Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Specific Session - Defending The Switch Of Play (Out Of Possession) (20 mins) (Start Time: 2025-03-20 08:55:00)

Specific Session - Defending The Switch Of Play (Out Of Possession) (20 mins) (25 mins)

Specific Session - Defending the Switch Of Play (Out of Possession) - Welsh Way Principles Understand when and how to stop the switch of play based on the pressure applied bythe defending team.

 

Organisation/Area Size: 2/3rds of the pitch. 8v8. 1 Big goal/2 small sized goals. Shaded areas to be marked byflat markers. Taper pitch with cones. 3 zones white lines (flat markers) Yellow team (defending team) 1-4-4-2 missing their left/right forward and 1 striker. Blue team (attacking team) 1-3-5-2 missing their goalkeeper, 1 centre back and 1 centre midfielder. 4x4 minute blocks with 1 minute break between each block.

 

Explanation: The objective of the yellow team is to defend the switch of play. The objective of the blue team is to switch the play by playing through, around or over the opposition in order to score in the big goals. If the yellow team win possession of the ball, they are to score in the small goals. How: The coach will manage the blue team by applying the welsh principles of switching the play based on the pressure applied bythe defending team by playing around the opposition, a direct switch or a combination play using the midfield to switch the play. The coach will focus on the yellow team on how to defend the switch of play. The coach is to work on defending 3 zones, protecting the middle and leaving the furthest player unmarked. The 2 defensive midfielders are working on supporting the back 4. When the left and right back applies pressure on the ball the 2 central midfielders are to drop in-between the space between the centre back and left back or right back depending on which side the attack has come from. The players in the shaded areas are to remain in their zones to create the width to cause problems for the defending team. The coach will focus on 4 blocks and progress the session. Block 1: Introduce the session and highlight the key objectives (wide players to stayin highlighted zone), to score the attacking team has to switch the play at least once before scoring. Block 2: Focus on defending a low block and how to centre midfielders drop in to support the back 4. Encourage attacking team to create width and depth to cause problems for the defending team. Block 3: When the ball is on one side of the playing area (left wing back) the opposite wingback can tuck inside, defence to defend higher. Block 4: Allow the wingback to dribble inside of the playing area once the switch has been made if there is space to attack and dribble into causing problems for the defence.

 

Challenges, Conditions or Targets: Blue team to switch the play before scoring. Add a countdown of 10 seconds if the yellow team have too much possession of the ball. Blue team to score in the big goals and yellow team in the small goals. Wingbacks are conditioned to playin the highlighted area. Limit the touches of the blue team to allow the switch to happen quickly and more effectively.

 

Key Coaching Points: In Possession: Make the pitch big. Create width and depth to switch the play. Who can switch the play. Receive on the back foot to switch the play. Play around, combination using the midfield or a direct switch of play. Speed of the switch (quality and firm passes). Out Of Possession: Defend narrow and compact. Apply pressure on the ball. Force the opposition one way. Angle of approach. Leaving the furthest player. Centre midfielders to focus on supporting the back 4.

 

Interventions Concurrent Terminal Walk Through Coaching Process