In partnership with

LMA Ambassador
David Pleat EXTRA MAN AND OVERLOAD PLAY: Main session
Extra SET-UP
man and
overload
Area
80x18 yards, the
play length divided into the
three areas (25, 30 and
Overview: 25 yards)
This is a progressive Equipment
practice session Cones, goals, balls
that trains players Number of Players
in the usefulness of 10

1
forward passing and
the benefits of
overloading
What do I get the
players to do?
areas. The session A 2v1 overload in the first
embraces all key The coach serves a third works the ball into
the next zone
elements of the ball into the defensive
game, including third where one of
freeing up space, the two defenders
keeping possession, receives possession. Key
Ball

making passing The lone opposition movement

Player
movement

angles and, notably, player works to delay Dribble

finishing. play and, if possible,

intercept and clear.
The practice starts
with a basic set-up In this 2v1 situation
and designated a pass is played into
players in each third the middle third
of the pitch, but a where there is a 2v2
coach can add arrangement. Once

2
difficulty by the ball has been
increasing playing received, either of the
numbers and defenders can move
adjusting the size of forward to make a 3v2 A supporting player joins
the zones, up to a overload. the middle third and play
advances again
point where the The three in the middle
entire squad is zone now work to keep
involved. the ball against the two
defenders before the Key
Ball
movement
opportunity to pass Player
movement
forward to the final Dribble

zone, where there is a

1v1 situation. Once the
ball is moved forward,
one of the middle three
“The set- advances to make a
up for this 2v1, the two working
for an early shot at goal.
practice
3
What are the key
is perfect things to look out
for tactically/
for any technically? The final overload results
imaginative An appreciation of
in a shot at goal

coach when and where to

pass is crucial, as is the
because the use of soft, angled and
variations shorter passes, plus Key
Ball
movement
positive and early shots Player

and aims are

movement

at goal. Players need to Dribble

endless.” work for space whilst

www.elitesoccercoaching.net
 In partnership with

EXTRA MAN AND OVERLOAD PLAY: progression

retaining possession, The diagrams

below illustrate
so the timing and three selected
communication of progressions
David Pleat forward runs is
LMA Ambassador essential. Players
David Pleat is a vastly should never get
experienced figure in caught square of each
the football world – other, and movement

1
most notably a former towards and away from
manager of Luton Town, the ball (‘going’ and
Tottenham Hotspur and ‘checking’) is
Sheffield Wednesday.
important in creating
He currently combines space.
TV work with the role of
Consultant for npower How do I progress
Championship club the sesssion?
Natural Progression
Nottingham Forest, and There are several Key Bigger teams and a
his advice is regularly progressions Ball
movement larger playing area offers
sought by the football including:
Player
movement room for more intricate
authorities. Dribble
passing moves in this
a. A player cannot progression
Pleat’s time in
management is most
advance until the
synonymous with recipient in the next
the 1980s, having zone has had contact
masterminded Luton with the ball.
Town’s top flight b. The player who
survival over the course played the ball into the
of a number of seasons. next zone cannot be the
Moving on to Spurs,

2
player who advances -
Pleat led the north one of his team-mates
London club to a third- must react instead.
place finish in his first
year at White Hart Lane, c. Players must
as well as an FA Cup keep the ball for a
final appearance. A specified time before
short spell at Leicester being joined by a new
Progression C
City followed, and after player or progressing Key The coach can determine
a brief return to Luton, themselves. Ball
movement a minimum time for the
he took the reins at Player
ball to be retained within
Sheffield Wednesday,
d. When the ball enters movement
Dribble
a zone
guiding the club into the attacking zone, a
Europe in 1997. strike on goal must
Later, he returned to
be achieved within a
Tottenham as Director certain amount of time.
of Football before b. At the end of an
concentrating on his attack, the move can
broadcast career. be reversed so that
As a footballer, Pleat the opposite end is

3
played in the lower attacked - another goal
leagues before injury and keeper is required.
cut short his playing
career at the age of 28.
f. After an attack is
completed, a server
crosses the ball into
the attacking zone for a
goalkeeping practice.
Progression F
The set-up for this Key In this progression, a
practice is perfect for Ball
movement
Player
second ball is crossed into
the middle for an additional
any imaginative coach movement
Dribble
attacking phase
because the variations
and aims are endless.

www.elitesoccercoaching.net