After the switch

Players can often identify when to switch play. However, once they have done it, play can then become predictable - or they just try to get to the other wing and get caught 1v1 with limited support. Teams often want to force your attacking play wide, especially on the build, and if we switch play wing-to-wing without having options to penetrate centrally then we are making it far easier to defend against us. This session focuses on helping the team to come up with different solutions to a compact midfield through switching play.   

This session is ideal for players aged between 12 and 16. It’s important to offer variety in a training programme which is why this session has different practices that help the players to solve the problems that the opposition might offer. Sometimes within youth development programmes we create players who are technically effective but are really predictable with their play. This session aims to give the players different ideas on how to play and pose problems for the defending team.   

This is a practice for an extensive training day, perhaps matchday-3, but it really depends on how you plan your training week. We would deliver this type of session as part of the wider curriculum and try to add as much variety as possible through different types of practice design (e.g. 1v1/2v2 practices leading into different types of game situations, unopposed, semi-opposed or opposed).  

Extensive Passing Pattern 

We set up in half a pitch with a goal at one end. We play 8v6. The focus here is on the technical quality of passing over varying distances to create higher quality attacks. The rotation of the left central midfielder (8) is to create space and attack the back line with multiple runners. 

All players are to move and react as they would in game, e.g. if 8 has possession, the far side 8 is to step higher, holding width, and the right winger should come inside slightly. As the ball moves higher, the back four would step up. Repeat on each side. 

If 8 can’t play forward (maybe blocked by defender), they rebuild through the horseshoe and the same rotation can happen on the far side. 

We can also see the CMs rotate and play off the 9 to switch out to the far side 8 who plays a through ball. We run this for 15 minutes.

[1]

1. All players are to move and react as they would in a game

2. If LCM (8) has possession, the far side 8 is to step higher, holding width, and the RW should come inside slightly

Function

We set up on half a pitch, split into six zones with six mini goals as shown. Both teams set into a 4-3-3 shape without their front three. The attacking team (blues) receive from a coach, either from the side or end line. This can be progressed to the ball starting with the defending team to encourage the blue team to attack from transition. Build to play directly into the mini goals (replicate playing the ball into the front three).

We can develop this. Once the ball is switched, find moments for the CM to run beyond the defensive line to receive. In this example [2a], the 6 stays within the block as the deepest midfielder – this will help in case of a negative transition but also act as a player to receive and switch if we are under pressure higher up the pitch.  

[2a]

1. Attacking team (blues) receive from a coach, either from the side or end line

2. Build to play directly into the mini goals
3. 6 stays within the block as the deepest midfielder

We can also progress to a wide diamond [2b].

[2b]

1. As per 2a, progressing to creating a wide diamond shape to play higher passes

Create the diamond shape that will help to play higher passes which break lines. If you play around the defensive line to change the point of attack, increase the speed of play and find moments to play into the 8 on the far side of their midfield pressure.

If the 8 peels right to receive [2c], similar to the passing pattern, they should now be encouraged to rotate wide when the ball is being switched around the back line before punching a pass into a mini goal from a wide area (to replicate playing the through ball). 

[2c]

1. As per 2a, now rotating wide when the ball is being switched around the back line

2. Punch a pass into mini goal

The far-side 8 slides over to close space, while the 6 supports under the ball. We run this for 25 minutes.  

Phase

We set up on half a pitch, with a goal at each end, split into five channels as shown. The first start position is from the goalkeeper in a central goal. Red team aim to create the attack, finding opportunities to create the high triangle shape when possible. The base of the triangle shape could be a full-back, 6 or 8, it is important that players understand that they might have to adapt in games based on the opposition. So, if a team often leave their wingers quite high then the full-back might not be the deepest player in the triangle as they might be needed deeper to maintain an overload on our defensive line and the 6 could slide across to offer this support beneath the ball. We run this for two sets of five minutes with one minute rest in between.

“It is important that players understand that they might have to adapt in games based on the opposition”

The second start position is with the red team taking a throw from a higher position towards the edge of the box. Find moments to practise switching play and exploit on the far wing through an overload using the winger and 8. We run this for one set of five minutes.

This could then be progressed to an 11v11 practice played on a three-quarter-length pitch with full width.

This gives the players similar pictures that they would have on a matchday and gives you the opportunity to assess their learning in more match-related scenarios. 

[3]

1. Red team attack and find opportunities to create high triangle shape

COACHING POINTS

What are the key things to look out for? 

There are numerous technical elements.

Scanning: As the ball moves to a wide area, players in central spaces should be scanning, checking their far-side shoulder. This gives the player good information to then know that if they receive the ball they can switch again, or if they noticed a defender they now know how to beat that player.  

Pass quality: The key to effective switches of play is speed of pass, whether you’re playing along the back line or switching through midfield. Depending on your players, you might be able to encourage them to miss out the first player and switch to the second player through a longer pass. It is important to try and increase the speed of play when the ball gets to the other side to stop the defensive team easily getting set. Think about the quality of any passes from a wide area into the centre of the pitch, you want to encourage these passes to not be spinning or lifting as this slows play down and could require an extra touch.   

Playing through balls: Successful through balls happen either really early after winning possession or quite late once a team have made passes to draw out the space, but this way tends to be much harder to achieve, particularly in youth soccer. Playing through balls after carrying the ball forward is a great way to draw a player in before exploiting the space. You need to make sure the wingers are positioned to help you exploit beyond. Wingers could be asked to ‘see the number on the defender’s back’ to make blindside runs, for example.  

Receiving under pressure: There are different types of 1v1s depending on where the pressure is but in central spaces there are lots of opportunities where players will receive with pressure behind them. Ideally our midfielders would receive on the back foot and be able to turn out and play forwards but because of the pressure from defenders they need different types of receiving skills. Coach the ability to drop two steps before opening the body and playing forward when they can.  

Positioning: From a tactical perspective, think about positioning and off the ball movement. This is primarily about holding width and being connected across the five lanes. Often at youth level the far-side winger/full-backs might not be concentrating when the ball is on the other side of the pitch but as the ball switches they already have to be in the best position possible to help us exploit.  

Off-the-ball movement: As the ball moves wide and is played through by a wide player for a runner from a central position (e.g. an 8) then it is important that the pass is played inside to ensure the midfielder can attack the central spaces and not have to run too wide as it becomes easy to lock them wide. Ideally the player receives able to take the ball inside.  

What are the typical mistakes players might make and how do I avoid them?

A really important area for midfielders at this age is to understand the timing of their movement as this is often where attacks break down. Moving too soon will mean the player is waiting for the ball and easy to mark. Moving too late will mean the player in possession might have to hold onto the ball slightly longer, making them easier to press, or could also mean that they have to force their next pass as the opposition have got reorganised.

“Explaining the why behind the how will lead to better game understanding”

You can use simple cues such as ‘move when the ball is moving’ or ‘be ready to receive when the player looks up’. This idea of the passer-receiver relationship is so important when switching play as all players across units and the team have to be connected.  

When building from a practice where you introduce a concept or pattern into the next practice, it’s really important the players not only get the opportunity to practise this but understand when to do it. You could make it clear that if tightly marked, then the rotation of a centre-midfielder into a wide area could be a good way to create space for a higher passing lane or lead to better game understanding and help players to better solve problems on the pitch themselves.