I have been given 'Switching Play' as my coaching topic for my Level 2 assessment and
wondered what to have in my session plan.
Hi Gary
Steve has forwarded your enquiry to me
regarding your level 2 topic, “switching play”. Great topic to get,
there are lots of points to look at with your group and it’s easy to
address them in a nice logical manner.
I did my level 2 and 3 in the “olden days”
so I am not too clear on the exact requirements of the new version of
the course but I’m sure we can work it out.
The big picture is the ability of a team
to move the ball quickly from one flank to the other, to find spaces
in the opponents defense in order to penetrate.
Firstly lets look at the coaching points;
1] Creating space as a team - It's not
just young players who tend to be attracted towards the ball. We
often see wide players on the "weak side" of the pitch drifting in
towards the middle of the field with their other wide-mid in
possession. I often say to my wide players, "If your not wide enough
to spit
over the line, your not wide enough".
2] Wide player on the ball
i) Vision and awareness - Do they play
with their head up to see the picture? Some wide players run with
blinkers on with only one thought in their minds to get to the bye
line and cross. They need to be helped to play with better awareness
of their options
ii) Decision-making - can I penetrate or
do we need to go to opposite flank? I have a left mid who is a
technically gifted (adult) player but who would rather run at three
defenders than make a simple pass. If they have a 1 v 1 in the final
third they should be brave but not if the defense is well organised
and compact
iii) Technical quality of pass –
especially pace & accuracy. To be honest this will likely be the main
focus at level 2, can they move the quickly and efficiently?
3] Supporting player
i) Angle and distance of support - We need
a player offering an option behind the ball at a helpful distance for
a diagonal pass
ii) Communication -
Are they talking to the player on the ball to let them know they have
an option of coming back?
iii) Receives ball on back foot - This is
very important, watch that they let the ball run across their body to
take the ball on the back foot so they are quickly set up to make the
next pass.
iv) Do they move ball quickly and
accurately to opposite wide player? Unless this pass is hit with pace
the opponents will have time to recover and shift across.
v) Ball to feet or space? If there is
space in front see that they put the ball into space otherwise into
feet.
3] Receiving player
i) Big first touch on back foot into
space
ii) Urgency to penetrate before opponents
can recover
iii) Decision-making – dribble, pass,
cross, shoot?
iv) If necessary go back and switch the
ball again
v) End product – get a shot on target.
Now how do we construct practices to
communicate some of that in a way that is appropriate to a level 2
group?
I think I would begin with the technical
points of passing and first touch receiving a diagonal pass taking the
ball on the back foot and moving it on efficiently . How about
something like Premium Drill number 2 "Diamond Drill"?
I would make the grid very wide and
restrict the player who is doing the work to play two-touch. Look at
their body-shape. Do they play on their toes, and if the pass is
inaccurate do they drop to let the ball run across them?
An obvious choice for a SSG might be
Number 33 "Quads" which is specifically designed to encourage
switching play. Number 27 "Five v Three" is also a possibility.
I am wondering whether you could use or
adapt Number 23 "The Square" as a skill game? It tests he player on
the ball to make good decisions about when to play the direct forward
pass and when to play a safe diagonal pass in order to move the ball
to the other side of the grid. You may want to adapt the rules to
encourage the behaviour you are trying to coach?
As I say, when I did the level 2 it was a
repetitive technical practice and a 6 v 6 SSG with keepers. Let me
know what you think of these ideas and I will give it some more
thought. Do you have a date for your assignment yet?
Good luck, let me know how your
preparations are going and if we can be of any more help.
Yours in sport
Bill Blyth
