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Switching play using width
Develop players’ awareness and ability to switch the play in the build-up phase in order to create goalscoring opportunities. Session structure: practice 1, practice 2, practice 3
Why use it
This three-part session develops players’ awareness and ability to switch the play in the build-up phase in order to create goalscoring opportunities.
Practice 1
Set up
Mark out an area relative to the age, ability and number of your players. Place the goal in the middle of the area. Set up multiple pitches if needed. You will need six or seven players per pitch.
How to play
Players start in the positions as shows. Player 1 plays to player 2 and moves to receive the ball back, before switching play to player 3. Player 3 sets back to player 2, who plays to 4. 4 sets back to 3, 3 passes to player 5, who sets to player 4. 4 then plays into player 6 who finishes with a shot on goal. Players should follow their initial pass and the sequence starts again.
Progressions/adaptations
Progress to play one-touch. You can also progress so that two teams in separate areas race against each other to be the first to score six goals.
Coaching points
Encourage players to perform two movements before receiving a pass – one in and one out again, as if losing a defender to create space. Players should put pace into their passes when playing long, then take the pace out when setting back to a team-mate. Encourage players to use both feet where possible.
1. Players start in the positions as show
2. Players follow the passing sequence
3. Players follow their initial pass and the sequence starts again
Practice 2
Set up
Mark out an area relative to the age, ability and number of your players. Divide players into two equal teams, with a neutral player (7v7+1). Each half of the area should have a goal in the middle, facing outwards. Mark out a channel between the two goals, with a neutral player in the channel.
How to play
Teams must play through the neutral player in the middle channel before a goal can be scored. The defending team must have three players in their attacking half. The attacking team can commit all players over the halfway line, creating a potential 7v4. In-possession players can move through the middle zone, defenders cannot.
Progressions/adaptations
Progress to play one-touch or two-touch. You can also progress to allow more defending players in the defensive half.
Coaching points
Encourage the attacking team to draw defenders over to one side by playing short passes, before quickly switching play through the neutral player.
1. Players are split into equal teams, plus a neutral player
2. Teams must play through the neutral player in the middle channel before a goal can be scored
3. The defending team must have three players in the attacking half, the attacking team can commit all players over the halfway line
Practice 3
Set up
Mark out an area relative to the age, ability and number of your players. Set up with both goals back-to-back on the halfway line. Divide players into two equal teams, plus two neutral players and one goalkeeper.
How to play
The goalkeeper starts and the team in possession look to keep the ball using the two neutral players, and score in the other goal. As soon as the ball crosses the halfway line, the goalkeeper moves to the other goal and becomes the defending team’s goalkeeper.
Progressions/adaptations
Progress so that two defending players must remain in their attacking half.
Coaching points
Encourage the attacking team to draw defenders over to one side by playing short passes, before quickly switching play through the neutral player.
1. Players are split into two equal teams, plus two neutral players and one goalkeeper
2. The in possession team look to keep the ball using the two neutral players and score in the other goal
3. As soon as the ball crosses the halfway line, the goalkeeper moves to the other goal
Steve Greenwood
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