Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): UEFA C licence - Switch of play - (Out of possession)

Starting line up

Set up a square 36 x 36 yard pitch which is split into 5 lanes using flats.

12 Players, bib two colors, Spare balls to serve into team if required 

This session is focused on Switch of play (Out of  possession) where we have two groups of 6 players and no keepers. Yellows have possession and Reds are defending.

The aim is for red team to prevent the in possession team who have been tasked with trying to switch the play for which they will get a goal and if yellows can score from a switch of play they get 4 goals extra. If out of possession team win the ball they can attack Yellows goal and get 5 goals if they score.

Red two defenders are not allowed past the half way line and ball all ways start with Yellows if goals are scored or reds get a goal kick. Yellow defender has to then play the ball to the other defender which is the trigger for Reds to start their press.

Position after initial movement

Positions after the switch

Coaching Focus

1) Defending (Angle of approach, quick pressure on the ball, deceleration, body position, stay on their toes, be patient, decision making, recovery runs, tracking players, try and win ball high up the pitch) 

2) Scanning (Are they aware of whats around them, are they looking for danger, are they looking for passing options) 

3) Movement (Intensity of the press, the movement of supporting players, the speed to get in defensive shape and cover 4 of the 5 lanes, the speed of the shuffle if the switch is made)

4) Communication (Letting players know where they are, encourage the press and where the support is, encouraging the shuffle to cover the required lanes)

Interventions:Concurrent,Terminal, Walk Through,Coaching process

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

Prog - Let wingers play on the outside of the wide zones to increase the width of the pitch make it bigger

Prog - Central Midfielder can only screen across the half way line can encroach into yellows half 

Prog - Allow striker to drop into their own half to create an overload

Prog - Over head passes are allowed for the switch

Reg - Yellow team can they play min two touch this will give reds more time to press 

Reg - Yellows have one defender at the back and push one player into midfield to make it two which puts more pressure on the defender who has the ball which will lead to more mistakes 

Reg - Yellows cant score unless they have had two switches of play

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Challenges - Can reds win ball back in 10 secs from initial press

Challenges - How quickly can the reds cover the 4 lanes required to complete the defensive shape 

Challenges - Can Reds score within 10 secs once they have won the ball back

Challenges - Can Yellows switch play twice before scoring for double award of 10 instead of 5 goals

Condition - To begin with no overhead height passes, everything on the floor

Condition - Ball is dead then restart from Yellow 2 who has to pass to the other defender

Condition - Yellows cant score unless there has been a switch of play   

Target - Can Reds win the ball back quickly within 10 secs 

Target - Can Reds win ball back, high up the pitch and score 5 times during the drill

Target - Can Reds force yellows into playing a ball wide or long across the pitch and they win it back

Target - Can Reds play high and not let yellows out of their half