Switch the play with a long pass

Setup

1. Mark 50 × 35 m and split it into three strips across the width; the middle strip is about 15 m.
2. Three attackers in each wide strip. Three defenders; two start in the ball's strip, one in the middle strip.
3. Attackers stay in their strip. Spare balls sit on the sideline.

How it runs

1. The attackers in the ball's strip keep it against the two pressing defenders.
2. After three passes, they can switch with a long pass over the middle strip to the far strip.
3. A switch controlled in the far strip scores a point. The two pressing defenders then sprint across to press there.
4. If a defender wins it or it goes out, the coach feeds a new ball. Play 3-minute games and rotate the defenders.

Coaching points

• Open up to face the far side before you receive, so you can switch early.
• Strike through the lower half of the ball with the laces for a driven pass.
• Far side, stay wide and get on the half-turn to take the first touch forward.
• Defenders, shift together across the pitch as the ball travels.

Common mistakes

• Switching too early, before the defenders have been drawn across.
• A floated pass that hangs in the air and gives defenders time to shift.
• Far-side players drifting into the middle strip.