Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending The Switch Of Play & SSG - 0A3 - FF

Defending The Switch (8v7) (20 mins)

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

• 8v7 Defending The Switch Of Play Practice.
  
• Defending team set up in 4-2-1 (4-2-3-1 formation) 
• Attacking team set up in a 5-2 (3-5-2 formation)

• 1. Frame the session on tactics board and give an example of what the switch of play might look like and how it can alter the defensive shape. Question the defensive unit and how they will react to the switch of play make sure the bibs match the teams on the whiteboard. 
• 2. Start the session run for (2x3mins) with coaching interventions; concurrent and terminal, focus on how they defend central and wide, where and when the unit shifts and triggers to press. 

• Problem 1: Draw the press, reds in possession hold onto the ball try and draw the defensive unit out. If they successfully draw the out the defensive unit will progress as one staying compact main focus is not to get split defensively as a unit. 

• Solution 1: Stay compact and move as a unit, slide across as one look specifically at the distances the space between players and where the goalkeeper places himself if they manage to force the reds back and high. 
• Reference areas on the pitch so if it goes one side can the full back jump slide across into a back 3 (4 in line with 6 yard box, 5 in line with penalty spot, 2 in line with opposite 6 yard box). Slide as one and that movement is performed quickly taking your line off the person in front of you's back shoulder. 

• Problem 2: Encourage them to play into wide areas attack getting crosses into the box if it is not on turn and recycle the ball back out to the other side.

• Solution 2: The full backs jump out wide and the six drops in to double up with their body shape to close the passing line off to the nine are really aggressive forcing the players back. 

Key Considerations:

• Be as specific as possible to where the ball is, if the ball is wide what action do we want, if the ball is central what do we want?
• Be as specific as possible to the angle of press body shape to lock one way distances between players?
• Triggers to jump; slow pass, overhit pass into a tight area, head down onto the ball.
  
• Have to manage the press they can press every pass so disciplined when they go to press. 
• Look technically; shape body position of the unit are they set to defend.

The main focus defensively is to not get split. Coaching points can be working as a unit, communication, aggression on triggers to jump and close space, managing the press as they can’t press every pass.

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Block 1:

• Team switching play (in possession) will be rewarded with one goal if they can switch from one side to the other. 
• If they switch play and it leads to a goal they will score two goals. 
• If the team in possession is finding it too easy we can limit them to two touches.

• Defending team will be rewarded with one goal if they can steal the ball and play over the press into the big goal acting as the number 9 or the small mini goals where they can exploit the space because the wingbacks are high and space will be wide on transition, if they score in these they will score two goals.

Goals will roll into the SSG to keep competition high!!