Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): P7 Defending the Switch of Play / General Practice

Screen 1 (20 mins)

Organization: 

• 4v4 + 2 neutral
• 30x15m Area size (87.5m Squared)
• 4 x 3.5minute blocks (14 minutes ball rolling) = 70%
• 3 x 1.5 minute break - Change neutral players on block change over.
• 1.5minute transition (give or take 30 seconds)
• Balls Feed in by neutral players or assistant coach.

Reds (Attacking team) - To gain a point must work ball from neutral to neutral (Through, around or over)

Conditions:

• Neutral players 2 seconds on ball
• Add amount of passes requirement if needed (Reds dominating) 

Challenges: 

• Can you stay compact as a unit
• Can you stop them playing through and limit them playing around

Target's  

Defending the switch - stopping any switches (progression 

Restart with Outside player to play in to the managed team. 

Coaching Points:

Out of possession Blue:

• Stay compact
• Force players one way.
• Work as a unit to force mistakes and to play backwards
• Communication
• When and how will I press
• How tight to get to player
• body shape
• What passing lane/line to block

• Decision making
• Weight and when to pass
• Movement of the ball

(Management of the Red team by assistant to coach conditions to get the blue team to get the outcome.) 

In possession Red:

• Width and depth
• Play forward quickly
• play off the shoulder of defenders 

Out of possession Red:

• Press with purpose
• Force Mistakes

Progression/Regression - 

• Add more conditions (Limit of passes or time on ball on attacking team)
• Limit the ball being played over the top from neutral to neutral player
• Final progression -Goals introduced with time limit to score when ball is won back - Possibly added on second coach intervention.