Annual training plan · U14–U23

Week 19: Switching Play in the Build-Up

3 complete training sessions with 12 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

In children's football, there is usually only one direction of play, and that is forward, without weighing up any risks and chances. In principle, this brave approach deserves support in the early years and should not be discouraged.

But at the latest when teams start to defend compactly as a unit in relation to the ball, it is time to give importance to playing wide as well. Because once the opponent has shifted compactly to one side, it becomes difficult to combine through such a tight space, despite your players' very good technical skills. So it is time to get to know a plan B – the switch of play.

This tactical tool is probably used most often in the build-up. But switches of play can also happen in transitional play or in the final third, to pull the opponent out of shape.

The most important thing for using switches of play effectively is quick execution. Because if the switch takes too long, the opponent has already shifted again and no space has been gained.

To carry out the switch quickly and create a goal-scoring chance, 3 factors are decisive above all:

  • Quick control of the ball and playing with few touches
  • Pace on the pass and passes onto the front foot or into the run
  • Bypass team-mates. In the build-up, for example, from the full-back to the far-side centre-back

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

Today the main work is on the switch of play in the build-up. In Exercise 3, this is first trained without pressure from opponents. The players should first learn to carry out the switches at high tempo by playing with 2 touches, passing with enough pace and bypassing positions.

In Exercise 4, the switch of play is then worked on in a match-like way in an 8 vs 8, with one team trying to keep the ball among themselves. The aim is to keep playing the ball out of the press.

Coaching points for this session
  • Play with 2 touches
  • Play past individual positions if possible
  • Pace on the pass and passes to the front foot or into the path
Drill 1

Dribbling Training: Dribbling with Double Hook

20 min
  • First the course is jogged through at a relaxed pace without a ball. Turns are performed at the last two cones; the way from the last cone to the start is covered at a higher pace.
  • The drill is then carried out with a ball: the players dribble through the course and perform feints at the cones.
  • At the last cone a firm ground pass is played to the starting position.

Variations: Carry out the drill as a relay competition between the two teams.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two identical lanes are set up one below the other. Each lane starts at a starting cone, leads through a slalom of poles and then around several cones and back to the start.

Equipment: Cones, poles and several balls.

Players: Two equally sized groups, one per lane.

Coaching points
  • Increase the pace step by step.
  • Perform the dribbling and the feints with the whole body so that the feint is convincing.
Drill 2

4 vs 2 with Switch of Play

20 min
  • In the left-hand square, 4 vs 2 is played for possession.
  • If the team with fewer players wins the ball, it is passed into the right-hand square.
  • The two grey and the two red players shift across to the right.
  • There, Team Grey now tries to keep the ball within the team in a 4 vs 2.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out several adjacent areas.

Equipment: Cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of four.

Coaching points
  • One player steers, the second presses.
  • Winning the ball is followed by an immediate switch of play — the transition moment.
  • After losing possession, the player closest to the ball goes straight into counter-pressing.
Drill 3

Group Training: Playing Through

20 minAs shown in the graphic
  • The left holding midfielder starts the move with a pass to the left full-back.
  • The full-back takes the pass backwards in their stride and passes to the left centre-back, who shows for the ball behind the full-back.
  • The left centre-back plays through to the right full-back via the right centre-back.
  • The right full-back takes the pass forward in their stride and finds the left holding midfielder, who shows for the ball centrally and dribbles back to the starting position.
  • The right holding midfielder starts the next round, which runs in the other direction of play.

Variations: Let individual positions be bypassed.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark the positions of the six players.

Equipment: 6 cones and several balls.

Players: Two holding midfielders side by side at the centre circle, in front of them the two full-backs wide on the left and right and the two centre-backs centrally.

Coaching points
  • Play with two touches.
  • Demand firm passes.
  • Pay attention to quick handling of the ball.
Drill 4

8 vs 8 with a Passing Target

30 minTarget line 10 metres behind the halfway line
  • The coach starts every move with a lofted ball.
  • The yellow team plays for possession and involves the goalkeeper in the build-up in order to create a numerical advantage.
  • Yellow has the task of keeping the ball for 30 seconds; that earns one point.
  • After the 30 seconds, Yellow can combine in behind and pass to the coach behind the target line or dribble over the target line; that earns a further point.
  • If Team Blue wins the ball, that earns one point. If Blue then scores, two more points are added.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Tall cones mark the target line; plus one goal.

Equipment: Tall cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Two teams of eight — Yellow and Blue — plus one goalkeeper. The coach stands behind the target line.

Coaching points
  • Make the game wide and big.
  • Play out of the pressure again and again.
  • Play the switches through quickly — with two touches and by bypassing positions.
  • Do not play back into the pressure.
The complete session as a ready-made training plan – with animated drills in the web app. Go to the web app

Session 2

4 drills

In today's training session, the players learn to switch play using diagonal lofted balls. Diagonal lofted balls are often played by one of the centre-backs to the far-side flank.

If the opposing back four plays very high, lofted balls can also be used superbly to play in behind the defence. What matters is that the wide player is already on the move when the ball is played, by moving parallel to the line or diagonally towards it. This gives the winger a speed advantage over the opposing full-back and increases the chances of getting to the ball first.

If it looks as though the lofted ball can be cleared by a defender, it makes sense for the team to shift across compactly towards the ball. This creates a numerical advantage in the immediate vicinity of the ball, and the second ball can be won more easily.

Coaching points for this session
  • Play against the direction of the shift
  • Opposition back four plays very high: play in behind the defence
  • Create an overload near the ball to secure the 2nd ball
Drill 1

Passing in a Square - Passing into the Run

20 min
  • The red player plays the ball into the zone of the blue player, who has asked for it beforehand.
  • The blue player takes the ball on under control and plays it on to the next player — here to the yellow one.
  • The drill continues in this way.

Variations: After a few rounds, change the direction of play.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four zones are set up with 16 cones.

Equipment: 16 cones and balls.

Players: At least one player stands at each zone, at least two at the starting position.

Coaching points
  • Take the ball on with the outside foot and play it with that foot.
Drill 2

2 vs 2 Acceleration Speed

25 min15 x 20 metres
  • The coach calls out a number; the two corresponding players from both teams set off into the area and try to win the ball.
  • The other two players set off into the square shortly afterwards, so that play continues as 2 vs 2.
  • The teams try to get over the opposing dribbling line.
  • The rounds are limited to 60 to 90 seconds.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark out the playing area with two dribbling lines.

Equipment: 4 cones and several balls.

Players: Teams of two; each player is given a number — 1 or 2.

Coaching points
  • If the defending teams act too passively and do not press, four passes also count as a point.
Drill 3

Switch of Play + Shot

25 minThree quarters of the pitch or half a pitch
  • Player A dribbles to the first cone; Player B sets off at the same time at a matching running speed.
  • Player A plays a lofted ball into the running path of Player B.
  • Player B takes it in their stride towards the goal line while Player A runs into the goal area.
  • Player B crosses to Player A, who finishes first time on goal.
  • Player A then switches to position B and Player B to position A.

Progression: The level of difficulty is adjusted to the level of ability.

  • Easy: lofted ball straight to the player, who controls the ball and then takes it in their stride.
  • Medium: lofted ball straight to the player, who takes the ball in their stride with the first touch.
  • Hard: lofted ball into the run; the ball is taken in stride immediately.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark the positions and the running paths: two on each of the two wings at the halfway line and one on each side level with the penalty area. Plus one goal.

Equipment: 6 cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Players A and B on the two wings plus one goalkeeper.

Coaching points

Coaching Points

Vary the level of difficulty of the drill according to the level of ability:

  • Lofted ball straight to the player. Control the ball and then take it in their stride (easy)
  • Lofted ball straight to the player. Take the ball in their stride with the 1st touch (medium)
  • Lofted ball into the run and take the ball in their stride immediately (hard)
Drill 4

Game with Limited Touches and Cone Goals

25 minHalf a small pitch
  • Two equally sized teams play in the area towards four passing gates.
  • Each player is limited to three touches.
  • Points can only be scored with a one-two through the cone goals.
  • After a point has been scored successfully, the cone goal must be changed.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight cones form four cone goals.

Equipment: 8 cones and 1 ball.

Players: Two equally sized teams.

Coaching points
  • If the teams find it difficult to keep the ball within the team for longer, lift the touch restriction or add neutral players to create a numerical advantage.

Session 3

4 drills

The training session starts with a passing drill on the switch of play. To begin with, various passing sequences are played in a triangle before a pass over a longer distance follows. Place emphasis on the long passes being played with enough pace.

After that, a total of 15 minutes is spent working on coordination and acceleration.

The 3rd exercise of the training session again aims to improve the switch of play, in the form of a small-sided game in a 3 vs 3 + 2. In a very short but wide playing area, you should watch whether the players recognise in time when playing the ball wide is the better solution.

To finish, 8 vs 8 + 1 is played for possession with 5 passing gates in the playing area. If the players still have problems moving the ball securely through several players, you can also let them play 7 vs 7 + 3 to begin with. The coaching focus should be on the players repeatedly playing out of pressure and getting the ball to a free passing gate as quickly as possible.

Coaching points for this session
  • Play the ball out of pressure
  • Sufficient pace on the pass when passing over long distances
  • Take the ball into space
Drill 1

Switch of Play after Triangle Play

20 min

Variation 1

  • Player A passes to Player C.
  • Player C lays the ball off to Player B and gives the call "turn".
  • Player B turns out behind and switches play to the other side to the other triangle.

Variation 2

  • Player A passes to Player C.
  • Player C lays the ball off to Player B.
  • Player B plays a one-two with Player C.
  • Player C passes to the other side to Player A′.

Variation 3

  • Player A passes to Player C.
  • Player C lays the ball off to Player A.
  • Player A passes first time to Player B.
  • Player B plays into the run of Player C.
  • Player C switches play to Player A′.

Note: The other side carries out every variation identically.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones form two triangles.

Equipment: 6 cones and 1 ball.

Players: Players A, B and C in each triangle.

Coaching points
  • Play the switches with enough firmness on the pass.
  • Demand calls such as "lay off", "one-two" or "turn".
  • Before a player receives a pass, a preparatory movement must be made.
Drill 2

Coordination Training: Coordination with Sprints

20 min

Right side

  • The players run through the agility ladder with a quick sequence of steps.
  • This is followed by a short sprint over six to seven metres.
  • The players then run through the slalom course at a fast pace.
  • This is followed by a sprint over about 10 to 12 metres.
  • On reaching the goal line, they jog easily across to the other side.

Left side

  • The players run through the agility ladder with a quick sequence of steps.
  • This is followed by a sprint over six to eight metres.
  • The hurdles are then jumped through; here too the focus is on speed.
  • This is followed by a sprint over 10 to 12 metres.
  • On reaching the goal line, they jog easily across to the other side.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two courses side by side with agility ladders, hurdles and slalom poles.

Equipment: 2 agility ladders, 10 hurdles, 5 slalom poles, 2 red and 2 yellow cones.

Players: Two groups, lined up on the goal line.

Coaching points
  • Have different variations performed at the agility ladders.
Drill 3

Game: Switch of Play

20 minA quarter of the pitch
  • In the area, 3 vs 3 is played with two neutral players.
  • The team with the right to attack may score in both goals.
  • The right to attack changes when a team wins the ball and a player briefly dribbles it over the goal line opposite the mini goals.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; two mini goals stand on one side.

Equipment: 2 mini goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of three and two neutral players.

Coaching points
  • Use the numerical advantage to pull the opponents apart.
  • The defenders occupy the space without losing sight of the two goals.
Drill 4

8 vs 8 plus 1 Neutral Player on 5 Open Goals

25 minFrom penalty area to penalty area
  • Free play towards all pole goals.
  • A goal is scored when the player in possession passes to a team-mate through the central pole goal or dribbles through it.
  • The neutral player plays with the team that has the numerical advantage.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Tall cones mark out the playing area; ten poles form the dribbling gates — four on the sides and one in the middle.

Equipment: 10 poles, tall cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of eight plus one neutral player.

Coaching points
  • Use the numerical advantage to make the opponents run and to make the game wide.
  • The defenders have to keep an eye on all the goals and still defend the space.
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