By Matthew Carroll
Overload Kickoff Play
A few years ago my team was playing in the Sectional Championship for our region. The opposition won the coin toss and received the kickoff. I was still busy just giving some last minute tweaks to the positioning of our defenders when the whistle blew and they kicked off. From the moment the ball left the player’s foot we knew we were in for a long night. The opposition quickly overloaded one side of the field, banged the ball into the corner of the 18, and had all 11 players thunder forward, immediately putting us under pressure and setting the tone for the game. Ever since then I have made sure to not take this often ignored set piece for granted.
This play is centered around getting the ball deep over the head of the oppositions outside back to create a 1v1 situation outside the 18 with numbers in the box to receive a cross from that 1v1 situation. Start by having two players in the circle, one on the “weak side”, three lined up on the strong side on the halfway line, one behind them, and the rest of your players set up to create defensive cover.
The initial pass should go negative to give the runners time to get into place. Once the press from the opposition comes on the player on the ball should look to play a ball over the head of the opposition outside back with enough distance that they will need to turn and run to the ball.
The goal is to get the ball out to the player on the halfway line that is the closest to the touch line. The other two players on the line should make runs forward, then hook them into the box when it is clear that the wide player is going to get the ball. If they are not, all three players can continue their runs forward in order to press and win the ball. The fourth player on the “strong” side should make a trailing run to offer an outlet pass for the wide player. The winger on the “weak” side should bend their run to get into the box. The two passers then can either provide additional support to the attack or drop off into defensive shape, or they can split the roles with one going forward and one retreating. If executed correctly the ball should be outside the 18 with at least three players in the box ready to receive the ball.
By Matthew Carroll
