Futbol Island

11v11 lesson · Create the next opening · Intermediate

Find the Open Side

Switch to use space, not just to send the ball across the pitch.

What the coach says

  1. You’ve got support on both sides. Watch where the pressure goes.
  2. The defender slides left. Your right-side teammate still has room.
  3. Which teammate can receive without passing through the defender?
  4. Move the ball right. The receiver can look forward while the defense travels across.
  5. The defender has gone left, leaving the right-hand passing lane clear.
  6. Bring it back. Let’s see what changes when the defender chooses differently.
  7. The pressure arrives from the other side this time. Check both options again.
  8. Which side would you use in this picture?
  9. Use the left side now. The same switch would not work in both pictures.
  10. Switch to use space, not just to send the ball across the pitch.

Quiz questions

Try to answer before you read the coach’s explanation. On the island you answer each one on the pitch.

  1. Question 1

    Which teammate can receive without passing through the defender?

    • The teammate on the left
    • The teammate on the right

    Coach’s explanation: The defender has gone left, leaving the right-hand passing lane clear.

  2. Question 2

    Which side would you use in this picture?

    • The left side
    • The right side

    Coach’s explanation: The defender now blocks the right-hand route. The left-side teammate is available.

  3. Question 3

    True or false? The defender has gone left, so the passing lane to the right is clear.

    • False
    • True

    Coach’s explanation: It's true. The pressure went left, so the right-side teammate can receive and look forward.

  4. Question 4

    Which picture shows a switch that uses the open space?

    • Pass left, defender on the left
    • Pass right, defender on the left
    • Pass right, defender on the right

    Coach’s explanation: The ball goes away from the pressure, so the receiver has time to look forward.

  5. Question 5

    The defender still slides left, but now your defensive midfielder has the ball. Which pass uses the open side?

    • Across to the left midfielder
    • Short to the central midfielder
    • Up to the right midfielder

    Coach’s explanation: The right side is away from the pressure, so the receiver can turn and look forward.

Play it on the island