Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): DEFENDING OVERLOAD - LSG

Specific (20 mins)

Session - Defending Against Overloads

Type - Specific

Pitch Size - 30x45

Equipment - Balls, Bibs, Goals. 

Time - 20 Minutes

Work:Rest Ratio - 3minutes on 1 minute off x 5.

Physical - Aerobic Endurance

Technical - Passing, Dribbling

Tactical - Overloads, Overlaps, Defending 1v2, Defending 2v3

Physical - Sprints, Agility

Social - Communication, Body Language

Psychological - Brave, Patience, Timing.

Session Detail 

1. This is a specific practice that requires the red team to defend in numerical inferior situations in a variety of positions on the pitch.

2. The Blue Team should line up in a 1-3-3 formation with a neutral player joining in as a 10 to make it a 1-3-1-3 formation. The red team defends in a 1-3-2 formation with the neutral player operating as a 6 to make it a 1-3-1-2 formation. 

3. The Blue team start with the ball and must combine 3 passes in their own half with the 4v2+1 advantage before passing the ball beyond the half way line.

4. Each of the 3 forwards for team blue start in their own zone, once a pass is played past the half way line into either zone, a team player from team blue should join that zone as a overlap to create a 2v1. 

5. The aim is for the blue team to score directly from a 2v1 scenario via shot or cross from the initial zone.

6. If one full back from team blue joins the attack as a overlap, the other full back should remain in their own half to defend a counter attack against the 2 attacking reds.

7. The 2v1 is restricted to the zone the ball entered for 5 seconds. after 5 seconds the ball can be moved on to a different zone and then the attackers and defenders can move freely in the attacking half, creating a 4v3+GK+1 scenario. 

8. If team reds attackers recover the ball they have 5 seconds to score, if team reds defenders recover the ball the entire game becomes free with no zone restrictions and they have 10 seconds to score.

9. Offsides are on.

10. Scoring system 

Team Blue will score 2 goals if they score within 5 seconds of receiving the ball in an attacking zone, 1 goal if they score within 10 seconds.

Team Red will earn 1 point for every ball recovery from a 2v1 situation, 3 points = a goal.

They will earn 2 goals when scoring any goal from a transition.

Coaching Points

Deny Central Passes - try to force the opposition to pass round the structure and allow nothing through the middle, no split passes. In the 4v2 zone, one striker should apply pressure to a centre back whilst the other striker should mark the 6 (neutral player) this helps make the play more predictable. 

Positioning of Defensive Line - when the ball is being played in the blue teams half, the red teams defensive line should be deep enough to not allow space for the striker to receive in behind but high enough to apply pressure to press an initial pass into a zone. If the ball is in a wide zone, the opposite full back should be in an inbetween position ready to provide cover if the ball is transferred into another zone 

Reduce the Space - When the ball is passed into an attacking zone, the defender should look to apply strong pressure towards the attacker denying them an opportunity to turn and attack. they should try to force the attacker backwards.

Defending the 2v1 - If the defender cannot recover the ball they should drop and defend the space in behind, they should drop side on and force the play to the outside. In the middle zone the defender should drop and try to deny a shot on goal for 5 seconds and wait for support from team mates. 

Defending the 4v3+1 - When the attack transitions from the 2v1 to a 4v3+1. the line of defenders should remain connected and compact forcing the play to the sides.