Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending The Overload

Defend the Overload

General Practice Out of Possession - Defending the Overload

Welsh Way Principles
Understand when and how to deal with numerical advantages the opposition have.

Organisation

Area size 30x20y

10x10y middle zone

Coach blue team and manage red team

Overloads building up to 5v4

20mins practice periods with intervals

Explanation

Defending the overload, working the defenders against possession players. 30x20 yard area with a 10 by 10 area where defenders will begin. The objective is for the reds to combine with a single teammate in the central area to play through - defenders must press to stop this.

If defenders gain possession play forward quickly to score in mini goal. 

Start with a walkthrough to layer both teams objectives/principles.

Use coaching process when required - observe first, let the practise flow before stepping in to coach.

Progression 1 

3v2 directional - 2x3min high intensity -  rotate blues after 3mins for recovery, reds can change the central player.

Can blue defenders press the reds once ball is played into either red making sure to be compact to limit reds playing through central area to regain possession to score. If reds successfully play through, practice continues from the opposite end, defenders turn and defend against the other two reds with the same objectives, previous reds drop off to the side of their goal.

To give blues a problem reds can rotate the central player.

Challenges, Conditions & Targets

Coach principles to the blues on their understanding of how they protect central areas, show outside where possible and leave the furthest/least dangerous player when dealing with the overload.

Blues must keep good distances between them

Have to link with central player before playing through or around

Set reds targets to play forward quickly to score

Blues when gaining possession can play forward quickly to score in mini goal

Apply the press to regain possession

Red players must keep the ball on the ground when transitioning to the end players and attackers (B2&3). No aerial passes.

Reds time limit to score

Key Points

Out of possession:
Look at the oppositions movement
Press quickly/defend the space
Protect the middle
Leave the furthest player

Decisions to press

Body shape and position in defending 1v1

Support teammates by covering effectively

Awareness of movement/rotations

In possession:
Find the spare player
Exploit the numerical advantage
Make the pitch big 
Fast passes and forward movement
Commit the opponent
Overlap/Underlap
Weight & accuracy of final pass

Timing of runs

Interventions

Concurrent 

Terminal
Walk Through

Coaching Process

Progression 3

Progression 3

5v4

5mins - high tempo

Reds now on a time limit must play quick to link with central players to transition into the red attacker to combine and score.

One blue defender added to defend the goal.

Offside rule applies for realism 

Blue adhere to the principles of defending the overload, can they find success to regain possession when pressing on reds time limit.

If reds successfully pass through or around central area, one red can drop in to create a 2v1 to score. Can the blue defender stop reds from scoring.

If reds have to much success with the 2v1 allow a second blue defender to drop in.

Blue can score in the mini goal if possession is won.

Reds continue the central player rotation