Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Attacking Organization: Switching play through double pivot in midfield

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Name:	Daniel McHardie
City:	Fredericton
Country:	Canada
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 6v2 rondo in zones: Focus on switching play

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6v2 rondo in zones: Focus on switching play (10 mins)

6v2 rondo in zones

Set up: Create a tight playing area that is divided in two halves with gates/mini goals on the end lines. It can be 8x8 or 10x10.

Description: Eight players are divided into four pairs. Three of them start on the outside. A fourth pair – Blue – start in the middle. The six outside players should look to keep the ball against a press from the two inside players for as long as possible. They must also ensure it is transferred to the opposite side of the pitch every three seconds.

The two defenders must attempt to win the ball or disrupt possession as quickly as possible. If they win it back and have controlled possession, they should try and and score in one of the four mini-goals.

If the defenders successfully score in one of the mini-goals, they can choose any team of two to become the defenders.

If the ball is intercepted by the two defenders and the ball goes out of play, the team of two that gave possession away will become the defenders.

Each working block lasts for four minutes.

Key details:

Quick switches

The players must ensure the ball is switched to the opposite half of the pitch within three seconds. Players
should look to use a maximum of two touches to ensure this condition is met.

Weight of passes
Passes must be punched in with good weight and direction throughout the possession games. This will
limit the chances of any interceptions or losses of possession.

Space and body position
The in-possession team must constantly be adjusting their positions to ensure a passing option is always on
for the player in possession.

Players may need to make counter-movements in order to create a new passing line if one is closed off by
the defenders.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Passing pattern: Switching through double pivot

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Passing pattern: Switching through double pivot (15 mins)

Passing pattern: Switching through a double pivot

Set up: Use a half pitch with soccer balls in the middle. If you have flags/mannequins put them to represent a back four and two central midfielders.

Description: The players should set up with two fullbacks, midfield 3 and front 3.

The first passing pattern:

Fullback gets ball and passes to other fullback
Fullback passes to wide forward.
Wide forward passes the ball for the attacking midfielder who is making a channel run.
The fullback moves to replace the wide forward. The wide forward fills the space of the attacking midfielder. This creates a front triangle.
The attacking midfielder turns as if she's been stopped by a centreback. She passes the ball to either the FB or WF.
As the ball goes ot the WF/FB, the holding midfielder slides over to receive. The weakside attacking midfielder shifts over to form a double pivot.
The holding midfielder receives the ball. Passes to the AM in the double pivot.
The AM passes the ball in behind defence for wide forward to run onto the ball and either cutback or cross for a finish.
Repeat from the opposite side.

Repeat until pace of movement is game realistic.
Progressions.

As ball is switched to weakside WF, the FB, can make an overlapping run to receive
If time, allow players to come up with their own pattern using a switch of play through a double pivot

Key pointsPass detail

Players should look to pass the ball with good detail. Weight of pass and accuracy must be at the highest level throughout the practice.

Timing of runs
Attacking players must ensure they time their runs in order to receive the ball in front of them and not be offside.

Aggressive runs
When making runs and movements to receive, the players must be aggressive in their approach. Quick movements and runs are essential to creating realism within the practice.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Part: 5v4 Switching play to launch attack

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Part: 5v4 Switching play to launch attack

Set up: Create a box on top of the penalty area with two wide areas and a narrow central channel. The total area is around 40x30. If possible, use flags/mannequins on the top of the penalty area to simulate a back four.

Description: The teams are 2v2 in the wide boxes with a pivot player in the middle. Coaches are behind the central channel with the balls.

The in-possession team is looking to switch the play either through pivot, directly or they can go through the coach.

Once a switch is made, the ball can be played into the penalty area. The ball cannot be dribbled across the line, it must be a through-ball.

The defending team (Blue) should look to prevent through balls, steal possession and score in any of the mini-goals. If they do so, they become the attackers.

Two players from each team must always occupy a wide zone to begin with. Once a through ball has been played beyond the mannequins, all players are free to enter the penalty area.

Progression:

Allow one of the defending team out of their zone to go and press the ball – this leaves a defensive underload in the opposite zone and encourages a quick switch of play.

Key points

Combinations in open space

Quick combinations, using one or two touches, will move the defenders and open up spaces for the attacking team to exploit.

Body shape

The players are challenged to think about how to prepare their body in order to receive and pass quickly.
They should position their body to allow them to take their first touch into space or away from the opposition.

Open body to play switch
When receiving the ball from one of the wide zones, players should try and receive with an open body. This
will allow them to take the ball on their back foot to switch quickly.

Exploiting the overload
As the practice progresses and one defender is allowed out of their zone to press, the attacking team should
recognise the attacking overload in the far zone and attempt to exploit it as quickly as possible

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Whole: 11v9 Focus on quick switches through double pivot

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Whole: 11v9 Focus on quick switches through double pivot

Set up: Two-thirds of a pitch and set up with an 11v9 or adjust for numbers. One team should be 11 (if it must be 10, they don't use a GK and put in mini-goals). Underloaded team is in a 1-4-4 (diamond) or 1-4-3.

Description: Red is instructed to play with a focus on switching play, particularly through a double pivot, and making aggressive runs to attack the T.

Blue team (underloaded team) is instructed to apply a low to mid-block.

The ball begins with the Red goalkeeper.

If Blue wins possession back, they should attempt to score in the top goal.
If a goal is scored or the ball leaves the pitch, play always restarts with the Red goalkeeper.
Play for three blocks of five minutes.

Affordances:

Give Red an extra point for any switch through a double pivot

Give Red an extra point for every goal scored directly from a cutback/cross from the "T" zone (golden zone).

Double pivot

The midfield three are challenged to move and rotate, to create a double pivot through which to recycle and
switch possession.

Patient when building

The team of 11 must be patent in possession. They should recognise when to play forwards and when to control possession to attempt to disrupt the opposition’s block.

Front three to stretch the pitch
Front three should be encouraged to stretch the pitch when possible. This will create wide passing options for the central players, but also create space in the middle of the pitch for the team to exploit.

Body shape/positioning
Players should be challenged to take a soft first touch, to allow them to make their pass quickly and with good
quality. This touch should be out of their feet to allow them to step on to the ball.

Exploit the weakside (Overload to overwhelm)
If a quick switch is played through central areas, the team should be able to attack the opponents’
weak side.
The weak side will have space and gaps for the team to exploit if the switch is made with good ball speed.

Identify where opposition is strong
In controlled possession, the team should recognise where the opposition are strong.
The opposition formation in this practice gives them numbers in the middle of the pitch, so the attacking
team should look to penetrate through wide areas first – or centrally, if gaps are created by moving the ball wide.

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