Getting it wide and switching play

Step by step

1. We've drawn them to our right. Our left-side player stays wide and high, where the space is.
2. Switch it: back inside to the midfielder, then straight across to the far side.
3. Now it's a 1v1 or 2v1 in space. Drive forward and get bodies into the box.

When to use it

Use it against teams who shuffle across together and leave the far side empty, and on bigger pitches where the wide areas are open.

Coaching points

• Keep a player on each touchline, high up. If everyone comes to the ball, there's nobody to switch to.
• Switch through the middle in two quick passes if the long pass is too hard for your age group.
• The wide player takes a first touch forward into space, not back towards the defence.
• Fill the box when the ball goes wide: near post, far post and the edge of the area.

With younger players

Mark wide channels with cones in training and give a bonus goal for a goal scored after the ball has been in a channel. It builds the habit of looking wide.