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Free activity · 100 Possession ActivitiesSwitch Through the Middle
Two attackers on each side line of a 20x14, two in the middle, three defenders. Score by moving the ball from one side to the other through a middle player. Direct side-to-side passes do not count.
Setup
A 20x14. Two attackers on each side line, two in the middle, three defenders.
How it works
- Score by moving the ball from one side to the other through a middle player.
- Direct side-to-side passes do not count.
- Middle players have two touches.
Scoring
First to ten.
- Middle: receive on the half-turn, already facing the far side.
- Side players: play the middle when they are open, then move to receive the switch.
- The switch is quicker through the middle than around the outside.
Make it easier or harder
- Progression 1: Middle players have one touch.
- Progression 2: Add a defender: 6v4.
Coach’s notes
- If It Stalls: Middle never free? Middle players may step outside the area to receive.
Why it works
A switch through a pivot is quicker than one around the outside, because the middle player is already half-turned toward the far side when the ball arrives. That half-turn is the whole activity.
Give the middle players two touches to start and cut them to one once the half-turn is a habit. Side players learn the other half: play the middle when it is open, then move to receive the switch.
Where it sits
This is activity 42 of 100 in 100 Possession Activities (Theme 5 · Switching the Play). The book is ten themes of ten rungs each, from a 3v1 square to a full 9v9 transition game, and every activity has its setup, rules, scoring, two progressions, three coaching points and an animated video like the one above.
All switching the play drills ›
More like this
Ages 11+ · Possession and passingSplit the GateFour attackers around a 12x12 with two defenders standing as a gate in the middle, three yards apart.
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Ages 11+ · Possession and passingPocket RondoThree lines of cones split a 15x12 into thirds. Four attackers on the ends, one in the middle third with three defenders.
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Ages 11+ · Possession and passingPass and Move SquareA 4v1 rondo with one rule that changes everything: after you pass, you must move to a different side of the square before you can receive again.
Open the activity ›All ten rungs of this theme, and nine more themes
100 Possession Activities is a 115-page PDF with 100 animated MP4 videos: rondos, playing out from the back, through the lines, support, switching, overloads, movement, timing, counter-pressing and counter-attacks. Print the page, watch the clip, run the session.