Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): creating and exploiting overload

FAW Coach Ed

Lee Maher

Profile Summary

Name:	Lee Maher
City:	Burnley
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

Interface Language

Share this Session

Link Session

Build 3D sessions in seconds

Access to 1000’s of sessions

Professionalise and modernise your coaching

Used by the world’s best coaches

US$

per year

Join today

Description

Organisation (Practice Layout & Transition)

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 1

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Save Image:

Create Video:

Screen 1 (20 mins)

Creating and exploiting overloads

8 v 8 reds defending big goal - trying to win the ball back and score in the small goals of blue

reds - 4-2-3-1

blue 3-5-2- wingbacks

Blue will look to pass patiently looking to pull players out of position while we pass through the thirds when we have created space to play in

40 x 60 m - 150m

4 blocks - md -

3 min blocks 1 min rest

Interventions Concurrent Terminal Walk Through Coaching Process

Welsh Way Principles Understand when and how to exploit a numerical advantage against the opposition.

challenges - tagets

Encourage bravery and creativity in exploiting overloads (2v1 or 3v2). Challenge players to find solutions to beat defenders, guiding them when needed. Use time or touch limits to increase realism, and manage a countdown if appropriate. Ensure players stay onside throughout.

can we get a shot off within 6 seconds of creating a overload

can blues limit to 2 touche passes to advance through te thirds

key points

In Possession:

Find and use the spare player
Exploit the overload (2v1 / 3v2)
Fast passing and forward runs
Create passing angles
Overlap/underlap runs
Quality final pass—can they finish first time?

Out of Possession:

Press immediately
Protect central areas
Leave the furthest player unmarked

Problem 1 - blocks 1 and 2- defending team will be patient and focus on holding a shape

attacking team will look to play out wide to create space around with patience then quick action to pass switch and move to find the spare man looking to exploit a overload down the wing creating a 2 v 1

prolem 2 - blocks 3 and 4

- defending team will press fast and high with tempo

- attacking team will move the ball quickly, making sure when not on the ball they are the spare man looking to attack andplay forward quickly in space to create a overload

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 2

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Save Image:

Create Video:

Screen 2 (15 mins)

Explanation:

Play starts with the goalkeeper finding a defender. To create an overload, a fullback breaks into the attacking half, while one opposition defender steps out, leaving a 4v3 in the defensive half. Both teams get chances to create and exploit overloads, following in-possession principles.

If the opposition wins the ball with their front three (3v4), they can score quickly within a countdown. If they regain it in their defensive box, a player steps out to maintain balance before rejoining.

The coach works with one team only, using various intervention strategies, while managing the opposition for realism and tempo. If the ball goes out behind the goal, restart with the goalkeeper. For throw-ins, the coach controls restarts as needed.

Challenges, Conditions & Targets:

Coached team must break out from 4v3 with minimal passes.
In the attacking half, find the spare player and score within a countdown.
Manage offsides for realism.
If opposition dominate, limit their touches or time.

Key Points:

In Possession:

Find the spare player
Exploit the overload
Quick passes & forward runs
Passing angles (overlap/underlap)
Accurate final pass—aim for first-time finish

Out of Possession:

Press quickly
Protect central areas
Leave the furthest player

Interventions:

Concurrent, terminal, walk-through
Follow the coaching process