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

Overview / Introduction

Aims of the Session

- For the players to understand what creating overloads in wide areas looks and feels like.

- For the players to understand why we create overloads in wide areas.

- For the players to understand some possible combinations to create overloads in wide areas.

- For the players to understand how the initial functional practice fits into a full size game.

Equipment / Resources

- 8 players function, 18 players SSG.

- Supply of size 5 footballs.

- Supply of cones.

- Bibs - 4 red, 4 blue inc. GK.

Start of Play / Function

Organisation

- The objective for the red team is to create and / or convert goalscoring opportunities through the use of overloads in wide areas.

- Play begins with blue GK distributing to either the red full back or central midfielder.

- Ball must enter the wide channel before an attempt at goal can be made.

- If blue win possesson their objective is to dribble or successfully pass over the end line. The end line represents the intended direction of transition.

Key Factors

Condition: If play becomes congested - only the 3 wide players can play in the wide zone. They can enter the middle.

Problem: The blue fullback isn't leaving space for the through ball between the centre back.

Solution: Can the red fullback overlap to stretch the blues and if they can make that run and score this = 3 goals.

Problem: The blue fullback is shutting off space down the line.

Solution: Can the wide mid or fullback underlap to cut inside and create an overload with the striker in a 3v2 for 3 goals.

Individual challenge: How many times can the fullback over/underlap the wide midfielder during the function?

Key Factors

- Quality of pass.

- Positive, progressive possession.

- Timing of runs - double movements to lose marker if necessary.

- On the ball, off the ball, around the ball - body position, triggers, timing of runs, double movements

- Use and application of the principles of attack; width, depth, quality of pass, angles + distances, movement to recieve, movement to support and decision making in order to create overload(s).

Reflection

Team

Fairwater Football Club

Description

The session moves from a functional practic into a small sided game. It's aims are;

- For the players to understand what creating overloads in wide areas looks and feels like.

- For the players to understand why we create overloads in wide areas.

- For the players to understand some possible combinations to create overloads in wide areas.

- For the players to understand how the initial functional practice fits into a full size game.

Feelings

I felt that any session concerning attacking in wide areas would be both relevent and beneficial for the players. I decided on using a functional practice in order to isolate specific players, movements and combinations as a base for more progressive, similarly themed sessions.

Evaluation

I felt that the session went well, especially in terms of covering the topic and how the information could be applied in competitive fixtures. The players involved in the functional practice expressed similar thoughts. However two players voiced concern at the repetetive nature of the drill, but also acceptance of my reasoning behind it.

Conclusion / Action Plan

I felt that the appropriation and suitablility of the practice was ideal for the players. I felt that the information imparted to the players serves as a good base to build upon in similar sessions. In future, after the success of this session and the players grasping the how and why, I feel I could run dual functional drills i.e. to have the non participants of this function doing the same thing at the other end of the pitch - changes would simply be different scenarios / solutions.