walk through

SSG

Key Factors 

Specific / Defending the Switch of Play / Out Possession 

Mode: Function

Welsh way principles

 To understand when and how to stop the switch of play based on the pressure applied by the defending team.

Organisation

Area size: Half a pitch, 2 goals either end.

8v8 with 2 goalkeepers

2 Cones creating gates. 

 Line of cones cutting off wide areas in blues defensive half. No wingers needed for the red team. 

Like for like formations, both teams set up as a 4-3-3. Reds with no wingers and blues with no full backs.

Explanation

Normal game rules apply but in order to attack and score the ball must be passed or dribbled through a gate. This is to force the team in possession to attempt to play down one side with the opponents anticipating the play forcing the attacking team to switch and the defending team to adjust and react.

If the Reds defend 1 side of the pitch the ball will be forced to be switch to get out the other side before being able to go and attack.

If Reds stop the switch they can pass into the small goals acting as wide players or go on and score against the keeper.

Targets, Conditions & Challenges 

- Can Red prevent the switch?

- If Red stop the switch can they pass or score into a goal.

2 points for the big goal, 1 point for small.

- Blues to get through a gate before attacking. if successful the can have 1 point. If they score as well 2 points.

- Red to make the area compact and narrow. 

- Blues must Pass or dribble through the gate

- Reds don't have to go through the gates.

Key Points

- 4D's of defending

- Pressure

- Speed 

- Awareness

- Communication

- Positioning 

- Decision Making