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

FAW Coach Ed

Gareth Evans

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Description

Principle - Creating overloads in the final third.

To develop a team’s play in the final third through:

Encouraging central attacking players to connect and stay on the ball.
Creating wide 2v1s following switches of play.
Reacting immediately to a loss of possession in order to keep the ball in the final third.

Dimensions:

Half Pitch (50W x 50L)

Specific Practice:

1 x Regular-size goal, 3 x small-size goals
Timings - 3 x 4 mins/90 secs rest
Numbers - 15 Outfield Players + 1 GK
Target Players - All Red Team

Small-Sided Game:

2 x Regular-sized goals.
8 v 8. (Including GK's)
Timings - 3 x 4 mins/90 secs rest.
Target Players - All Red Team

Interventions:

Terminal - Walkthrough Demonstrations / Tactics Board discussions (before each block) focusing on :

Principles of Play
Pitch Geography
Tactical & Technical information
Positional Roles & Responsibilities

Concurrent

During 4 minute block.
Individual or as a unit/group.

Coaching Process

Stopping the practice
reiterate the objectives of the practice/block
identifying a key coaching point

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Specific Practice

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Specific Practice (15 mins)

Organisation:

15 players
8 red attackers (Coached) - front 3, midfield 3 and full backs
7 blue defenders (Managed) - keeper, back 4 and 2 midfielders
Attacking team looks to create overloads and exploit them by scoring in the big goal.
Defending team must win the ball back and score in any of the 3 mini goals within 8 seconds of winning the ball back.

Block 1:
Block 1 will be focused on creating and exploiting overloads out wide. Crucial players in this are the use of the winger and full back to create a 2 vs 1 overload out wide vs their full back. The cm could join this to create a 3 vs 2. It is important we exploit these situations through scoring so movement into the box from the 9 opposite winger and cm is key.
Key Points:

Movement, full back overlapping or underlapping

Runs into the box so the 9 attacks the front post, cm the centre and furthest winger comes into the back post

Conditions/Challenges/Targets:

2 points for scoring through a cross or cut back.
2/3 touch max to encourage movement and less dribbling.

Block 2:
In Block 2 I will be looking to create and exploit overloads centrally.

CMS to split
9 drops into that space to receive. Options are to hold up, bounce it back or can he play a clever one around the corner to winger
opens up space for my wingers to make out to in runs in behind
Full backs can also invert into central areas to create an overload
Can the CMS or full backs make some deeper third man runs to overload centrally.

Key Points:

Sharp movements from the attacking players

Make runs to move there defenders around even if they don't receive the pass
Ball speed
Look for the spare man

Conditions/Challenges/Targets

2 points for scoring from a central area exploiting an overload
3 touch max

Block 3:
Free Play - Coach what I see

Key Points:

As above for block 1 & 2 evidence should be shown throughout this block.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Small Sided Game

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Small Sided Game (15 mins)

Creating and exploiting Overloads

Organisation/Set Up:

Area: Half Pitch

Players: 16 Players

Coaching the blue team (7 outfield players + Goalkeeper) 1-2-2-3 replicating a 4-3-3

Managing the red team (7 outfield players + Goalkeeper) 1-4-2-1 shape 4-2-3-1

Equipment: Balls, Cones, bibs and 2 big goals.

Explanation:

Players try to complete a numerical advantage by finding the spare man for example a 2vs1 out wide full back and winger vs the opposition full back.

Problems:

Slow ball speed - limits overload opportunities

Solutions:

Fast passes to move defenders

Conditions/Challenges and targets:

Red team that I'm coaching challenge is to create an overload every attack

Key coaching points:

Find the spare man early

Fast ball speed - 1, 2 touch

Quick support to create the overload

Patient Attacks:

Should the attacking team be unable to work a crossing/cut-back opportunity in one wide area, they should attempt to quickly work the ball to the other wide area. This gives them the best chance of finding a wide overload following a switch of play, with the opposition’s defensive block out of position.

Quick & Aggressive Transitions:

In order to prevent the Blue Team from scoring s as they gain possession, Red Team players should react immediately and aggressively.

Aggressive defending on the edge of the box:

In order to provide the attacking players with a sufficient level of challenge, the defending the Blue Team should be encouraged to hold as high a defensive line as possible and show aggression in the way they press the ball.

Switching play to open the middle:

As teams search for wide overloads, it may be the case that the opposition are able to defend the wide areas in good numbers. If this scenario materialises, it is likely that they have left space in the middle of the pitch that the in-possession team can use to penetrate centrally.