Passing
Counter Switch Play Grid
Practise switching the point of attack
Passing
Possession
Team Shape
Counter Switch Play Grid is a 20-minute passing drill for 8-18 players, suitable for Under 10 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.
Back to drill libraryPassing
Possession
Team Shape
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Counter Attack
Duration
20 min
Players
8-18
Pitch size
42 x 32 yards
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Counter Switch Play Grid — Marked area · 42 x 32 yards
Step 1 of 5Team keeps the ball in one wide zone until the switch is on.
- 1. Team keeps the ball in one wide zone until the switch is on.
- 2. A switch across the middle zone scores one point.
- 3. The receiving zone must take a controlled first touch forwards.
- 4. The team in possession starts each rep in their own half and must build forwards.
- 5. Turnovers earn a direct counter at the mini goals worth two points.
- Cones mark the area
- Dashed lines = zones / thirds
- Ball
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Practise switching the point of attack
- -Improve the long, driven pass and its control
- -Coach the shape that makes the switch available
Setup
- 1A wide grid split into three vertical zones in a 42 x 32 yards area.
- 2Place two mini goals on the halfway line for the counter-attacking side to aim at.
- 3Balls in each wide zone, two sets of bibs.
Coaching instructions
- 1Team keeps the ball in one wide zone until the switch is on.
- 2A switch across the middle zone scores one point.
- 3The receiving zone must take a controlled first touch forwards.
- 4The team in possession starts each rep in their own half and must build forwards.
- 5Turnovers earn a direct counter at the mini goals worth two points.
Coaching points
- -Head up to spot the far-side space early
- -Switch with a driven pass, not a loop
- -Far-side player stays wide and high
- -Counter in a straight line — the first pass forward beats the recovery run
Common mistakes
- -Switching straight into pressure
- -Far side drifting inside too early
- -Dribbling into traffic when the counter is on
Where this drill fits
- More football passing drills
- More football possession drills
- More football team shape drills
- football drills for U10s
- football drills for U12s
- football drills for U14s
- football drills for U16s
- Football session plans built around this theme