53: Grow Coach Newsletter
Football Coaches: Develop your Coaching Craft.
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Here is What to Expect:
Coaching Craft: Switching Play
Full 60-Minute Practice: 3 x practices to work on switching play
Coach Project: Switching
"When you switch the play, you move the opponent, and football is about finding space. It’s not just about speed; it’s about intelligence.” - Pep Guardiola
Shift, Stretch, and Score: Transforming Attacks with Switching Play
Ever watched a team seamlessly shift the ball from one flank to the other, dismantling defensive structures and creating endless opportunities? Switching play is one of soccer’s most potent tactical weapons—yet it’s often misunderstood or underutilised.
So how can you teach your team to use this skill to control matches and unlock stubborn defenses? Let’s explore.
What Does It Mean to Switch Play?
Switching play is the deliberate movement of the ball from one side of the field to the other to exploit space and disrupt the opponent’s defensive shape. It’s about more than just “big” passes—it’s about vision, precision, and timing. Switching play can stretch opponents horizontally, create overloads, and open paths to the goal.
Key Coaching Points for Switching Play
1. Scanning: Reading the Game
Encourage players to scan the field continuously to spot opportunities for switching play. Midfielders and defenders should be looking for overloaded flanks or isolated fullbacks.
Coaching Tip: Use small-sided games with a focus on scanning before receiving the ball. Award points for players who switch the ball quickly after spotting open space.
2. Speed of Play: Keeping Momentum
Switching play isn’t effective if it’s slow or predictable. The key is to move the ball quickly while the opponent’s defence is shifting, leaving gaps to exploit.
Design rondos where players must switch the ball after a set number of passes, emphasizing quick, sharp decision-making.
3. Precision in Long and Short Passes
Switching play can involve both long diagonal passes and quick horizontal combinations. Players need technical accuracy to hit their targets without slowing the game.
Practice passing patterns that simulate match intensity. Use targets or mannequins to represent defensive lines and encourage precision.
4. Positioning: Spacing and Awareness
Good positioning makes switching play effective. Wide players must maintain width to stretch the opposition, while central players offer options for quick, safe circulation.
Use grids in training sessions to highlight zones where players should position themselves to support switches.
5. Patience vs. Urgency: Recognising the Moment
Not every play needs to be switched immediately. Teach players to recognize when to circulate the ball and when to exploit an overloaded side.
Incorporate situational drills where players must decide whether to switch play or maintain possession based on defensive cues.
Tactical Considerations
Switching Through the Thirds
Switching play isn’t just about going wide; it’s about progressing through the thirds of the pitch. Encourage players to combine switches with vertical progression to break down compact defences.
Key Focus: Use central midfielders or deep-lying playmakers as pivot points to execute quick switches that transition the ball from the defensive to attacking phases.
Using the Weak Side Effectively
Opponents often overload one side of the pitch, leaving the weak side vulnerable. Train players to exploit this by identifying when the far-side fullback or winger is isolated.
Diagonal vs. Horizontal Switches: Diagonal switches can penetrate defensive lines more effectively, while horizontal switches stretch the opposition.
Key Focus: Wide players must stay patient and maintain their width to stretch the defensive block and be ready to receive.
Switching to Create Overloads
Switching play can be a precursor to overloads. Once the ball is switched, players must anticipate and execute overlapping runs, underlaps, or quick combinations to capitalize on defensive disorganization.
Encourage runs beyond the ball and quick combinations after a switch to maintain momentum and exploit space.
Key Focus: Teach players to recognise when to drive into the box after a switch versus when to recycle possession and rebuild the attack.
Incorporating the Goalkeeper
The goalkeeper can be a vital part of switching play, especially when breaking a high press. Train goalkeepers to use long-range passing to find isolated players on the opposite side.
Key Focus: Encourage goalkeepers to scan the field early and develop technical skills for accurate distribution under pressure.
Tempo Variations
Switching play isn’t always about speed. Sometimes, slowing down before switching can lull the opponent into a false sense of security, creating better opportunities to exploit space.
Key Focus: Teach players to recognise when to change the tempo and inject pace after a switch to catch opponents off-guard.
Final Thoughts:
Switching play is more than a tactical strategy—it’s a philosophy that embodies creativity, vision, and control. Your team can impose its identity on any match by mastering this skill. But success doesn’t happen overnight.
As a coach, your role is to develop an environment where players are encouraged to take risks, develop their decision-making, and understand the tactical nuances of the game.
Switching play requires teamwork, trust, and technical mastery—all qualities that come from consistent practice and a shared commitment to improvement.
Encourage your players to embrace the process, not just the outcome. Whether it’s a perfectly weighted diagonal ball or a clever combination to switch through the thirds, every step builds confidence and capability.
Challenge your team to think differently. Switching play isn’t just about finding space; it’s about creating it. Empower your players to control the game, dictate the tempo, and unlock even the tightest defences.
Remember: A great switch isn’t just a pass; it’s a statement.
6 Questions to Challenge the Player's Decisions
Use these questions to challenge the players you coach and get them to think deeper about the what, when, why, and how of switching play.
When should you prioritise switching play over playing forward?
What triggers influence your decision to use a short vs. long switch?
How can you adjust your body shape to make switching play faster and smoother?
How can you combine switching play with quick diagonal runs to create a goal-scoring opportunity?
What’s the risk of switching play in dangerous areas, and how can you minimise it?
How can your positioning off the ball influence your team’s ability to switch play effectively?
"The key to breaking defenses is recognizing the moments to change the rhythm of the game. Switching play quickly at the right time can make all the difference.” - Carlo Ancelotti
Full Practice: Switching Play
Switching Play to Score | 3v3 (+2) | SSG
⚽️ Created On: @TacticalPad
Aim:
Switch the ball to create scoring opportunities
Set-Up:
25 by 30 yards (side zones are 5 yards)
👕 Teams: ⚫️s vs 🔴s plus 🟡 support the team with the ball
How to Play:
The game is directional each team attacks and defends 2 goals each.
Find a 🟡 on one side of the pitch and score a goal on the opposite side of the pitch. This is worth double goals for the team that scored.
🚧 Constraints:
🏆Reward: The scoring team retains the ball if they score
👨🏫 Review: The types of pass to switch, diagonal or horizontal
🚫 Restriction:
4v4 | Small Sided Game | Switching Play to Score
⚽️ Created On: @TacticalPad
Aim:
Control possession through switches of play.
Set-Up:
Pitch Size: 40 by 40 yards for the main playing area. A central triangle (each side 10 yards)
Have the mini goals 🥅 facing out on each tip of the central triangle.
👕 Teams: ⚫️s vs 🔴s
How to Play:
IN Possession Team:
Pass to a player in the central zone.
Then retain the ball ⚽️ and ⬇️
Pass to a player in any corner of the pitch
🗣️ Finally: Score in any mini goal 🥅.
OUT of Possession Team:
🚨 Cannot enter the central triangle or the corners of the pitch zones. They can only defend around each area.
🚨 If possession is regained the team with the ball ⚽️ tries to achieve the IN possession conditions. (Pass Centrally - Pass Corner - Score a Goal)
🚧 Constraints:
🏆Reward: First to achieve the IN possession conditions x 5 wins the game.
👨🏫 Review: The body position of the ball receiver, does it allow them to see large portions of the pitch?
🚫 Restriction: Touch limits on the players and time limits to achieve conditions
⚽️ 4v4 +2 | Possession vs Regain and Counter the Space in behind.
⚽️ Created On: @TacticalPad
Aim:
Switch play or regain and counter.
Set-Up:
On half a pitch: Set up 2 x rectangle areas around 30 by 20 yards each separated by a 5-10 yard zone (grey shaded area)
Add 2x mini goals to the edge of the 6-yard box.
👕 Teams: ⚫️s vs 🔴s plus 🟡s support players.
How to Play:
🔴s keep possession by switching play from side to side.
⚫️s regain the ball play in behind and finish on goal.
🟡s help the team with the ball to retain it or play a through ball for a MF runner 🏃♂️.
🔴s score each time they switch the ball from 🟡 to 🟡.
⚫️s score by regaining the ball and finding a 🟡 who looks to slide in a ⚫️ runner into the shaded zone.
⚫️s receiver of the through ball ⚽️must take their first touch out of the grey-shaded zone, and score on their next touch into the mini goals.
When ⚫️s break out of the MF zone the coach can serve in another ball to 🔴s to restart the possession element of the practice. The ⚫️s scorer must recover back to help win back the ball.
🚧 Constraints:
🏆Reward: The switching play team can attack the larger goal if they go target to target 3 times in a row.
👨🏫 Review: Quality and weight of pass are important for the through ball ⚽️ and switches of play. The timing of the run is vital for the ⚫️s MF runner 🏃♂️.
🚫 Restriction: Passing limits to score on the breakout team.
“ A good switch of play opens doors. It is a sign of collective awareness and technical precision.” - Marcelo Bielsa
Coach Project: Observation Task
Objective:
Observe and analyse the effectiveness of switching plays by evaluating player positioning, timing, decision-making, and execution during attacking phases.
Setup:
Use a training activity focused on switching play, such as rondos, positional games, or small-sided matches. Assign one coach to observe the moments when players attempt to switch play and the outcomes of their actions.
Key Observations:
1. Positioning
Are players maintaining width on both sides of the pitch to create space for switches?
Do players in central areas provide pivot options to facilitate quick switches?
2. Timing
Are switches executed quickly enough to exploit the defensive shift before opponents can recover?
Are passes made when the receiving side has an advantageous overload or space to attack?
3. Technique
Is the pass accurate and weighted appropriately to allow the receiver to maintain tempo?
Are players using the right type of pass (e.g., long diagonal, driven, or clipped) based on the situation?
4. Scanning
Are players scanning the field before switching play to identify open spaces and weak areas of the defence?
Are receivers on the far side scanning for their next action before receiving the ball?
5. Support Play
After switching play, do teammates offer immediate support to the receiver, such as overlapping runs or central options?
Do players anticipate the next phase of play, such as attacking the box or resetting possession if needed?
Lessons to Highlight Post-Observation:
1. Execution vs. Decision-Making
Break down whether errors stem from poor technique (e.g., inaccurate or poorly weighted passes) or poor decision-making (e.g., switching too late or when space isn’t available).
2. Triggers for Switching Play
Emphasise the key moments to switch, such as:
Defensive overloads on one side.
A fullback or winger on the weak side is left unmarked.
The opponent’s defensive block shifts compactly toward the ball.
3. Risk vs. Reward
Discuss balancing risk and reward:
When is it worth attempting a switch in a high-pressure area?
When should players circulate possession to create better conditions for switching?
Tips for the Coach:
1. Use a clipboard or tablet to note when switching play was effective or could have been improved.
2. During water breaks or post-session debriefs, use visual aids like video clips or diagrams to highlight successful and missed opportunities.
3. Encourage players to discuss their thought processes during switching moments to deepen understanding and awareness.
5 Post-Session Reflection Questions for Players:
1. Did you spot opportunities to switch play early, or did you react too late?
2. How did your positioning off the ball make it easier or harder to execute a switch?
3. Was your pass weighted correctly for the receiving player to maintain the attack’s momentum?
4. How could you better support your teammate after the switch?
5. Did you scan for options on the weak side before making or receiving the switch?
By focusing on these observations and reflections, your players will develop a sharper understanding of when and how to switch play effectively—turning tactical awareness into game-changing actions.
“ Switching play isn’t just tactical—it’s psychological. It forces opponents to adapt, to chase, and eventually to tire. That’s where you find your advantage."
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Really appreciate the focus on the perceptual side of switching. How to switch is a lot easier to learn then the when to switch. It’s not about teaching solutions, it’s about teaching how to solve problems.