Attacking

Wide Overlap Attack

Create and use an overlap in the wide area

Attacking

Crossing

Finishing

Premium

Wide Overlap Attack is a 16-minute attacking drill for 8-18 players, suitable for Under 10 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, full goals, bibs. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

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Attacking

Crossing

Finishing

Skill Practice

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Full Squad

Youth Friendly

Adult Suitable

Goals Needed

Overlap

Combination Play

Duration

16 min

Players

8-18

Pitch size

Half pitch

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Wide Overlap Attack — Goalkeeping set-up — serve, save, reset · Half pitch

Step 1 of 4Central player passes wide and the full-back overlaps on the outside.

1. Central player passes wide and the full-back overlaps on the outside.
2. Delivery goes in and three attackers attack near post, far post and the edge.
3. Alternate sides every rep and rotate roles every four reps.
4. Rotation: Rotate roles every four reps.

Cones mark the area
Full goal
GK = goalkeeper
C = coach serving, S = second server
Ball
Cones mark the keeper's starting positions
Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
Keeper distributes back to the server
Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

-Create and use an overlap in the wide area
-Deliver into the right area for arriving runners
-Attack near post, far post and the edge of the box

Setup

1Half pitch with a full goal and a keeper.
2Wide channel marked on each side.
3Two defenders in the box, attackers in three starting lines.

Coaching instructions

1Central player passes wide and the full-back overlaps on the outside.
2Delivery goes in and three attackers attack near post, far post and the edge.
3Alternate sides every rep and rotate roles every four reps.

Coaching points

-Hold the ball until the overlap is committed
-Cross in front of the runner, away from the keeper
-Three different runs, never two in the same place

Common mistakes

-Passing wide too early so the defender adjusts
-Crossing behind the runners
-Everyone attacking the near post

Equipment needed

Balls

Cones

Full Goals

Bibs

Age groups

Under 10

Under 11

Under 12

Under 13

Under 14

Under 15

Under 16

Adults

Progressions

+Switch To Score: two switches before scoring
+Five Second Counter-Press: three seconds to win it back
+Target Zone Bonus: only goals started from a pocket count
+Add a competitive scoreline for the last round

Regressions

-Switch To Score: switch earns a bonus point rather than being compulsory
-Five Second Counter-Press: eight seconds and fewer opponents
-Target Zone Bonus: widen the pocket zones
-Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

-Switch To Score — A goal only counts after the ball has been switched from one side of the pitch to the other.
-Five Second Counter-Press — On losing the ball the team has five seconds to win it back before dropping into shape.
-Target Zone Bonus — Extra points for playing into marked pockets between the lines before finishing.
-Overload Rotation — One team plays with an extra player for two minutes then the overload rotates.
-Restart Realism — All restarts are played as in a match — throw-ins, goal kicks and corners rather than a coach ball.
-Two-Goal Decision — Each team attacks two small goals, so defenders must decide which threat to cover.
-Limited Touch Build-Up — Maximum three touches in your own half, unlimited once you pass the halfway line.
-Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch