Overload Ladder and Ball

Pitch diagram

Objectives

• -Improve foot speed and coordination
• -Link quick feet straight into a football action
• -Keep work-to-rest ratios sensible

Setup

1. 1A ladder with a ball station five yards beyond it in a 22 x 12 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. 3One ladder, balls at the far station.

Coaching instructions

1. 1Player works through the ladder pattern then accelerates to the ball.
2. 2They complete a dribble through two gates and jog back.
3. 3Full recovery between reps — quality over volume.
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.

Common mistakes

• -Ladder work at jogging pace
• -No rest between reps
• -Spare player standing still instead of offering an angle