Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): UEFA C - General Practice - Creating & Defending Overloads

Creating & Defending Overloads (20 mins)

Set up:

- 3 Blue players set up at the edge of the box.

- 2 Green players set up as defenders in 3v2 area, and 2 others as defenders in the wider 1v1 zones. 

Instructions:

- Play starts with blue attacking, creating the 3v2 in the area. They will attempt to score against the 2 green defenders in this zone, scoring in the 2 central mini goals. 

- Once a goal is scored or the ball goes dead, 2 of the blue players must immediately transition into the 2 wider zones and defend 1 v 1 against the green players already in the 1v1 zones. The aim for both all players in is zone is to score a goal.

- Once this phase is complete, the greens will now become the attackers, creating a 4v3 with blues transitioning into defenders, protecting their 2 goals. 

In Possession: 

- Attack quickly.

- Commit the defenders.

- Supporting players movement off the ball - find available space, create width, interchange positions. 

- Find the Spare player - supporting players to ask themselves - can they see my feet for me to receive the pass?

- Encourage to be brave with different types of passes and runs, concentrating on technique. 

- Decision making focus is around when to pass, or when to finish. When and how to exploit numerical advantage. 

Out of Possession.

- Will need to recognise the oppositions movement. 

- Nearest player to press ball carrier quickly. 

- Remaining defender to remain compact, protecting the middle - can we force wide? Can we stop passes across the box? 

- Encourage defenders to be calm, protect the middle, be patient the make a decision on when to win the ball / prevent the shot.

- Defending players concentrate on body shape. Demonstrations will be focused around body shape when defending. A simpler way of breaking down the mechanics of defending is Fast, Slow, Skateboard, Low. Possible further demonstration may be to show how to show the attacker wide or inside.

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

- If defending team wins possession, give them 5 seconds to get the ball forward quickly and score. This encourages a quick counter attack.

Interventions:

- Freeze game - This session will allow for many interventions and coaching points in both attacking and defensive principles. 

- Attackers - Positioning of support players - may need to step in and give advice on where they could be to best support their teammate, types of runs. 

- Demonstrations may be required around body shape when defending, and how to show how to show the attacker wide or inside.

- As and when required, interventions as a group or individuals around technical areas - control, dribbling, running with the ball, passing, defending.