Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): UEFA B - Session 3 - Creating the Overload
FAW Coach Ed
Cian Gormley
Description
Session Focus:
Specific Practice - attacking using central overloads, combined with creativity for the attacking players allowing them to explore attacking options
SSG - central overloads
Pitch Area:
Half Pitch
Specific Practice - Half pitch with no constraints, just a marked box with flats that is the width of the 18yrd box and is the depth of halfway between halfway line and 18yrd box.
SSG - Sidelines have been brought in by 5m to encourage central overloads and central attacks.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Players:
Red Team - Defending (4-3-3) - 3 in midfield
Removed Striker and 2 Wingers (#10 will press alone)
Blue Team - Attacking (4-3-1-2) - 4 in midfield
Removed 1 centrebacks and 2 Fullbacks
Timings:
2 x 4min Blocks of Work
1min Halftime Terminal Intervention
1min Fulltime Terminal Intervention
Framing + Explanation:
The sidelines have been brought in by 5m to force players to attack centrally.
The blue team are attacking and are working back from a 4-3-1-2 formation and have had one centreback and two fullbacks removed to ensure the centre of the pitch remains realistic in an 8v8 scenario. This formation ensures the blues possess a 4v3 overload in midfield when playing against a 4-3-3. Their plan is to attack centrally into their two strikers up top,
The red team are defending in a 4-3-3. They have 3 up top against a back 4 and are hoping to keep the defenders engaged in attacking transitions.
Goalkicks and throw-ins will take place as normal. The ball will start with the blue goalkeeper and play will be incentivised so that the ball restarts with the blues. The goalkeeper will also have a blue centreback to assist with the build up as this can also create a 3v2 overload against the reds in midfield if they attack the right/left side of the centre channel.
Coaching Problem:
BLUES - Attack Centrally
Once the goalkeeper has played to either the centreback or directly into the midfield to either the #10 or #6/#8, the blue midfielders must slide across to support and maximise the overload. The two strikers up top will pin the centrebacks as best as they can to create space for the midfielders to play into. To create rotations, the #7 and the #10 can rotate freely to engage the red midfielders. Similarly, the #6 and #6 can also communicate with them and create a 3-player rotation. The #7 can also slide across in the half space to create angles for the central midfielders to play into or pass directly to the strikers.
REDS - Defend the Problem
As the blues have a natural overload due to their formation, their job is to defend centrally and utilise their extra players to assist in defending the overload centrally. Instead of keeping 4 at the back against a 2, one of the centrebacks can step up to defend the blue #7 and block the passing channels into the two strikers. This allows the #6, #10 and #8 of the red team to slide across with the ball and work as a unit to defend the line.
Challenges, Conditions or Targets:
Condition -
The sideline has been taken in by 5m to force the central overloads and reduce opportunities for wide attacks
Challenge -
BLUE - Can the 3+1 midfielders connect to create overloads centrally against the 3 red midfielders? Can the centreback and the goalkeeper work together in the build up to create width, create angles and open up passing channels into the midfield?
RED - Can one of the centrebacks step up to contribute to defending centrally? Can the 3 midfielders stay connected as a unit and defend against passes that intend the break the lines? Can the 3 midfielders stay compact to prevent the blue midfielders from dribbling the ball through them centrally?
Target -
REDS
If you disposes the blues you have to play forward - if you can score in 8sec I'll give you two goals.
BLUES
Once the goalkeeper makes the first pass, if you score in 10sec by playing only forward passes you will get two goals.
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Players:
7 x Red Team - Defending (4-3-3)
Removed Striker, 2 Wingers, and one midfielder
6 x Blue Team - Attacking (4-3-1-2)
Removed 2 centrebacks and 2 Fullbacks
1 x Neutral/Target Player
Timings:
10 minutes total
1min Walkthrough
8min Problem - Build up during Central Overload
1min Terminal Intervention
Explanation:
REDS - 2v4 defensive possession mini-game prior to the game going live. Can you prevent the blue from linking 3 passess together. If they are successful can you quickly transition to support the centrebacks and fullbacks in the final third?
BLUES - your job is to build up in the midfield before the game goes live and the central attack begins. Can you retain the ball and make a quick decision to play once the game goes live?
Problem
The aim for the Blue team is to exploit central overloads in midfield before attacking.
The ball starts with the yellow neutral player on the halfway line who distributes the ball into the shaded zone to the blue team. The blue team must make 3 consecutive passes before the game goes live. Once they succesfully make 3 passes, they have the option to take the red midfielders on, play directly into the 3 players up to, or play a through ball to another midfielder who is making a run into the half space behind the red midfield. This specific practice is aiming to allow some creativity for the reds but maintaining the same problem - central overloads.
Solution
ON THE BALL
- Blue midfielder can either dribble the ball through the red midfield line and lead the attack. Alternatively, they can play directly into the 3 players up top. A third option is to playa through ball into the half space for another blue midfielder to run onto.
NEAR THE BALLAWAY FROM THE BALL
Challenges, Conditions or Targets:
Condition:
There is a shaded box that will be marked out on the pitch. The play must start within the box before the game goes live. This is to force the build up play with a 3v2 overload, before a quick transition into a full attack. This also allows creativity as there are multiple options that can occur.
Challenge:
Blue team
1. Can you make three consecutive passes before the game goes live? Can you vary the attack by dribbling through the midfield, playing directly into the centre forwards, or playing a through ball into the half space?
Red team
1. Can the two midfielders disposes the blue and prevent 3 consecutive passes? Can the centrebacks and fullbacks stay connected centrally?
Target:
Blue Team
1. Score within 8sec after 3 consecutive passes = 2 goals
Red Team
1. If you dispossess the blues in the box = 2 goals
2. If you dispossess the blue and pass to the neutral player = 1 goal