Overload Switch Play Grid

Objective

• -Practise switching the point of attack
• -Improve the long, driven pass and its control
• -Coach the shape that makes the switch available

Setup

1. 1A wide grid split into three vertical zones in a 40 x 30 yards area.
2. 2Split the group so the attacking side always has one spare player, and park the spare bibs on the halfway cone.
3. 3Balls in each wide zone, two sets of bibs.

How to play

1. 1Team keeps the ball in one wide zone until the switch is on.
2. 2A switch across the middle zone scores one point.
3. 3The receiving zone must take a controlled first touch forwards.
4. 4The spare player joins whichever side has the ball, so the attack always works with a plus-one.
5. 5A goal or completed end action counts double if the spare player touched the ball in the build-up.

Progressions

• +Remove the overload for the last two rounds
• +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

• -Give the attack two spare players
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Rotate the spare player every 90 seconds
• -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Switching straight into pressure
• -Far side drifting inside too early
• -Spare player standing still instead of offering an angle