Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Creating Overloads - General

Creating Overloads (10 mins)

Primary Focus

Paired Coaching Session: Practical 4: General Practice / FinalThird

Understand when and how to combine, create overloads and finish in theattacking 3rd of the pitch

Organisation

Players are organised into a 2v2 in each half with a GK and twocommon players on the outside

Area Size

40m x 30m with a Half Way Line.

Player No's

Play 4 v 4 + 2 common players playing on each line (In Yellow) + 2Goalkeepers

Timings

Play 4 x 3 m inute periods with 2 m in break.

Explanation

The objective of the team in possession is to try combine in your own half with a minimum of three passes (5v2) with a common(yellow) player/s to release the opposite common (yellow) player who then drives into the 'final third' in a 3v2 against the

opposition. The coach will work with ONE team only, in this case the reds in terms of the in possession principles. If the blues(opposition) win the ball they will try to get their passes in, giving the reds the opportunity to win the ball back and start the cycle againBUT will only get the opportunity to counter attack once before the ball is returned to the reds. We don't want the blues to have too muchof the ball. They will be managed to ensure the realism of the practice though. If they are getting too much success, and regularlyintercept / win possession, the coach / tutor may want to restrict their touches or time on the ball

Challenges, conditions & targets

Players breaking into the final 3rd must try to utilise the spare player / numerical advantage to create opportunities to combine, createand finish.

Limited touches in possession on the outside in the 'build up half' (E.g. 2 or 3 touch max) GK can be utilised

'First time finish' or a managed countdown can be utilised by the coach to encourage realism

Common players can score

Limited touches / time for the opposition when in possession

Try to maintain realism as much as possible 

Progressions (Harder)

Start with a 2v2 with no common players aloud in the 'final third'

Limited touches in the attacking half

First time finish

Regressions (Easier)

More time in the attacking third

More touches in the attacking third

Progress to 3v2 quickly, even add the opposite common player to create 4v2

Key Points

Crossing / Shooting accuracy

Make the pitch big (Width and Depth)

Use limited touches and move the ball quickly

Speed of the attack

Combination play

Final Pass

Finishing

Interventions

Concurrent

Terminal

Walk Through

Coaching Process

Problem

Manage the opposition to protect the middle & force wide

Work with the to stop / defend the shot / cross

Body on the line

Solution

Coach the reds in relation to animations and the tempo of their attacks

Work with them to refine the timings of runs while staying 'onside'

Encourage them to be creative in the final third, work with them to rotate, find space, find the spare player

Get shots off, cross from wide, work with players arriving into the box

How do we measure success?

Opportunities created, player understanding of the timings of runs and how were going to attack

Do players have time / space? Are they making good decisions based on where the opposition are, how they combine and connect

SSG

Primary Focus 

Now we see the the practice develop into a small sided game where outside lanes are implemented where a player in each wide lane creating an overload in the wide areas of the practice. Can the players use the wide players and create a numerical advantage, creating a potential 3v2 scenario. 

Organisation

There will be 2 teams of 4 with a goalkeeper on each side with 2 neutral players in the outside lanes. The grid will be split into 2 squares this can create realism for players when creating an overload as when on the final third that's when it can be most effective. This is shown in the highlighted areas. 

Explanation 

Can the team in possession use the two wider neutral players be used as a overload as such. this can be done by the ball speed by the team in possession and can determine whether to play out directly from the goalkeeper to a wide player. If the team in possession gets into the highlighted area the player nearest to play can run into the highlighted area.