Overload Halfway Line Game

Objective

• -Coach the whole team moving up and down together
• -Keep the shape compact between the lines
• -Reward organised, connected play

Setup

1. 1A pitch with a clearly marked halfway line in a 40 x 30 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 with the coach, two sets of bibs.

How to play

1. 1Goals only count when every attacking player has crossed halfway.
2. 2Defending teams must have everyone behind the ball to earn a clean-sheet point.
3. 3Play four-minute games with short breaks.
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

• -Strikers not tracking back
• -Defenders staying deep when the team attacks
• -Spare player standing still instead of offering an angle