Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Creating & Exploiting Overloads (Start Time: 2025-07-03 19:20:00)

Screen 2 (5 mins)

Specific Practice SSG (22 mins) - MD - 3

16 players 

8 v 8 (7 + GK for out of possession team)

Creating and Exploiting overloads - play through / around or over. 

Organsiation

Understanding of where and when to create an overload and play forward to break lines and create a goalscroing oppoortunity. Move the ball quickly to find the spare player in overload situation. 

22 minutes - 3 x 5 minutes with 90 second rest

Half Pitch (50 x 65yards)

Red team to create and exploit overloads in the build / attacking phase by utilising width and depth where possible - 4-3-3 (removing 2 x CBS and GK)

Blue Team to apply pressure and show the attacking team outside (into zone 1) where possible and defend the box. Win the ball back and score in the 2 mini goals within 10 seconds.

Coach of the team out of possession to focus on applying pressure to the ball and keeping the space between defence and midfield within 12-14 yards where possible. Leave the furthest man for attacking team and show down the line where possible - score quickly on transition.

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

First 5 mins screen (2+3) set up for team out of possession. In possession - utilise the 6 to control the possession if an overload isn't exploited and retain possession. If not successful in playing through or around can the 6 be in a position to receive and switch play. Concurrent feedback (terminal for demonstration depending on success) 

Terminal after the 5 minutes - 90 second rest - use of tactics board to show and discuss the 2nd phase - screen 3.

Middle 5 mins. Screen (4 - 7) - have the coach for defending team change this midfielder starting position during the 2nd half of the 5 minutes to create the challenge and see how the attacking team react - can they spot where the space has been left. What if that CM presses higher? What if the back line then presses higher - where is the space left to exploit.

Terminal - feedback on what has been seen, ask questions to the players, challenge where the space is to attack and where have they been able to exploit an overload or when they have missed opportunities to exploit. 

Final 5 minutes (Screen 8 - 9)- Limit touches of wide players to 3 touches so that they focus on the central overload and look to deliver when high and wide quickly - key point is to link with the spare player centrally and get in behind the defensive line with a low ball across the 6 yard box. 

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Look to start the SSG with 6 playing a one two with the 8 as practiced in general practice, look to then play wide if possible and play around or through the opposition. FBs on 2 touch as they are starting unopposed, potentially allow 3 touches if required. 

1. Can attacking team score by creating overloads in the wide areas, 2 goals for scoring directly from a cross or ball delivered from zone 1. Strikers and 3rd man runner to cover areas within the box, front post, back post and penalty spot. When and where should the wide player target the cross, low cut back from touchline and front post delivery if possible when more in line with edge of the penalty area. 

2. on transition when losing possession can attacking team retrieve the ball within 5 seconds / can defensive team score within 10 seconds. Use of an overload defensively to win the ball in opponents half. Always consider the rest defence, 6 and opposing FB to provide the cover, 8 edge of the area. 

3. challenge the defensive team to press as high as possible in the final 5 minutes and encourage earlier decision making from the attacking team 

Interventions - Concurrent, Terminal, walk through, coaching process

Screen 4 (5 mins)

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

On terminal break show the rotations of wide strikers coming inside and WB pushing on high and wide to create a potential 2 v 1 vs opposing FB. 

Can we find the space highlighted to cause the opposing team issues with overloads in the pockets. If the defensive team push higher and reduce that space or go with the wide strikers tight can that ball be played to the overlapping WB and can the 8 make a 3rd man run to create depth and attack space in behind.

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Can we score a goal playing through the wide strikers - 2 goals if the wide strikers get on the ball during the attack. 

Target our ST to make runs in behind and keep the CBs as close to their goal as possible to create space centrally. 

Mindful on transition to have our 6 and another covering - if the ball is played down the left side the WB down the right needs to be aware if the 2 x 8s join the attack and come inside zone 2 in case of turnover. 

Screen 6 (5 mins)

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

Providing initial defensive set up with midfield 3 now applying pressure higher up on the attacking number 6. Creating a different challenge, can Striker drop in to create an overload centrally and 2 x wide strikers look to play more narrow.

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Screen 8

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

Starting position of team out of possession higher reducing the space in between lines. 

If the defensive opponent is successful and finding it easy to press high the 6 starting with the ball can play a direct ball over the defensive line - encourage the 6 to play what he can see as successful. 

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Can we move the ball quicker and encourage wide players to drive with the ball into high and wide positions. 

Rotations with Strikers to make runs into the space behind, understanding of timing on those runs and weight of pass form the WB. Movement once ST has been successful, Wide striker far side to attack the box, nearest wide striker to make run into the box (front post), can both 8s join the attack, one getting into the box and one on the edge of the box. 6 to close the space and move up with the attack with far WB to provide cover and come into zone 2/3.

Open up touches for FBs attacking. Defence FB to release and press the ball once Att FB is beyond Def CM

Debrief with attacking team on success.