Overload Shape Walkthrough

Objective

• -Teach the team's defensive shape at walking pace
• -Set distances between units
• -Give every player a clear reference point

Setup

1. 1A full defensive block set out with cone reference points in a 54 x 40 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, bibs for the shadow attackers.

How to play

1. 1Shadow attackers move the ball and the block shifts to match.
2. 2Coach freezes play to check distances and body angles.
3. 3Build from walking to jogging to match pace across the rounds.
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

• -Units drifting apart
• -Players ball-watching and losing their reference
• -Spare player standing still instead of offering an angle