Transition

Overload Wave Attack Transition

Defend repeated waves of attack

Transition
Attacking
Defending

Defend repeated waves of attack. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.

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Transition
Attacking
Defending
Skill Practice
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Overload

Age

Under 10 to Adults

Duration

22 min

Players

8-20

Area / pitch size

49 x 38 yards

Difficulty

Intermediate / Advanced

Equipment

Balls, Cones, Bibs, Full Goals

Coaching focus

Defend repeated waves of attack

Objective

  • -Defend repeated waves of attack
  • -Attack quickly against a settling defence
  • -Build game-realistic repetition

Setup

  1. 1A half pitch with attacking waves waiting on halfway in a 49 x 38 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 each wave, keeper in goal, two sets of bibs.

How to play

  1. 1The first wave attacks the defenders and the goal.
  2. 2The moment the ball is dead the next wave attacks immediately.
  3. 3Defenders stay on for three waves before rotating.
  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.

Coaching points

  • -Defenders reset the line between waves
  • -Attackers strike before the defence is set
  • -Communicate the new picture every wave
  • -Find the free player quickly before the defence shuffles across

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

  • -Waves waiting too long
  • -Defenders not resetting shape
  • -Spare player standing still instead of offering an angle

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