Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Sam Holmshaw - UEFA B - Session 3 - Switching play
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Samuel Holmshaw
Profile Summary
| Name: | Samuel Holmshaw |
|---|---|
| City: | Shenzhen |
| Country: | China |
| Membership: | Adult Member |
| Sport: | Football/Soccer |
Description
Date: 6/4/25 Player age: U14 Number of Players: 15/16 Session time: 90 minutes
Topic: Switching play
Main Coaching points
In possession principles: Make the pitch big, maintain width, decision making when to switch, who can switch, export the space, ball speed.
Out of possession principles: Force the opposition wide, keep play predictable, pressure on the ball, leave the futhest players.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Specific Practice (Problem 1)
Problem 1: Opposition defending a high line and pressing high.
Managed Team:
Setting up the problem: Team challenged to press high, defensive line no lower than the reference point to start. Defence to only drop back after the final third is penetrated.
Managing opposition:
Back four high and in line with the mannequins as reference point, 10-12 yard's apart in length. CB's to position on the 6 yard lines either side. full backs to position on the 18 yard line either side.
Trigger for full backs to press when ball played to opposition winger. Upon full back pressing, opposite full back to tuck in and leave furthest player, maintaining 10 yard distance.
6 to man mark opposition number 10. 8's to put pressure on their opposition 8's, closest 8 engage to press 5 when he has the ball.
Challenge: Challenge the opposition to try to win the ball back within 3 seconds after losing it.
Target: Each time the opposition wins the ball, they gain a point, if they can then score, they gain 3 points.
Conditions:
Defensive team has a time limit of 8 seconds to score.
Focused Team
Solution: Direct switch in behind.
Start positions, 7 & 11 in wide space, touching the sideline, both 8's occupying starting position in half spaces. 5, 10 and 9 occupying central space. 5 to shift across left or right.
11 to drop short and receive the ball from 5, when the ball is played into 11, players 9, 10 and 5 drift across left quickly, 10 staying in line with goalkeeper, 9 in line with left 6 yard line, 5 in line with front post. right 8 makes a run into the wide area whilst 7 runs in behind into the half space, 11 makes a direct switch to 7. 7 drives forwards to score or play into 9,10 or 11 who make runs to the front post, back post and edge of 18 yard box.
Pitch Geography:
5 to move as far as the front or back post when shifting across left and right.
9 and 10 and 5 always occupying central space. When attempting to create a switch option, 9 always to shift across to the 6 yard line, 10 in line with GK and 5 front or back post.
8's in the half space, 7 and 11 in the wide spaces.
Challenge: Switching the play in 3 passes
Target: Every successful switch of play the team is given a point, if they can score from the switch, they gain 3 points.
Conditions: 7 & 11 can only move into wide or half space, cannot enter central space.
8's may enter central, half and wide space, but only left and right (i.e right 8 can enter right half and wide space, but not left half space)
9, 10 and 5 able to enter either half space and central space, but not wide space.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Specific Practice (Problem 2)
Problem 2: Defensive team are sat in a low block
Managed Team
Setting up the problem: Defensive team sit in a low block, around 10m apart in formation 4 - 3 (two 8's to form a defensive line with the 6).
Managing opposition: Defensive team challenged to defend 3 zones of the pitch. Team challenged to stay compact as a unit, shuffling across left or right to follow the play.
If the ball touches the winger in the wide zone, full back to enter wide space, nearest CB to enter half space, second CB in line with the corner of the 6 yard box, second full back in line with the goalkeeper.
6 and 8's organise into a midfield 3 unit, and challenged to sit infront of defence. If ball goes right and 2 enters wide space, right 8 in line with 4, 6 in line with 5, left 8 in line with 3. if ball goes left and 3 enters wide space, left 8 in line with 5, 6 in line with 4, right 8 in line with 2.
Challenge: Try to defend 3 zones of the pitch, preventing the opposition from scoring in the final third.
Target: The defensive team will score a point each time they can score in ether of the mini nets.
Condition: 8 seconds to try to score in any of the 3 mini goals.
Focused Team
Solution: Overload to isolate
Team challenged to overload one side of the pitch to draw in the opposition, leaving the other side free for an option to switch and exploit the space in behind. Attempt to push the opposition back behind the reference point by positioning high up the pitch.
7 and 11 start as wide as possible in the wide spaces touching the sideline, 8's in the half space channel with 9, 10 and 5 in the central space channel. if the ball goes to 11, left 8 and 9 moves into half space channel, 10 moves in line with the left side 6 yard box. right sided 8 moves in line with goalkeeper, 5 moves in line with left side 6 yard box. 7 stays in wide space.
When the opposition shifts across to follow the ball, play the ball to 11, when opposition drawn in, 11 play to 5, when 5 touches the ball, 7 to move into right half space. 5 switches the ball into 7 who upon receiving drives forwards into the 18 yard box and shoots in an attempt to score.
Pitch Geography:
7 and 11 start as wide as possible in the wide spaces touching the sideline, 8's in the half space channel with 9, 10 and 5 in the central space channel. if the ball goes to 11, left 8 and 9 moves into half space channel, 10 moves in line with the left side 6 yard box. right sided 8 moves in line with goalkeeper, 5 moves in line with left side 6 yard box. 7 stays in wide space.
7 and 11 start in the wide spaces but to drift into half space to execute solution
8's to start in half space but to drift into central space to execute solution
9 to start in central space, can move into half space channels.
Challenge: Can the attacking team switch the play from 11 to 7 though 5 within 3 passes
Target: Every successful switch of play the team is given a point, if they can score from the switch, they gain 3 points.
Conditions: 7 & 11 can only move into wide or half space, cannot enter central space.
8's may enter central, half and wide space, but only left and right (i.e right 8 can enter right half and wide space, but not left half space)
9, 10 and 5 able to enter either half space and central space, but not wide space.
Coaching points;
Make the pitch big, maintain width, decision making when to switch, who can switch, export the space, ball speed
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Small sided game (set up)
Set up:
Half pitch, one 11 - a - side goal, and bring the other 11-a-side goal now forwards. Add a goalkeeper to make it 8 vs 8.
Using cones, mark out the half and wide space areas.
Cone to reference defensive shape positioning.
Half pitch tapered.
Explanation:
Attacking team (focus team) of 8 simulating 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 (remove two full backs). Defensive team (managed team) set up as 4 - 3 - 3 (remove two wingers and strikers).
Managed team: Red
Focus team: Black
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Small sided games (Problem 2 - revisited)
Problem 2: Defensive team are sat in a low block
Managed Team
Setting up the problem: Defensive team sit in a low block, around 10m apart in formation 4 - 3 (two 8's to form a defensive line with the 6).
Managing opposition: Defensive team challenged to defend 3 zones of the pitch. Team challenged to stay compact as a unit, shuffling across left or right to follow the play.
If the ball touches the winger in the wide zone, full back to enter wide space, nearest CB to enter half space, second CB in line with the corner of the 6 yard box, second full back in line with the goalkeeper.
6 and 8's organise into a midfield 3 unit, and challenged to sit infront of defence. If ball goes right and 2 enters wide space, right 8 in line with 4, 6 in line with 5, left 8 in line with 3. if ball goes left and 3 enters wide space, left 8 in line with 5, 6 in line with 4, right 8 in line with 2.
Challenge: Try to defend 3 zones of the pitch, preventing the opposition from scoring in the final third.
Target: The defensive team will score a point each time they can score in ether of the mini nets.
Condition: 8 seconds to try to score in any of the 3 mini goals.
Focused Team
Solution: Overload to isolate (7 plays into zone 17)
Team challenged to overload one side of the pitch to draw in the opposition, leaving the other side free for an option to switch and exploit the space in behind. Attempt to push the opposition back behind the reference point by positioning high up the pitch.
7 and 11 start as wide as possible in the wide spaces touching the sideline, 8's in the half space channel with 9, 10 and 5 in the central space channel.if the ball goes to 11, left 8 and 9 moves into half space channel, 10 moves in line with the left side 6 yard box. right sided 8 moves in line with goalkeeper, 5 moves in line with left side 6 yard box. 7 stays in wide space.
When the opposition shifts across to follow the ball, play the ball to 11, when opposition drawn in, 11 play to 5, when 5 touches the ball, 7 to move into right half space. 5 switches the ball through playing into 7 who upon receiving drives forwards into the 18 yard box. 9 makes a near post run, 8 back post run and runs towards edge of box, 7 attempts a cut back to score, or shoots depending on situation.
Challenge: Can the attacking team switch the play from 11 to 7 though 5 within 3 passes
Target: If the attacking team can score through switching the play, they will gain 3 goals.
Conditions: 7 & 11 can only move into wide or half space, cannot enter central space.
8's may enter central, half and wide space, but only left and right (i.e right 8 can enter right half and wide space, but not left half space)
9, 10 and 5 able to enter either half space and central space, but not wide space.
Coaching points;
Make the pitch big, maintain width, decision making when to switch, who can switch, export the space, ball speed
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Small sided games (Problem 1 - revisited)
Problem 1: Opposition defending a high line and pressing high.
Managed Team
Setting up the problem:
Team challenged to press high, defensive line no lower than the reference point to start. Defence to only drop back after the final third is penetrated.
Managing opposition:
Back four high and in line with the mannequins as reference point, 10-12 yard's apart in length. CB's to position on the 6 yard lines either side. full backs to position on the 18 yard line either side.
Trigger for full backs to press when ball played to opposition winger. Upon full back pressing, opposite full back to tuck in and leave furthest player, maintaining 10 yard distance.
6 to man mark opposition number 10. 8's to put pressure on their opposition 8's, closest 8 engage to press 5 when he has the ball
.
Challenge: Challenge the opposition to try to win the ball back within 3 seconds after losing it.
Target: Each time the opposition wins the ball, they gain a point, if they can then score, they gain 3 points.
Conditions:
Defensive team has a time limit of 8 seconds to score.
Focused Team
Solution: Direct switch in behind.
Start positions, 7 & 11 in wide space, touching the sideline, both 8's occupying starting position in half spaces. 5, 10 and 9 occupying central space. 5 to shift across left or right.
11 to drop short and receive the ball from 5, when the ball is played into 11, players 9, 10 and 5 drift across left quickly, 10 staying in line with goalkeeper, 9 in line with 6 yard line, 5 in line with the front post. Right 8 makes a run into the wide area whilst 7 runs in behind into the half space, 11 makes a direct switch to 7. 7 drives forwards to score or play into 9,10 or 11 who make runs to the front post, back post and edge of 18 yard box.
Pitch Geography:
5 to move as far as the front or back post when shifting across left and right.
9 and 10 and 5 always occupying central space. When attempting to create a switch option, 9 always to shift across to the 6 yard line, 10 in line with GK and 5 front or back post.
8's in the half space, 7 and 11 in the wide spaces.
Challenge: Switching the play in 3 passes
Target: Every successful switch of play the team is given a point, if they can score from the switch, they gain 3 points.
Conditions: 7 & 11 can only move into wide or half space, cannot enter central space.
8's may enter central, half and wide space, but only left and right (i.e right 8 can enter right half and wide space, but not left half space)
9, 10 and 5 able to enter either half space and central space, but not wide space.
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Specific Practice (set up)
Set up:
Half pitch, one 11 - a - side goal, and add three mini goals at the other end, positioned in the central and wide space channels.
8 vs 7 in favour of defensive team.
Using cones, mark out the half and wide space areas.
Cone to reference defensive shape positioning.
Explanation:
Attacking team (focus team) of 8 simulating 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 (remove two full backs and centre back). Defensive team (managed team) set up as 4 - 3 - 3 (remove two wingers and strikers).
Managed team: Red
Focus team: Black