Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Switching Play

FAW Coach Ed

Michael Gadie

Profile Summary

Name:	Michael Gadie
City:	Wrexham
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

Organisation (Practice Layout & Transition)

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Specific Practice

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Specific Practice (25 mins)

Switching the Play to Exploit Wide Areas

Session Objectives:

- Develop payers ability to recognise and execute effective switches of play.

- Encourage the use of width to stretch the oppositions defensive block.

- Improve decision making on when and how to switch play to create attacking opportunities.

Setup:

Area: 60x40 yards, divided into three vertical zones (left, central, right).

Equipment: Cones, balls, bibs & goals.

Teams:

- Reds (Attacking Team): (GK 4-3-3) 2 CBs, 1 DM, 2 CAMs, 2 wingers, 1 striker

- Blues (Defending Team): (GK 4-2-3-1) 2 CBs, 2 FBs, 2 DMs, 1 CAM, 2 wingers, 1 striker

Objectives:

- The attacking team aims to switch play from one flank to the other to create crossing opportunities.

- The defending team maintains a compact shape, shifting as the ball moves.

- Encourage quick ball circulation and recognition of when to switch play.

Coaching Points:

- Recognition: Identify when the near side is congested and the far side is open.

- Execution: Use accurate, driven passes to switch play effectively.

- Support: Ensure players provide options before, during, and after the switch.

- Width: Wingers and full-backs maintain wide positions to stretch the defence.

- Timing: Coordinate movements so that players arrive in the new attacking zone as the ball does.

Progressions:

- Introduce a time limit to encourage quicker switches.

- Add a neutral player (e.g a full-back) to facilitate the switch.

- Allow the defending team to press after the first switch to increase pressure.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): SSG

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SSG (20 mins)

SSG - Switching Play Principles in a Game Scenerio

Setup:

- Area: 70x50 Yards.

- Teams: 9v9, maintaining 4-3-3 Vs 4-2-3-1 formations.

- Zones: Keep vertical zones to emphasise wide areas.

SSG Conditions:

- Goals scored after a successful switch of play count as double.

- Encourage Reds to utilise the full width of the pitch.

- Defending team (Blues) aims to stay compact and counter attacke upon regaining possession.

Coaching Observations:

- Decision Making: Choose the right moment to switch the play based on the defensive pressure from the Blues.

- Communication: Players need to communicate clearly if the switch is on and also signal.

- Movement: Off the ball runs to support the switch and exploit space.

- Combination Play: Play quick 1-2 passes between midfielders to try and entice blues out.

- Transitions: Quick defensive organisation after losing possession.

Warm Down & Reflections:

- Light warm down.

- How did switching the play create attacking opportunities?

- What were the challenges?