Four-Phase Overload | Sharpen Space Usage With Wave Attacks

Overview

• U15 and up (recommended: players who can grasp positional roles)
• 11v11 game format
• For coaches who want to train several attacking patterns at once
• When you want your players to master a different attacking shape in each phase

Objectives

• The decision-making to build a numbers-up situation (overload) step by step in attack
• Switching your attacking shape on the fly as the ball moves forward
• Reading space quickly and committing the right number of players to it
• Reading how the defense slides and picking your next move off it
• Building fast tempo and quick decisions under real game conditions

Setup

Split the field into four phases. As the ball moves deeper, the attacking shape changes with it — a wave attack. In every phase, the attackers always have one or two extra players.

1）Phase 1: Attack from the flank. Win the ball in a wide area like a set play, then break the defense down with a wide attack

2）Phase 2: Funnel it central. Move the ball from the flank into the middle and take control of midfield with a three-player combination

3）Phase 3: Take players on. Use dribbling or a one-two to find space and get into the shooting zone

4）Phase 4: Finish it off. Shoot inside the penalty area, or get set for a set play