Football: Overloading

The pitch is split into 3 thirds with 2 defenders in the defending third, 2 midfielders in the middle third and 1 attacker in the attacking third. 

The ball starts with one of the goalkeepers who plays the ball into one of the defenders. The defenders play a 2v1 against the oppositions attacking player (3v1 if you include the goalkeeper) with the objective of trying to get the ball into one of the midfield players. Once this occurs, the defender who has not passed the ball into the midfield area can go and join the middle third to create a 3v2 situation. The midfield players then try to play the ball into the attacker placed inside the attacking third. ONe of the non-passing midfielders can then enter the attacking third to create a 2v2. 

Then the attackers try to score against the opposition. Once the ball goes dead, into the goal or is regained by the opposition, the same scenario occurs with the other team in possession and the defending team must retreat to their defensive zones. 

The pitch set up has a defending zone and an attacking zone, divided by a midfield channel.

2 defenders in the defending zone, 1 midfielder in the middle zone and 2 attackers in the attacking zone. 

Again, the non passing defender enters the midfield zone to create an overload. Either player located in the midfield zone can then enter the attacking zone to create another overload. 

Play across half a pitch. Each team must have 3 defenders and two centre forwards.

Players must follow their own passes forward, with the intention of overlapping to receive the return pass.

This is an initial pulse raiser to get players focus; physically prepared for the session.

• Mark out a 20 x 20 grid with cones every 10m.
• On each line of the grid put a piece of equipment (poles, ladders, hurdles, cones).
• Put 2 players into bibs (pac men) and everyone else starts spread out next to cone.
• You can only move alone the lines from cone - cone. If a player comes to a piece of equipment they need to go through it efficiently.
• If you are caught then you're out or can join the pac men chasing.
• Introduce balls after a couple of games, where players can take turns to enter skill zone with ball, perform skill; pass to partner (swap).