Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Spacific Practice / Creating and exploiting overloads

Specific Practice / 9v5 + GK (midfield three rotation)

The Welsh Way Principles of play / Create & exploit overloads:

• When and how to exploit a numerical advantage
• Find the spare player
• Player movement to create the overload
• Interchange positions
• Commit the opponent
• Ball speed

How it works: 

This drill is designed to foster creativity in the midfield unit by encouraging rotations, decision-making, and solutions through overloads with full-backs (View position of FB could be an inverted one in a game). Goal is to force the midfielder three to be creative, so touches are not limited, allowing players the freedom to explore solutions. The hexagonal shape aligns with my philosophy of avoiding straight-line passes from full-backs to wingers. The drill maintains a high fun factor, as players enjoy the challenge of achieving to touch the offensive players and finishing with attacking sequences. 

• The attacking team (red) must maintain possession in the middle zone and look for opportunities to pass to either the striker or a winger positioned outside the hexagon.
• Upon receiving the ball, the striker can control it and finish it or play a 1,2 to get the ball in the box and finish it. Wingers too can finishing once received the ball or they play a one with the striker or midfielder to finish it.
• After the first shot on goal, the assistant coach, positioned near the goal with extra balls, immediately plays a second ball into play. This ball can be passed to one of the attacking players who didn’t participate in the initial finish (e.g., one of the wingers, the striker, or even a number 8).
• Each sequence begins with the CB from the attacking team playing the first pass into the middle zone.
• The first ball is always free and must be directed into the middle zone to start the exercise.
• The Defending team (blue) can score in the mini-goals after winning possession. The FB and the CB can defend the mini-goals (locked in/prevention thinking)

• Encourage dynamic midfield rotations to find and exploit overloads, particularly with full-backs.
• Prioritise creativity and problem-solving, avoiding rigid structures or excessive conditions.Maintain the hexagonal shape to enforce angled passing patterns and discourage direct passes from full-backs to wingers.
• Create a high-energy and enjoyable environment with an emphasis on attacking sequences and final-third creativity.

Coaching interventions: 

• Walk through
• Concurrent
• Terminal

• Conditions: Starting point always from the CB. No straight pass from FB’s to Winger’s. Once wingers or the striker is touched it goes into finishing. Blues can score after winning possession in the mini-goals. Mini-goals can be defended by the red FB’s or CB.
• Target: Red (coached) = Find solutions in the middle to pass the ball to the offensive players. Scoring afterwards. Blue (managed) = Gain possession and score in one of the mini-goals.