Drill Library
Attacking

Attacking Combination — Overlap and Underlap Patterns

Work wide channels in groups of three: winger, fullback, central midfielder

Theme

Attacking

Duration

25 min

Players (min–rec–max)

18–18–18

Equipment

cones, balls, bibs

Set-up

Work wide channels in groups of three: winger, fullback, central midfielder. Winger receives, fullback overlaps or undercuts depending on defensive shape. End product is a cross or cut-back to a finishing zone. Rotate roles every 8 minutes.

Coaching points

  • Fullback run must be timed to the winger's touch — too early and you're offside, too late and the gap is gone
  • Winger: hold the ball a half-second longer than feels right to let the runner arrive
  • Central midfielder checks into the box on every cross — be there

Progressions

  • Add a passive defender to create a real decision: is the overlap on or cut inside?
  • Finish with a striker arriving into the box — make the final product count