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Overload training: 2 ready-made sessions

Keeping possession with a numerical advantage and quick transitions, even under pressure: complete sessions for youth and adult teams.

Numerical Advantage in Possession with Transition Play I

4 drills

This session practises overload play in possession with a transition moment and counter-pressing. The players should be reminded to play only ground passes.

Drill 1

Team Tag

10 min25 x 25 metres
  • The catching team tries to catch as many players of the other two teams as possible.
  • Players who have been caught stay standing on the spot and can be freed by free players through various tasks, for example by being tapped or by someone crawling through their legs.
  • If the coach calls out a different colour, that team immediately takes over the catching role and all caught players are free again.

Variations:

  • Instead of being freed by team-mates, the players can also free themselves, for example by doing press-ups.

Organisation: Intensive sets of 90 to 120 seconds with short drinks breaks in between.

Note: Drill idea by Eddie Plickat.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Mark out an area of 25 x 25 metres, the corners are marked with cones.

Equipment: 4 cones, bibs in three colours.

Players: Three teams of 4 players each, distinguished by colour. The coach stands outside the area and calls out the colour of the current catching team.

Coaching points
  • The catching teams should act not as individual players but as a team and drive the opponents into the corners.
Drill 2

Keeping Possession with a Numerical Advantage

20 min25 x 25 metres
  • Two teams play together in an 8 vs 4 against the third team to keep possession.
  • If the defending team wins the ball, it swaps roles without interruption with the team that lost the ball.
  • So if a team loses the ball through a sloppy pass, it has to win it back as quickly as possible, while the previous defending team plays together with the third team.

Variations:

  • With an odd number of players, designate a neutral player who always plays for the team in possession.
  • Set a maximum time for winning the ball back as a target.
  • Have the players count the number of completed passes without losing the ball themselves.

Note: Drill idea by Eddie Plickat.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Mark out an area of 25 x 25 metres, the corners are marked with cones.

Equipment: 4 cones, bibs in three colours, balls.

Players: Three teams of 4 players each, distinguished by colour. One of them is designated as the defending team, the other two play together.

Coaching points
  • In possession, occupy the width and the centre.
  • In possession, make sure there is constant coming and going.
  • After winning the ball, play out of the tight zone quickly.
  • When defending, make the spaces near the ball tight.
  • After losing possession, counter-press aggressively.
Drill 3

Numerical Advantage in Possession with Transition Play

30 min25 x 25 metres
  • One team plays together with the two goalkeepers in a 7 vs 5 to keep possession.
  • As soon as the other team wins the ball, it tries to score in one of the two goals, while the first team is to prevent that.
  • After a goal both teams swap tasks.

Variations:

  • With an odd number of players, designate a neutral player who always plays for the team in possession.
  • Allow only first-time passes or a limited number of touches.
  • Allow only ground passes.

Note: Drill idea by Eddie Plickat.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Mark out an area of 25 x 25 metres, the corners are marked with cones. On two opposite sides there is a full-size goal in the middle of each.

Equipment: 4 cones, bibs in two colours, balls, 2 goals.

Players: Two teams of 5 players each, both goals are occupied by goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • With a numerical advantage, spread the play as wide as possible and involve the goalkeepers often.
  • With a numerical advantage, always play out of the tight zone.
  • With a numerical advantage, go straight into the counter-press when possession is lost.
  • When outnumbered, make the spaces near the ball tight and force the player on the ball to the side or into a corner.
  • When outnumbered, switch quickly after winning the ball and look for the direct route to a goal.
Drill 4

Small-Sided Game Numerical Advantage in Possession

30 min25 x 25 metres
  • One team plays together with the two neutral players and the goalkeeper in a 5 plus 2 vs 5.
  • When possession is lost or after a goal, the two neutral players switch to the other team, which now tries to score a goal with the numerical advantage.
  • After a goal the game restarts with the goalkeeper concerned.

Variations:

  • Allow only balls along the ground.
  • Limit the number of touches, from a maximum of three touches down to one-touch play.
  • After a goal the scoring team stays in possession and plays towards the other goal. The goalkeepers then change team with every goal.

Note: Drill idea by Eddie Plickat.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Mark out an area of 25 x 25 metres, the corners are marked with cones. On two opposite sides there is a full-size goal in the middle of each.

Equipment: 4 cones, bibs in three colours, balls, 2 goals.

Players: Two teams of 4 players each, both goals are occupied by goalkeepers. In addition there are 2 neutral players in a third colour who play only for the team in possession.

Coaching points
  • With a numerical advantage, spread the play as wide as possible and involve the goalkeepers often.
  • With a numerical advantage, always play out of the tight zone.
  • With a numerical advantage, go straight into the counter-press when possession is lost.
  • When outnumbered, make the spaces near the ball tight and force the player on the ball to the side or into a corner.
  • When outnumbered, switch quickly after winning the ball and look for the direct route to a goal.

Overload Play Under Pressure with a Transition Moment

4 drills

In this practice format, the players are to exploit their numerical advantage in a tight space and play their way out through combination play. Conversely, after winning the ball, the opponents have to make the transition as quickly as possible and break out of the tight space.

Drill 1

Double Rondo with Wall Player

20 min30 x 15 metres with a 5 metre wide middle zone
  • In the left area the first team plays with the two players of the middle zone in a 5 plus 2 vs 3 to keep possession.
  • In the right area the second team likewise plays in a 5 plus 2 vs 3 to keep possession.
  • The two players in the middle zone may be passed to by both teams, but have to play the ball on first time.
  • After about 5 minutes there is a short drinks break, after which the roles are changed.

Scoring: If the defending team wins the ball, it scores when each of its players inside the area has touched the ball once or when a player dribbles out of the area with the ball. After that the team with the numerical advantage gets the ball back. Whoever has scored the most points as a defending team at the end wins.

Progression:

  • Limit the number of touches.
  • Have the passes of the team with the numerical advantage counted out loud.
  • The players of the middle zone may only play the ball on into the other area.

Note: Drill idea by Eddie Plickat.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Mark out an area of 30 x 15 metres with cones and mark a 5 metre wide zone in the middle of the 30 metres, so that a left area, a middle zone and a right area are created.

Equipment: 8 cones, bibs in three colours, balls.

Players: Three teams of 6 players each; with smaller groups teams of four or five are also possible. 5 players of the first team stand with the ball in the left area, 5 players of the second team without the ball in the right area. From the third team 3 players each stand in the left and in the right area. In the middle zone one player each from the first and the second team stands as a wall player.

Coaching points
  • The teams in possession have to occupy the spaces near the ball and the zones away from the ball at the same time in order to create passing options.
  • The players not involved in the play at that moment should open up spaces by coming and going.
  • The defenders have to close down the zones in the immediate vicinity of the ball so that no passing lanes stay open, and switch as quickly as possible when they win the ball.
  • The players have to communicate with each other in order to help one another.
Drill 2

Numerical Advantage with an Intermediate Station

20 min30 x 15 metres with a 5 metre wide middle zone
  • In the left area the first team plays against the 3 defenders, at first to keep possession.
  • The two wall players in the middle zone serve as intermediate stations.
  • The team in possession first collects points via the wall players or via its own passes inside the area.
  • After 2 points it tries to play the ball into the right area. In doing so the ball has to go via one of the two wall players in the middle zone.
  • If the ball arrives on the other side, the defender moves up from the middle zone to the right side, and one of the 3 defenders from the left takes up the middle zone.
  • The defending team defends actively with its 3 players inside the area; the defender in the middle zone tries to prevent passes to the wall players and the switch to the other side.
  • If the defending team wins the ball, it may play it straight to the other side without involving the player in the middle zone.
  • The two defenders of the right side then change area, and the team that has lost the ball has to send 3 players to the other side as quickly as possible.
  • In the middle zone the other two teams now provide the wall players, while the team that has lost the ball defends.

Scoring: Every one-two with a wall player counts one point, as does every fifth pass in the team's own area.

Progression:

  • Limit the touches for the team with the numerical advantage inside the area.
  • Allow the wall players only first-time play and allow the intermediate stations a maximum of 2 touches.

Note: Drill idea by Eddie Plickat.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Mark out an area of 30 x 15 metres with cones and mark a 5 metre wide zone in the middle of the 30 metres, so that a left area, a middle zone and a right area are created.

Equipment: 8 cones, bibs in three colours, balls.

Players: Three teams of 6 players each; with smaller groups teams of four or five are also possible. 5 players of the first team stand with the ball in the left area, 5 players of the second team without the ball in the right area. From the third team 3 players stand in the left and 2 in the right area. One player from each team stands in the middle zone: the player of the third team defends there, the other two are wall players.

Coaching points
  • The players have to switch as quickly as possible after losing possession and after winning the ball, in order to win it back with counter-pressing or to play out of the danger zone.
  • In defence tighten the space around the ball so that the player on the ball comes under pressure and the passing lanes are closed.
  • In attack the team-mates should show for the ball again through constantly getting free, create width and form passing options near the ball.
  • Clear communication within the team is decisive.
Drill 3

Double 6 vs 3

20 min30 x 15 metres with a 5 metre wide middle zone
  • A 6 vs 3 is played in the left area, with each player of the team with the numerical advantage having a maximum of 2 touches.
  • After a set number of passes the team with the numerical advantage tries to play the ball through the middle zone to the team in the right area.
  • If this works, the 3 defenders move up from the middle zone into the right area, and the 3 defenders from the left area take up the middle zone.
  • If the defending team wins the ball inside an area or intercepts it in the middle zone, it plays it to the other side as quickly as possible.
  • The team that has lost the ball then sends 3 players to the other side, where they defend with fewer players. The remaining 3 players take up the middle zone.
  • The team that was defending moves up as a unit into the playing area that has become free.

Progression:

  • At a higher level limit the touches to one and have the passes counted out loud.

Note: Drill idea by Eddie Plickat.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Mark out an area of 30 x 15 metres with cones and mark a 5 metre wide zone in the middle of the 30 metres, so that a left area, a middle zone and a right area are created.

Equipment: 8 cones, bibs in three colours, balls.

Players: Three teams of 6 players each; with smaller groups teams of four or five are also possible. One team stands in the left area, one team in the right area. The third team defends: 3 players start in the left area, the other 3 wait in the middle zone. The team in the left area has the ball.

Coaching points
  • The players should position themselves so that nobody is permanently in the cover shadow of one of their own team-mates.
  • They should keep moving, create new passing options again and again and communicate clearly with each other.
  • The defenders should coordinate with each other and tighten the zones around the ball so that the passing lanes to the opposition's passing options are blocked.
  • The defenders in the middle zone should shift across tightly towards the ball in order to close passing lanes.
  • Players away from the ball should stand deeper in doing so, in order to reduce the gaps in the line.
Drill 4

Small-Sided Game Numerical Advantage with Wall Player

30 min30 x 15 metres with a 5 metre wide middle zone
  • In each area a team with a numerical advantage plays with 4 outfield players and the 2 players of the middle zone against a team with fewer players consisting of 3 outfield players and a goalkeeper.
  • The players in the middle zone may be passed to by both teams with the numerical advantage, but have to play the ball straight back into the playing area.
  • The team with the numerical advantage plays on the full-size goals.
  • The roles are changed regularly.

Variations:

  • Allow only first-time finishes for the team with the numerical advantage.
  • Before a finish a wall player has to have been passed to.
  • Limit the number of touches.
  • Do not allow one-twos with the wall players.
  • Play as a tournament format and count who achieves the most wins.

Note: Drill idea by Eddie Plickat.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Set up an area of 30 x 15 metres and mark out a 5 metre wide zone in the middle of the 30 metres; this creates two sub-areas. In each sub-area there is a full-size goal on one long side and two mini goals, alternatively dribbling goals, on the opposite long side. The two sub-areas are aligned in mirror image: if the full-size goal is on one side in one area, it is on the opposite side in the other.

Equipment: Cones, 2 full-size goals, 4 mini goals, bibs, balls.

Players: Four teams, two with 5 and two with 3 players each, plus one goalkeeper per area. In each sub-area a team with a numerical advantage plays against a team with fewer players. From each team of five one player occupies the middle zone.

Coaching points
  • The teams with the numerical advantage have to occupy the spaces near the ball and the zones away from the ball at the same time in order to create passing options.
  • The players not involved in the play at that moment should open up spaces by coming and going.
  • The defenders have to close down the zones in the immediate vicinity of the ball so that no passing lanes stay open, and switch as quickly as possible when they win the ball.
  • The team with fewer players should involve the goalkeeper in order to create equal numbers in attacking play.
  • The players have to communicate with each other in order to help one another.

More topics

2 ready-made sessionsIndoor trainingSessions for the sports hall – under-8s to under-11s.2 ready-made sessionsIndoor training for under-7sBall familiarisation and games for the youngest players.2 ready-made sessionsShooting trainingFinishing from every angle – youth and adults.2 ready-made sessions1v1 duels1v1 with an opponent behind and side-on.2 ready-made sessionsWing playAttacking down the wings, crosses and overlaps.2 ready-made sessionsBack fourDefending as a back four and in rest defence.1 ready-made sessionSet piecesCorners, free kicks and throw-ins.
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