Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Team Training - Creating Overloads in Wide Areas

FAW Coach Ed

Matthew Evans

Profile Summary

Name:	Matthew Evans
City:	Windsor
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

Interface Language

Share this Session

Link Session

Build 3D sessions in seconds

Access to 1000’s of sessions

Professionalise and modernise your coaching

Used by the world’s best coaches

US$

per year

Join today

Description

Topic: Creating and Overloading Wide Areas (2v1s) in a 4-3-3

Organisation:

Pitch Layout:

Half-pitch width, ¾ pitch length.
Mark 10-yard wide channels on each side for wide overloads.
Central area compact to encourage wide play and switches.

Teams:

Blues (Coached Team):
- Formation: GK – CB – RB – LB – 2 x CMs – Front 3 (RW, LW, CF).
- Note: Remove 1 CB and 1 CM (middle block).
Reds (Opposition Team):
- Formation: GK – Back 4 – 2 CMs – 2 AMs (4-2-2).
- Note: Remove 1 CM and the main striker.

Timing:

3 blocks of 4 minutes each.
2 minutes rest and coaching intervention between blocks.

Blocks:

Block 1:
- Normal game scenario.
- Focus: Guided Discovery – allow players to find solutions around wide areas naturally.
Block 2:
- Introduce Switch of Play emphasis to create wide overloads.
- Progression: After scoring, restart with the ball from wide left (managed by the coach).
Block 3:
- Condition: Only 1 defender allowed into the wide channel at a time, creating 2v1 situations for the Blues.

Key Interventions:

Concurrent Coaching: Reinforce key points while play continues.
Guided Discovery: Allow players to problem-solve with minimal instruction.
Q&A: Prompt players during breaks to reflect on decision-making and execution.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 1

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Save Image:

Create Video:

Screen 1

In Possession Principles: Creating and Overloading Wide Areas (4-3-3)

1. Create Width and Stretch the Opposition

Maintain high and wide positioning with wingers and full-backs.
Use the full width of the pitch to open up central and wide spaces.
Position front players and midfielders to force defenders to defend bigger distances.

2. Switch Play Quickly to Exploit Overloads

Recognise when the side of play becomes congested.
Speed and quality of switches (fast, accurate, driven passes).
Aim to switch the ball into wide areas to create 2v1 opportunities against isolated full-backs.

3. Create 2v1s in Wide Areas

Full-back and wide forward combine to overload the opposition full-back.
Timing of movement: overlap, underlap, or quick give-and-go.
Support in wide areas must be quick, connected, and decisive.

4. Decision-Making in Final Third

Select the appropriate cross:
- Low cut-backs when defenders drop deep.
- Lofted back-post crosses when defenders are narrow or protecting the near post.
Delivery must be early and with purpose once overload is created.

5. Quality and Speed of Play

High tempo in ball circulation to move the opposition out of shape.
Two/three-touch play encouraged to maintain rhythm and tempo.
Good weight and timing of passes to allow teammates to play forward quickly.

6. Maintain Depth and Support Play

Ensure players behind the ball (CMs, CBs) offer passing options to recycle possession and reset if the overload doesn't succeed.
Players must balance attacking runs with positional discipline to avoid vulnerability if possession is lost.

7. Effective Attacking Transitions

After regaining possession, secure the first pass.
Immediately expand into width and depth to transition from defence to attack.
Exploit disorganised opposition quickly through wide spaces or direct vertical passes.