Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): UEFA B - SWITCHING PLAY - SPECIFIC

Specific

SWITCHING PLAY - IN POSSESSION - SPECIFIC

Welsh Way Principle

Understand when and how to switch the point of an attack based on the pressure applied from the opposition.

Organisation

Half pitch practise tapered at the half way line. Pitch added with wide channels.

Three target goals 

Ball nest at top goal with coach/spare player to serve

Teams split 

Red 2-4-1

Blue 4-2-1

Blue team managed 

Red team coached

Explanation

- Balls are fed in by coach to Blue team to one of the blue centre backs.
- Blue team must work as a defensive unit to switch the play from one full back to the other. They must learn and show good decision making to find the right route and time to switch play, moving the ball quickly and showing movement off the ball to create space to receive the ball and for others to move into.
- When possession is lost, the blue team must recover into a defensive shape, put fast pressure on the ball, stopping forward passes and force the red team away from goal. Protect the middle and minimize box entries of ball and player and stay narrow and compact.

Scoring system in place - 

RED 

1 point for successful switch of play 

2 point for creating a chance from switching play 

5 points for scoring after a switch of play 

BLUE 

1 point for stopping switch of play 

2 points for scoring in one of three target goals

Coaching Points

In possession

- Show confidence to receive the ball in an open body position - control ball with furthest foot
- Make the pitch big and maintain the width
- Keep the ball moving and exploit any space to find the spare player
- Exploit any overloads
- Play through, around or over

Conditions, Challenges and Targets

- Two touch for team in possession 

- Add floater to increase success rate

- Play must pass through the middle section every time before attempting to score