How to open up the other side
When your team notices the defence has really shifted to one side, being able to effectively move the ball quickly to the other side can open up opportunities.
To switch play in soccer, move the ball from the side where the other team has crowded to the side where they haven't, faster than they can slide across. A defending block shifts toward the ball, so when the ball is on one touchline, the far side of the field is usually open. The switch can be a single long pass, or it can go back and across through the center backs. Either way, it only works if the far side is ready to receive and the ball moves quickly.
How to switch play in soccer
A team in a mid block or low block defends the ball side with most of its players and leaves the far side to one or two. That is sensible defending, and it is also the opening. The longer your team keeps the ball on one side, the more the block commits to it, which is why a few passes on the near side can set up the switch rather than waste time.
The far side has to be ready before the ball comes. The full back on that side pushes up and wide, and the winger in front of them holds the width rather than drifting toward the ball. If both of them come inside to help, there is nobody to switch to. The center back on the far side also widens a little, so the pass across reaches them at an angle they can play forward from.
The ball has to move quickly once the switch is on. Each extra touch gives the block time to slide over. For most youth and rec players, the safest version is two shorter passes back and across the center backs, then a longer pass out to the full back. A player who can strike a long diagonal accurately can do the same job in one pass, but a diagonal that drifts out of play or is intercepted puts the team back where it started.
Once the ball is on the far side, the aim is to go forward before the block arrives. That usually means the full back passes down the line to the winger, or carries the ball forward into the space.
Step by step
O is attacking to the right. D defends in a 4-4-2 block that has shifted toward the top touchline, where O1 has the ball.
-
Step 1
O1 is pressed on the touchline and plays back to O2. On the far side, O3 widens and O4 pushes up the line.
O1 is pressed on the touchline and plays back to O2. On the far side, O3 widens and O4 pushes up the line.
-
Step 2
O2 passes straight across to O3. D9 and D10 shift across, but the rest of D's block is still on the near side.
O2 passes straight across to O3. D9 and D10 shift across, but the rest of D's block is still on the near side.
-
Step 3
O3 plays the long pass to O4, high and wide on the far side. D8 and D4 have to come across.
O3 plays the long pass to O4, high and wide on the far side. D8 and D4 have to come across.
-
Step 4
Before D8 arrives, O4 passes down the line to O8, who runs into the space in front of D4.
Before D8 arrives, O4 passes down the line to O8, who runs into the space in front of D4.
-
Step 5
O8 can take on D4 near the box, and D's midfield is still behind the ball, shifting across.
O8 can take on D4 near the box, and D's midfield is still behind the ball, shifting across.
To practice it, play an 8 v 6 or similar on a wide field with a small goal on each wing at one end, so the attacking team has to choose a side. Start at walking pace and stop the play when the ball is on one touchline so players can see where the defense has gone and where the space is. Then play it at full speed and count how many touches the switch takes. The mid block article shows the shape you are trying to move, from the defending side.
The full play
You can take this playbook into your own account and change it for your team, for example switching through a central midfielder instead of the center backs.
If you coach a youth team, you can also set up your team on Playspedia and use game day to plan who plays when and keep playing time fair.