New Format Level 2 - Switching Play

[Bungle]

Hi

I have a new format level 2 assessment on switching play - as you will probably know, this is a 35 minute session (including intro and debriefing) taking the single "theme" from unopposed to opposed to a SSG. The same number of players must be used throughout the session.

I have just finished my coursework so now am planning four sessions with adult players to practice my ideas for the assessment - first session Feb 9th with assessment early March

This is my plan - all comments and suggestions greatly appreciated.

Switching Play

I am intending to focus my coaching on switching through pivot players rather than a long lofted pass from one side to the other because to be honest, I think its beyond the ability of the group I will be coaching on assessment day and also it gives the defensive side time to readjust whilst the ball is in the air so is not great as an attacking option anyway..

Interested to hear what people think of that or whether I am just plain wrong or whether I should at some point introduce the long pass switching in one go or not. or even if I should make reference to it in my planner/intro and explain why I am not looking for it in the session.


Technique Section (unopposed)

Two groups of 6 players each group in a 16 yard (length) and 32 yard (width) area (fat wide area relative to length)

32 yards comes from side edge of pen area to six yard box on other side of goal but it may need to be wider (trying it out with adults on 9th Feb) - could go up to 44 yards if I used full width of pen area.

16 yards depth is pen area depth minus a safe area of two yards. I intend to have a duplicate area alongside with another six players running the same drill to give me 12 players.

I will have 2 * 2 yard wide goals made from boundary poles at each end of the areas out wide (yard in from touchline)

Players arranged in a formation as follows - play starts with wide player with the ball.

                           x6                          o
 x1                                                   x5 
                x2                     x4
                           x3

Wide player x5 dribbles ball forward and then turns and plays inside to x4 he plays to x3 to x2 and x1 with x1 stopping ball in front of the goal at the end of the pitch.

Players maintain basic formation above and play in reverse with x1 starting with the ball, x6 becoming the central defensive player and x4 the forward.

After every two runs, players move outside so x6 and x3 take x2 and x4 position, x2 and x4 take x1 and x5 position and x1 and x5 come into the middle to take x6 and x3 position.

Coaching points during the exercise:

• Quick turn from winger
• Sharp accurate passes inside - strike middle of ball to keep ball on ground - think about a pass you would want to receive and play it there
• Central players to adopt good body position to receive ball on back foot and open body to continue switch
• Good pitch position from all players to support player with the ball

Then intend to point out that the forward player is not involved and ask how a switch could involve him/her and introduce the possibility of the front to back switch from the central defensive player to the forward and coach wide players to make intelligent well timed runs to receive pass from forward. "Progression" in the technique section will simply be to encourage the ball to be moved quicker between players but suggestions welcome.



Skill (opposed)

After ten or so mins or sooner if groups seem ready I will take the two wide players and make them defenders and repeat the exercise, getting everyone to have a go in each position.

Coaching points remain the same as above but will introduce the importance of communication between players for when to switch and communication during the switch to let players know where the support is when the ball is being played.

Also intend to coach central players to support wide players once they have switched the ball either through an inside or outside over lap.

Further ideas for progressions include

• Me possibly walking briskly or jogging from one goal to the other of pitch and see if they can switch play before I get there but if new format L2 assessors/tutors think that mean I am too involved (either because its against the rules or because it means I cannot watch for coaching oportuniies) perhaps I can count the seconds and encourage them to beat their time whilst maintaining control of the ball.

Other progression ideas are v. welcome

SSG

SSG will be to join the two areas together and play in a 32yard wide (but up to 44 yard if I/you think its better) by 36 yard long pitch (as two yard safety zone between areas will have gone)

• Six of the eight goals from the skill/technique sessions will be removed keeping two at one end of pitch which will be the end the team i am coaching will attack (goals will be two yards wide, one yard in from touchline) - will place a small collapsible cone on line half way between the two goals.
• On pitch is 4 v 4 also will have one player on each touchline playing with side in possession (10 players).
• Will have one player at the end of the pitch that my side is defending and a keeper at the other end giving my my 12.

Rules are

1. Play restarts with pass from "player" at end I am defending to either wide player. Will get the players into the 1 2 1 diamond formation before each restart to maintain control.
2. Keeper at other end (end my team is attacking) can only stop or change direction in a goal or at the cone between the goals.
3. Team I am coaching cannot score in the goal the keeper is in - idea being that the team I am coaching will attack one of the goals and when keeper gets over to that goal, that's the trigger for a switch of play to attack the other goal and get the ball there before the keeper gets across - looking for a call from someone to switch at the right time and if keeper then legs it to the other goal, will even look to possible switch and then switch back if defending team covers the other goal quickly.
4. When team I am not coaching gets the ball they just have the target of getting it back to the player at the end I am defending - I don't want the team I am no coaching having the ball for very long and giving me little time in the ten or so mins to coach.

Any thoughts and suggestions an any (or every) aspect will be very gratefully received.

Rgds

Bungle

[74offsuit]

Hi Bungle

I have not gone through your whole plan yet as I am about to finish at work.

But this caught my eye.

I think its beyond the ability of the group I will be coaching on assessment day

This may not be a bad thing. If the group get it wrong, it's your chance to shine as a coach, putting it right.

I'll check out the rest tomorrow, to see if I can add anything.

[Bungle]

Originally Posted by 74offsuit

I have not gone through your whole plan yet as I am about to finish at work.

74offsuit - many thanks and apols - it did end up a little "war and peace" didn't it

[74offsuit]

Ok Back at boring work, so glad to have a look through the plan as it's more interesting.

Difficult to be objective, as your plan is so different to the old L2.

We were given key points/factors for every topic, and these were expected to be coached in the session.

We were also given the pitch/grid dimensions and could not choose our own.

The only advice I can give is that your tutor should have given you the tools to pass the course. Don't deviate from this with your own opinions. Try to affect every player, highlight with praise any time a coached player achieves a point you have coached.

Stay on topic.

Be enthusiastic, clear and concise.

Let us know how things progress.

[Bungle]

74offsuit - many thanks for the reply. I am waiting for further info from the tutor as he has seen three switching play assessments so far on the new level 2 format and was not that impressed by any of them. I have a further support day on 8th Feb when I want to run this session and see what he thinks.

Information for switching play under the new level 2 format is pretty much non existent so I have come up with the technique and skill parts myself with the SSG taken from a pretty standard four goal SSG thats been about for ages.

Even the paid area of this site has nothing on switching play under its new format level 2 section

It's certainly not one of the easiest "themes" on the syllabus - I would have much preferrred something like "long passing"!!

The new format is designed to give you the freedom to be creative throughout the session and with your SSG especially and I think they are hoping to see different sessions emerge- in that respect it is very different from the old level 2. To be honest its so early with the new format that I think the tutors and assessors are still finding their feet with it as well and its going to take a while to settle down.

Any other comments are very welcome though..

[Bungle]

Managed to pass my final assessment on Switching Play but I changed the unopposed and opposed drill considerably from the one posted above as it was far too static and with little decision making for the players.

I worked 12 players in a 44 by 30 yard area with 5 corner yard boxes in each corner - unopposed play 3 teams of 4 with a ball each, switching from box to box with progressions of a timed minute to see how many corners can be visited and the opposed to working in the same area 8 v 4 progressing to 7 v 5. SSG was the same as above.

[tuacajoe]

i've got the same topic for my final assessment at level 2 and wondered what exactly you did for the 35mins. any help would be appreciated. thanks joe