Annual training plan · U9–U13

Week 24: Switching Play with Lofted Balls

2 complete training sessions with 8 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

Last training week, 3 sessions were already used to learn the switch of play. This week, the switch will be worked on for another 2 training days.

You should of course continue to pay attention to effective execution – firm passes, passes into the run or onto the front foot wherever possible, bypassing individual positions and pushing up as high as possible on the far side.

But at least as important is that the players recognise when a switch of play is helpful for continuing the attack.

Last week, players already became somewhat familiar with switching play. Now hold back more when coaching, especially when a switch of play is being set up. This gives the players the chance to recognise for themselves in which match situations they should switch the play.

When you watch the game from the outside, it quickly seems obvious when the space on one side becomes too tight and the far side should be sought. But when you are part of the action yourself, this is much harder to see. You also have to bear in mind that children still have a more limited field of vision than adults.

But even if players should recognise for themselves in which situations it is better to switch the play, it is of course helpful to give them reference points. A switch of play usually makes sense when …

  • … the team is outnumbered near the ball
  • … all passing options in the direction of play are blocked
  • … the opponent has shifted very far to the ball side and there is a lot of space on the far side
  • … the ball has been won and continuing forward does not seem possible

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

At the start of the training session the focus is on feints. Above all, you should look for an explosive change of pace after the feints. Naturally, attention should also be paid to the execution. The “credibility” of the feint plays a big role here, because feints ultimately serve to fool the opponent.

With a step-over or lunge, for example, the centre of gravity should be shifted clearly to the side the player is feinting towards. With a shot feint, the kicking leg should be drawn back in a clearly visible way.

This is followed by 2 exercises on the switch of play.

In the first of the two exercises the aim is to move the ball between 2 target players. In the following small-sided game, the players play towards 4 cone goals and then finish on a pole goal. The 4 cone goals, spread evenly around the playing area, offer the chance to switch play if one of the 4 cone goals is blocked.

The training session is rounded off with a finishing drill that turns into a 2 vs 2.

Coaching points for this session

Switch of play:

  • Sufficient pace on the pass
  • Play the ball to the front foot or into their path without the attack losing pace
  • Bypass individual positions
  • Take the ball in your stride straight away and into space
Drill 1

Feint Circuit

15 min
  • The four players in the area dribble and perform all the feints they know.
  • After three to four feints they pass the ball to a player outside the area.
  • Then they line up at the cone, and the outside players dribble into the area.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark the outside positions.

Equipment: With eight players, 4 cones and 4 balls.

Players: Four players dribble in the area, four stand outside at the cones.

Coaching points
  • Start the drill at an easy pace and increase the tempo steadily.
  • Perform the feints with the whole body in order to deceive the opponent.
Drill 2

Switch of Play in a Small-Sided Game

25 min24 x 12 metres
  • The game is played 3 vs 3 for possession.
  • The team in possession receives a point for every switch of play from one neutral player to the other that is completed without a mistake.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark out the playing area.

Equipment: 4 cones and several balls.

Players: Two groups of three and two neutral players.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to scanning.
  • Take the ball with the first touch into the new direction of play.
  • Play out of tight situations.
  • Step out of the opponent's cover shadow.
Drill 3

Small-Sided Game Awareness and Drive Towards Goal

30 min
  • Two teams play against each other.
  • They try to pass or dribble through one of the four dribbling goals.
  • If they succeed, the team in possession can score at the pole goal.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight tall cones form four dribbling goals; in the middle two poles form a goal with a goalkeeper.

Equipment: 8 tall cones, 2 poles and several balls.

Players: Two teams; plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Make the game wide and big when in possession.
  • Switch play when the space in front of the dribbling goal becomes too tight.
  • Switch play with firm and expansive passes.
  • Carry out the switch with few touches.
Drill 4

Small-Sided Game 2 vs 2 After a Shot

25 min
  • One player from each team sets off with a ball towards the middle cone.
  • Both dribble around the cone and then finish; each player finishes at the goal next to which their own team-mates are standing.
  • After the finish, the quicker of the two finishers is thrown a ball, and one player from behind each goal comes onto the pitch.
  • The game is now played 2 vs 2 until the next finish.
  • The positions are then swapped.

Variations:

  • Follow up with a longer small-sided game or continue 3 vs 3 after the finish.
  • Also have the finishes taken at the goal next to which the opponents are standing; this way the players finish with the left foot.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark out the pitch, a seventh stands on its own in the centre. At one end there is the full-size goal, at the other a smaller goal; both are occupied by a goalkeeper.

Equipment: 2 goals, 7 cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams, each in their own bib colour. Level with the halfway line, each team has one player with a ball; the remaining players line up behind the goals. Plus two goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Also have the finishes taken at the goals next to which the opponents are standing. This way the players finish with the left foot.
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

A lofted ball is also an effective tool for switching play. It is the quickest way of getting the ball to the far side.

The basic requirement, of course, is that the far side is occupied and that the receiver has enough space to control the ball without pressure from opponents.

With lofted balls, make sure that the ball is played with backspin and without swerve. That way the ball is easiest to control. The receiver's task is then to bring the ball down quickly and pick up speed straight away if there is still space to do so.

When training the lofted ball, you should insist on match-realistic execution. The ball should therefore be played on the move wherever possible, not from a standstill.

In Exercise 3 the lofted ball can be trained in a very targeted way. In Exercise 4 it can then be applied in a small-sided game to switch play.

Coaching points for this session

Lofted ball to switch play:

  • Create a passing option as wide and high as possible on the far side
  • Play the ball with backspin and without swerve
  • Do not let the ball bounce, go towards it instead
  • Get the ball down quickly
Drill 1

Passing in a Square Variation I

15 min12 x 12 metres.

The passing sequence is always the same:

  1. The player on the ball passes to the next team-mate, who moves towards the ball.
  2. The team-mate lays the ball back, runs around the cone and receives the return pass of the one-two.
  3. Then that player passes to the next player.

After their second pass, the players always move on one cone station.

Variations:

  • The wall player plays the first pass first time. After rounding the cone, the second ball may be taken on with the first touch and then passed.

Note: The drill needs a certain amount of time to get going.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: A cone square measuring 12 x 12 metres.

Equipment: 4 cones.

Players: The starting position with the ball must be occupied by at least two players. From 10 players upwards, set up a second square.

Coaching points
  • The player waiting for the ball starts the counter-movement at the same moment as the passer's backswing.
  • The wall player matches the running speed to the speed of the pass.
  • Place the standing foot 30 to 40 centimetres to the side of the ball or level with it, no leaning back.
  • With the inside-of-the-foot pass the toes point upwards, the ankle is firmly locked and the upper body leans slightly over the ball.
  • Stand on the balls of the feet, lift the kicking foot slightly, strike the middle of the ball and then swing the leg through — do not arch the back. The same applies to the first touch and to taking the ball in stride.
  • Bring the opposite arm through: when passing with the right inside of the foot the left arm goes to the right hip, with the left inside of the foot the right arm goes to the left hip.
  • Coordinate the timing of the pass and of the start of the run; players often run faster than they pass.
  • Demand firm and accurate passes.
Drill 2

Positional Play with Wall Players

25 min
  • The side players may not enter the square and may only move between their two adjacent cones; as wall players they have only one touch.
  • The players in the middle try to keep the ball within their own ranks.
  • If the ball is played out to the side, the inside players immediately offer passing options and form a triangle in doing so.
  • The team is awarded a point for a set number of consecutive passes.

Variations: The outside player plays or dribbles the ball into the playing area; the player who passed the ball then seamlessly fills the outside position.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight cones form a square or rectangle.

Equipment: 8 cones and several balls.

Players: Three to four players per team operate inside the playing area; four players per team spread out around the outside as side players.

Coaching points
  • Keep demanding and rewarding the switch of play.
  • The constant changes of the ball and the new direction of play that comes with them keep the inside players continuously on the move.
Drill 3

Duel After a Lofted Ball

25 minDouble penalty area
  • Player A plays a diagonal lofted ball to Player B.
  • Player A runs forward and takes up the defending position.
  • Player B controls the ball and dribbles towards Player A; a duel develops.
  • Ideally Player B is able to finish on the goal behind Player A.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark out the playing area; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 6 cones, 2 goals and several balls.

Players: Four groups are formed.

Coaching points
  • Demand a drive towards goal.
  • If an action takes too long, stop the drill.
Drill 4

Switch of Play to Squares

20 min
  • One team plays towards the red squares, the other towards the yellow ones.
  • A point is scored when a player in the square receives a pass and plays the ball back to a team-mate outside the square without an opponent getting to the ball; the return pass may not go to the same player.
  • After a point, the other square must be played into.
  • Two consecutive points at the same square without losing possession do not count.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: 16 cones form two yellow and two red squares, which lie opposite one another.

Equipment: 16 cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of five players each.

Coaching points
  • Keep demanding the switch of play.
  • Switch play until an overload arises at one square and a point can be scored.
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