Annual training plan · U9–U13

Week 9: Overloads – 2 vs 1 & 3 vs 2

3 complete training sessions with 12 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

Training week 9 is about attacking with an overload. Above all, it covers attacks in 2 vs 1 and 3 vs 2.

Overloads in a match are short-lived, because recovering defenders usually get back behind the ball quickly. Attacks with an overload should therefore be finished purposefully and quickly.

In the 2 vs 1 and 3 vs 2 practices, you should keep demanding that the attackers play the attack out quickly. You can also limit the attacks by time or to a set number of passes.

The first session focuses on the 2 vs 1. The following training days then move on to the 3 vs 2 and the 4 vs 3. This season, players will be confronted for the first time with a group tactical focus.

So patience with the players is needed. You should also limit yourself to a few key coaching points.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

Today's training session will start with a handball game. Particular attention should be paid to movement to get free and to passing. The players should constantly move out of the defenders' cover shadow, not hold on to the ball for too long and pass it on firmly.

After a passing drill, the session moves on to the actual training focus of the week – attacking with an overload. Today in 2 vs 1.

The training session also ends with attacks in which the players in possession have an overload. Play starts in 2 vs 1. After each finish, one more player per team joins in. As a result, the attackers are confronted with different overload situations.

Coaching points for this session
  • Attacking in a 2 vs 1: complete attacks quickly
  • Pass the ball into the team-mate's forward run
  • Commit the opponent, look for the pass in good time
Drill 1

Crossbar Handball

15 min
  • Two teams play against each other under handball rules, but without bouncing the ball.
  • Points are scored when the ball is thrown against the opposition's crossbar.
  • If the ball lands on the ground, the opposing team gets the ball.

Handball rules:

  • A player may hold the ball in the hands for a maximum of three seconds.
  • No more than three steps may be taken with the ball in the hands; after that it has to be passed.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark out the playing area; there is a goal at each end.

Equipment: 2 goals, 6 cones and 1 ball.

Players: Two teams.

Coaching points
  • After the throw against the crossbar, immediately try to win the second ball.
  • Play the passes crisply and do not throw the ball in an arc over the opponents.
  • Move the ball quickly.
  • Constantly create passing options.
Drill 2

Free Passing in a Square

15 min12 x 12 or 15 x 15 metres
  • The two players in possession pass at the same time to any team-mates and follow their pass.
  • The new players in possession play on immediately, first time or with the second touch, to other players.
  • There are no set passing patterns; the players choose freely.
  • There must never be two balls at one cone at the same time.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Five cones form a square with one cone in the centre.

Equipment: 5 cones and 2 balls.

Players: The players spread out evenly across the positions; the two players in possession start together at one of the outer cones.

Coaching points
  • Watch for concentration and speed of action: where are the balls, where and to whom is the next pass played?
  • Be especially alert at the centre cone in order to avoid a collision.
Drill 3

Small-Sided Game - 2 vs 1 Overload

25 min15 x 12 metres
  • The game begins as a 2 vs 1.
  • As soon as a goal is scored or the ball goes out of play, a new player comes into the area and one player of the team with the overload leaves it.
  • This creates a 2 vs 1 for the new team.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the playing area; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: The players stand behind the goals; plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Watch for a quick, purposeful use of the overload.
  • Demand hard, placed finishes.
Drill 4

Finishing with an Overload

25 min
  • The green team starts in a 2 vs 1 and tries to get to a finish as quickly as possible.
  • After every finish — whether it goes in or not — one more attacking player with a new ball and one more defending player come into the playing area, so that step by step 3 vs 2, 4 vs 3, 5 vs 4 and finally 6 vs 5 are played.
  • If the red team wins the ball or the goalkeeper makes a save, the counter-attack goes on the goal at the other end.
  • As soon as all the players are in the playing area, there are five minutes of free play. A new round then begins with a 2 vs 1.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark out the playing area; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, 6 cones and at least 5 balls.

Players: One attacking team in green and one defending team in red plus two goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Use the numerical advantage to make the game wide.
  • Demand many 1 vs 1 situations.
The complete session as a ready-made training plan – with animated drills in the web app. Go to the web app

Session 2

4 drills

When attacking in a 3 vs 2, the principle is that the ball is with the middle player. This gives the player on the ball 2 possible passing options. If the ball is with one of the outer players at the start, there is a greater risk that a defender isolates the player in possession in a 1 vs 1. This turns the overload into equal numbers.

But even when the ball is with the central player, there is a risk that the defenders steer the attackers into a 2 vs 2. This can be avoided through clever movement to get free by the free player or by playing through a third player.

Coaching points for this session
  • Attacking in a 3 vs 2: as a rule, the ball is with the central player
  • Complete the attack quickly but safely
  • Pass the ball into the team-mate's path where possible
Drill 1

3 vs 1 Passing

15 min
  • The three outside players pass the ball to each other.
  • The passer runs to the free cone each time.
  • The player in the centre tries to win the ball.
  • After the ball is won or goes out of play, the player who was last on the ball defends.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark the positions.

Equipment: 4 cones and several balls.

Players: Three players on the outside and one player in the centre.

Coaching points
  • Form triangles again and again.
  • Forming triangles always gives the passer two passing options outside the cover shadow.
Drill 2

Overload Game 3 vs 2

20 min
  • The player outside the playing area starts the game with a pass.
  • The game is 3 vs 2 on two mini goals.
  • As soon as the ball goes out of play or a team scores a goal, the other team gets the ball and now starts the drill with the overload itself.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four large and four small cones mark out the playing area; plus four mini goals.

Equipment: 4 mini goals, 8 cones and at least 1 ball.

Players: Two teams plus one player outside the playing area who starts the game.

Coaching points
  • Use the numerical advantage to make the game wide.
  • The defenders work in the space and step in at the right moment.
Drill 3

Overload Game on 4 Goals

20 min
  • One player of Team A sets off into the area with a ball, one player of Team B without a ball; this starts a 1 vs 1.
  • As soon as the ball goes into a goal or out of play, a second player of Team B sets off into the area with a ball, and play continues as a 2 vs 1.
  • This sequence is repeated through 2 vs 2 and 3 vs 2 until all players are in the area and 4 vs 4 is played.
  • Goals only count if they are scored in the opponents' half.
  • In the next round, Team B starts with the ball first.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark the playing area; four goals stand on the sides.

Equipment: 4 goals, 6 cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams A and B with four players each.

Coaching points
  • The players coming on start explosively with a ball.
  • Use the overload to make the game wide.
Drill 4

Overload Game 4-3 or 5-3

30 min
  • The game starts as a 5 vs 3 with possession for the team with the overload.
  • If a goal is scored or the ball goes out of play, two players of the team with the overload leave the area.
  • The two players next to the goal come into the area instead.
  • In this way the overload changes after every ball out of play or goal.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the playing area; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Teams of four or five players each; plus goalkeepers. The two remaining players stand outside the area next to their own goal.

Coaching points
  • Demand a high tempo.
  • Encourage dribbling.
  • Make sure that the players recognise the free space and the free goal.

Session 3

4 drills

The training begins with a drill for passing and ball control technique. In more than 10 variations in total, the work is on the first touch after both high and low passes.

In Exercise 2 the work is on coordination, with the help of hurdles, and on acceleration speed.

Exercises 3 and 4 return to the focus of the training week, attacking with an overload. Play is in 3 vs 2 and in 4 vs 3.

After 2 training sessions have already worked extensively on how the attacking team plays with an overload, clear progress should already be visible in the last two drills of the week.

Coaching points for this session
  • 3 vs 2: ball with the central player
  • Complete attacks quickly but in a controlled way
  • Prevent the player in possession from being forced into a 1 vs 1
Drill 1

Passing Practice + Technique

20 min

The following tasks are completed one after the other:

  1. Player A plays a ground pass with the inside of the right foot to Player B. Player B takes the ball to the right with the inside of the left foot and passes back with the inside of the right foot; Player A takes the ball with the inside of the left foot.
  2. The same sequence mirrored: Player A passes with the inside of the left foot, Player B takes the ball to the left with the inside of the right foot.
  3. Player A plays a ground pass with the inside of the right foot. Player B takes the ball to the right with the outside of the right foot and passes back with the inside of the right foot.
  4. The same sequence mirrored with the outside of the left foot.
  5. Player A throws the ball to Player B. Player B takes it on the chest and plays it back along the ground — ten times, then swap.
  6. Player A throws the ball to Player B. Player B takes it on the chest and plays it back on the volley — ten times, then swap.
  7. Player A throws the ball to Player B. Player B heads it back first time — ten times, then swap.
  8. Player A throws the ball to Player B. Player B takes it once with the head and once with the thigh and then plays it back along the ground — ten times, then swap.
  9. Player A throws the ball to Player B. Player B plays it back on the volley — five times each with the right and the left foot, then swap.
  10. First-time pass with the inside of the foot, left and right.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two cones mark the two positions.

Equipment: 2 cones and one ball per pair.

Players: One player stands at each cone.

Coaching points
  • Watch the quality of the passes.
  • Practise with both feet.
  • Increase the pace gradually.
Drill 2

Coordination, Technique and Acceleration

15 min
  • The players run over the hurdles as instructed.
  • Shortly before they reach the second-to-last hurdle, the coach plays a ball in front of the last hurdle.
  • The player passes back first time and sprints out of the turn to the pole.

Variations:

  • The coach throws the ball half-high or for a header.
  • Set up a second target pole in a different colour on the opposite side. As the ball is played, the coach calls out the colour of one of the two poles; after the pass, the player sprints to that pole.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six hurdles are set up one behind the other. Five metres behind the last hurdle stands the coach, ten metres diagonally in front of the coach a target pole.

Equipment: 6 hurdles, 1 target pole and several balls.

Players: The players start one after the other.

Coaching points
  • Carry out the drill to a high quality.
  • Play the passes back firmly and accurately.
  • Increase the pace step by step.
Drill 3

Passing in 4 vs 3

25 min
  • The respective attackers play a 4 vs 3 towards the opposition's two mini goals.
  • The task is to create goalscoring chances through secure combination play set up in width and in depth.
  • After a finish or after the ball is won inside the playing area, the team that was defending may start a 4 vs 3 towards the goals at the opposite end.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark out the playing area; there are two small goals at each end.

Equipment: 4 small goals, 4 cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams.

Coaching points
  • The defending team acts patiently.
  • It cuts attackers off from the play in order to create equal-numbers situations.
  • It steers the play as a unit.
Drill 4

Attacking with an Overload - 2 Times 3 vs 2

25 minHalf a pitch
  • In each half a 3 vs 2 with a goalkeeper is played.
  • The players stay in their own half.
  • If the defence wins the ball, it tries to pass it quickly to an attacker.
  • After the shot at goal, free play towards the attack follows.
  • The tasks are swapped in blocks after five minutes at most, or continuously through individual players.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the pitch and the halfway line; two youth goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 youth goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams with five outfield players and one goalkeeper each. Each team is divided into two defenders and three attackers.

Coaching points
  • Use the overload.
  • Show for the ball and get free.
  • Look for the chance to finish.
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