Passing
Underload Switch Play Grid
Practise switching the point of attack
Passing
Possession
Team Shape
Underload Switch Play Grid is a 18-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
Underload
Duration
18 min
Players
8-18
Pitch size
34 x 24 yards
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Underload Switch Play Grid — Marked area · 34 x 24 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 attacking group starts a player short, so every entry pass has to be sharp.
- 5. Defenders score a point for every clean turnover; attackers need three clean end actions to win the round.
- 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 34 x 24 yards area.
- 2Add one extra defender to the working area and mark their start position with a flat cone.
- 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 attacking group starts a player short, so every entry pass has to be sharp.
- 5Defenders score a point for every clean turnover; attackers need three clean end actions to win the round.
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
- -Protect the ball and wait for the second runner rather than forcing it
Common mistakes
- -Switching straight into pressure
- -Far side drifting inside too early
- -Trying to beat two players instead of releasing early
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