Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Attacking Overloads (U9 Boys).

Group Tactic (2v1 into 2v2).

Organization:

Set up as shown.

Instructions:

Blues starts the exercise playing with a 2v1 against one Red player with another Red recovering immediately joining play upon the receiving blue player's first touch. The blue player (first attacker) that starts with the ball immediately becomes a (second attacker) and looks to support the other blue player that is now in possession of the ball. The second attacker could look to make an overlapping run around the first attacker or could also provide width and support before looking to receive the ball, while the attacker on the ball has to decide either to combine with the overlapping player or to use the overlapping run as a decoy and dribble past the defender to finish on goal. If the defending team win possession, they must look to score in the counter goals. Once the play is finished, the next two blue and red players in line steps in to repeat the exercise. Team rotates roles on coach's call.

Coaching Points/Questions:

(Attacking team).

1. Weight and accuracy of the pass.

2. Receiving player driving at the defender with pace.

3. Timing of runs from the overlapping player.

4. Timing of pass.

5. Communication (hold, set e.t.c.).

6. Finish on goal.

(Defending team).

1. Delay the attack to allow recovering defender back into a covering position.

2. Cut off passing lanes by closing down the player on the ball to make it a 1v1 rather than a 2v1.

3. Pressure and cover.

4. Tackle to win possession.

5. Counter attack upon winning possession.

Progressions:

1.Players have a time limit to score, for example "8 seconds."

2. Progression: Conditioned game / 2v1 into 2v2 into 3v2.

Conditioned Game.

Organization:

Set up as shown.

Instructions:

2v2+GK in one half and 2v2+GK in opposite half. When in possession inside the defensive half, the attacking team (blues) must look to break the halfway line either with a pass or a dribble to create a 3v2 overload to score, the blue player that passes forward must look to join the attack to make the overload happen. Opposition team (reds) defending players in the blues defending half are not allowed to recover until coach's call. The same conditions applies to the red team when they are in possession. Teams are encouraged to use 3v2 overloads to finish on quickly goal.

Coaching Points/Questions:

1. Play quickly to exploit the overload - Use the spare man for an overload and attack the space quickly to create shooting opportunities.

2. Create space to combine & attack - Attacking players should be looking how to loose their defender to create space to receive a pass. Encourage players to combine effectively and get shots away at every opportunity.

3. Awareness of ball, space, team mates & defenders - Players should start to look around them and move into the space. Encourage players to dribble at defenders in 1v1 situations to create goal scoring opportunities.

Progressions:

1. One recovering player is allowed to recover from the opposite half to defend.

2. Free play with conditions being removed.