Overload Back-to-Goal Receiving

Objective

• -Hold the ball up with a defender behind
• -Decide between setting, spinning or turning
• -Link the striker to runners from midfield

Setup

1. 1A central receiving zone in front of a goal in a 34 x 26 yards area.
2. 2Split the group so the attacking side always has one spare player, and park the spare bibs on the halfway cone.
3. 3Balls at the midfield start cone, bibs for defenders.

How to play

1. 1Midfielder passes into the striker who has a defender behind them.
2. 2Striker either sets the ball back or spins in behind.
3. 3The move finishes with a strike on goal.
4. 4The spare player joins whichever side has the ball, so the attack always works with a plus-one.
5. 5A goal or completed end action counts double if the spare player touched the ball in the build-up.

Progressions

• +Remove the overload for the last two rounds
• +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

• -Give the attack two spare players
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Rotate the spare player every 90 seconds
• -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Standing still waiting for the pass
• -Taking a touch straight into the defender
• -Spare player standing still instead of offering an angle