The modern game requires attacking teams to breakdown their opposition with pinpoint precision. With the organized, disciplined blocks in the pro games, teams need to be able to switch and slice the opposition with the speed of precise passes, quality of movement and an element of disguise. This session gives some great ideas on how to develop that aspect of the game for teams to break down compact defenses.
Switch and Slice
1.
Setup:
4v2 build-up possession game-4 pairs of 2 players, each wearing a different color. 3.5 mins sets x 4 sets.
Instructions:
Players in possession of the ball must attempt to play through/around the 2 defenders (one actively defending, one screening) to the player behind the mannequins in the central zone. Defenders remain in their roles when the ball is transferred. If defending pair steal possession, they are replaced by the pair containing the player who gave the ball away.
Coaching Points:
- BODY POSITION – Attempt to play on the shoulder of the defender
- PASS DETAIL – Fast-paced passes to the back foot/ front foot tells the player being passed to where they should go with the ball (fwd/back). Encourage use of ‘disguised passes’. Deeper players encouraged to stay on the ball if necessary, drawing out a pressing player before quickly playing a pass either side of them
2.
Setup:
6 v 6 + 2 possession game, 20 x 20 grid (x 2) back to back. 4 min x 3 sets.
Instructions:
6 v 3 in one grid (A) with 2 neutral players (in red) outside the box on each side. Team of 6 attempt to play 5 passes (A) and then switch the point of attack through the middle box with three screening defenders (B) to the neutral on the opposite side (C). Once switching the ball, they switch to the opposite side for a 6 v 3 against the defenders in the middle. When the green team win possession, they must play to the other side to the neutral for a 6 v 3 in favor of green.
Coaching Points:
- BODY POSITION – Attempt to play on the shoulder of the defender
- PASS DETAIL – Fast-paced passes to the back foot/ front foot tells the player being passed to where they should go with the ball (fwd/back). Encourage use of ‘disguised passes’. Deeper players encouraged to stay on the ball if necessary, drawing out a pressing player before quickly playing a pass either side of them
- Immediate support to support the ball once the ball is switched
3.
Setup:
6 v 6 possession transition, 20 x 20 grid (x 2) with a 10 x 20 box in the middle (B). 3 min : 1.5 min x 3 sets. 2 grids set up and running at the same time.
Instructions:
6 v 3 in one grid with 2 neutral players (in red) outside the box on each side. Once switching to the opposite grid, the black team transitions to the bottom box (C), while the three green players who were screening passes (B) go to defend in the bottom box (C) and the three who were in Box A now screen passes in Box B.
Coaching Points:
- BODY POSITION – Attempt to play on the shoulder of the defender
- PASS DETAIL – Fast-paced passes to the back foot/ front foot tells the player being passed to where they should go with the ball (fwd/back). Encourage use of ‘disguised passes’. Deeper players encouraged to stay on the ball if necessary, drawing out a pressing player before quickly playing a pass either side of them
- Immediate support to support the ball once the ball is switched
4.
Setup:
Field set up in a 44W x 55L yard field as above with 10 yard zone on each end for the GK zone. 8 v 8 game with teams set up in a 1-3-3-1. 5 mins games x 3 sets.
Instructions:
Balls behind each goal and goalkeepers begin the game. It is a six goal game with teams playing to one of the three goals (with a 1 touch finish). The team in possession attempt to switch the ball on to the side that the opposition goalkeeper is not at to score in an empty goal.
Coaching Points:
- BODY POSITION – Attempt to play on the shoulder of the defender.
- PASS DETAIL – Fast-paced passes to the back foot/ front foot tells the player being passed to where they should go with the ball (fwd/back). Encourage use of ‘disguised passes’. Deeper players encouraged to stay on the ball if necessary, drawing out a pressing player before quickly playing a pass either side of them.
- Immediate support to support the ball once the ball is switched.
5.
Setup:
7 v 7+ 2 small sided game. Half field set up with three thirds horizontally and vertically. Two final third vertical zones of 18 yards and 30 yards in middle zone. Play full width with 2 x 5 yard zones in wide areas for 2 neutrals. 3 zones horizontally split evenly. 8 mins games x 3 sets.
Instructions:
Ball starts with GK. Players can score by:
- Switching the ball from zone 1 to 3 or from zone 3 to 1 and then going to goal.
- Playing the ball wide to release a winger into the final third in a wide area for a cross and finish.
Coaching Points:
- Width and depth are essential
- BODY POSITION – Attempt to play on the shoulder of the defender. PASS DETAIL- Fast-paced passes to the back foot/ front foot tells the player being passed to where they should go with the ball (fwd/back). Encourage use of ‘disguised passes’. Deeper players encouraged to stay on the ball if necessary, drawing out a pressing player before quickly playing a pass either side of them.
- Immediate support to support the ball once the ball is switched.
- Switch and slice – switch the ball to attack 1 v 1/ 2 v 1.