Drills / Team practice

Switch it

A game with two wide channels. A goal counts double if the ball has been through both wide channels in the move. It teaches players to move the ball to where the other team is not.

Players
8 to 14
Space
45 × 30 m with a goal at each end
Kit
2 goals, cones, bibs, balls
Time
18 minutes
Age
Under-10s and older
BOTH CHANNELS USEDGK
  • Us
  • Them
  • Pass
  • Run
  • Dribble

Set up

  • A pitch about 45 × 30 m. Cones mark a 6 m channel down each side.
  • Anyone can enter the channels. No one can be tackled in them for two seconds after receiving.

How it works

  1. Play a normal game.
  2. If the ball has been in both wide channels during the attack, a goal counts two.
  3. Keep score out loud so players start looking for the switch.

What to work on

  • When one side is crowded, the other side is free. Look before you receive.
  • Switch quickly. A slow switch lets the defence shift across.
  • Wide players: hold your width, even when the ball is on the other side.
  • Use a middle player to switch in two passes if one long pass is too hard.

Easier

No tackling in the channels at all.

Harder

The goal only counts if the switch was made in two passes or fewer.

Planning a whole session? The session planner builds one around this kind of practice.

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