Two-Zone Possession with Switches
6v6 keep-ball in two zones. Five passes in one zone followed by a switch to a teammate in the other zone scores a point; only four defenders may press in the ball zone.
- Age
- U13–Senior
- Players
- 12–16
- Duration
- 18 min
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Area
- 40 × 25 m
- Type
- Tactical
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Possession game
- Objectives
- Technical: Passing
- Tactical: Ball possession, Switching play
- Concepts worked on
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Ball
- Cone
Keeping the ball on one side only makes sense if it opens space on the other. In this game the team in possession draws the opponents into one zone and then switches to the far zone, where the defending team is outnumbered until it shifts across. The defending team learns to slide together and close the far side quickly.
Objective
Keep the ball in one zone to attract the opponents and switch it to the free zone at the right moment.
Organisation
- 40 × 25 m area split into two 20 × 25 m zones (A and B).
- Two teams of six (up to eight with bigger groups).
- Balls around the area for quick restarts.
How it works
- The team in possession is free to use both zones.
- The defending team may have at most four players in the zone where the ball is; the rest wait in the other zone.
- Five passes in a row in one zone and then a pass to a teammate in the other zone score one point.
- After a switch the defenders shift: four go to the new ball zone, the others stay behind.
- If the defending team wins the ball, it becomes the team in possession. 4 × 4 minutes.
Coaching points
- Keep one or two players wide and far in the other zone so the switch is always on.
- Play short and quick in the ball zone to pull the defenders in before switching.
- Switch with a firm, flat pass; a second option is a link pass through a player on the zone line.
- Receiver of the switch: open the body before the ball arrives and play forward.
- Defending team: shift together on the long pass and close the receiver before the first touch.
Progressions
- Two-touch limit in the ball zone.
- Only three defenders may press in the ball zone, but the switch must be a direct pass.
Regressions
- Three passes in a zone before switching.
- Add a neutral who plays with the team in possession.
Variations
- Three zones: a point for moving the ball from one outside zone to the other.
Key principles
- Attract on one side, play on the other.
- Width in possession.
- Shift together without the ball.
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