Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): OA3 Topic - Creating and Exploiting Overloads

Specific Practice (10 mins)

In the Specific Practice shown above, the Blues will defend as a compact and narrow block, protecting central spaces.  This will cause us the problem of not being able to go through the middle, or use the most direct route to goal.  Therefore, our solution will be to go wide, and look to create an overload in wide areas.  An example above shows some aspects of how this may work.  Above, my wide midfielder drops 5-10 yards and gets as wide as possible, to give the opposing fullback a problem.  Above, the fullback is going to go with the wide player, leaving a big space for my 10 to go into if its on.  My 9 is pinning their ball-side centre back to give him a problem, and my 6 that played wide, is supporting underneath.  A Blue 6 will certainly try to help, and the back 4 in general will likely slide across.  One of their other 6's may follow my 10, leaving my second 6 free.  If the 10 is tracked by a Blue CB, it will mean that there will be more space around my 9.  Essentially, we should be able to create a 4 v 3 situation.  As a what if, if they manage to defend well and make it a 4 v 4 utilising both 6s and two defenders with a third defender covering, it may mean that we can exploit an overload opportunity on the other side, if we can get my second 6 out to support my wide player on the let above.

Technically ball speed, correct touch, and angles of pass and support will be important.  People running off each other and being interchangeable will help too.

In transition, my Reds will be encouraged to try and protect central spaces, and get behind the ball as quickly as possible - if they cannot get fast pressure on the ball.  If we have managed to create an overload but lose possession, it may be that the overload also gives us a better chance of a fast recovery of the ball, to attack once more.  Once we have recognised the overload, we then need to look to create chances to score.  The practice will restart with one of the 6s.

Coaching Points

Coaching Considerations:

With this topic, the Reds will be looking to do the following: Create and exploit the overload.  When they have made this possible, success will likely come from finding the spare player.
Even though we are numbers down in the first part of the session (6 v 7) I expect the team to create overloads through player movement off the ball.  This will involve players interchanging positions.  The most simple overloads may be achieved through driving at the opponent, and then using an overlapping player and exploiting a 2 v 1.  If we can commit opposing players and take them out the game, it will create lots of opportunities.  As with many attacking situations, ball speed will be important.
How players receive the ball will be important from a technical perspective, as will positions and timing of runs.

The players may have different roles at different times.  For example, our 9 may pin the ball side centre back on occasion, but may also look to create overloads through his run.  If he makes a run, our 10 may look to replace him, or if the forward goes wide, it might be our wide player rolls in.  Should the 10 go, our 6 may replace the 10.  Of course, we need to remain both mindful and realistic about the counter attack should we lose it, and we will ensure we have layers to the midfield to try and delay any counter attack.  As mentioned elsewhere, if we have created an overload, it may be that we can press quickly in that overload and regain possession too.

If in 2 v 1 situations, we will look at things like wall passes and overlaps.  If in 3 v 2s it may be we can exploit a third man run.  If the numbers are bigger such as a 5 v 3 example, the above may remain relevant, but finding the spare player will be the focus.
For reference points for the players, to manage the Blue team I will instruct them to try and stay within the width of the 18 yard box for the first part of the session (within reason, they are not 'restricted' to this, as dont want to make it too easy to get a wide overload), but their first priority is to block and protect the middle.  For Reds, wide players will use the sidelines as reference points, and the detail around which shoulder to be on will be important too if playing wide, we will look to get outside the Blues, when playing centrally, we will try and get inside.  Angles and depths will be important too, and recognising spaces.