Defensive Overlapping Drill

Chris Johnson 190,138 Views Rating 4.1 (114 Reviews)

The Defensive Overlapping Drill is a great drill to teach fullbacks to overlap midfielders and getting the defenders into the attack. This is a great starting point to teaching defensive overlaps.

Soccer Drill Diagram: Defensive Overlapping Drill

Defensive Overlapping Soccer Drill

This is a great drill to teach fullbacks to overlap midfielders and getting the defenders into the attack.
Drill Setup

  1. Use half of the field with a full-size goal.
  2. Place a keeper in the goal. 
  3. You will need two attackers, a central and outside midfielder, and a defensive player.
  4. Set the players up as shown in the diagram. Adjust the spacing to make the drill flow according to the field size and player skill set.
  5. The defensive back should start with the ball.
Drill Instructions

  1. The ball will start with the right fullback player (1) who passes to the ball to the right midfielder player (2).
  2. The right fullback (1) makes an overlapping run around the outside midfielder player.
  3. The right outside midfielder player (2) passes to the checking forward player (4).
  4. The forward player (4) drops the ball off to the center midfield player (3) who plays a ball towards the right corner flag onto the run of the right defensive player (1).
  5. The right defensive player should prep the ball and cross the ball into the two forwards (4) & (5) who have advanced towards the face of the goal.
  6. Continue on both sides of the field.
Drill Variations

  • Add players to run the same pattern on the left side of the field.
  • Add passive defensive players to simulate pressure on the attackers.
Drill Coaching Points

  • Quickly get into attacking half of field.
  • Good timing of runs.
  • Precise passes and 1 and 2 touch passing.

Top Rated Soccer Drills


7v7 Scrimmage

Chris Johnson 160,541 Views Rating 4.4 (5 Reviews)
It's always good to finishing a soccer training session with a 7 vs. 7 scrimmage to focus on team play.

Sharks and Minnows

Chris Johnson 574,068 Views Rating 4.3 (166 Reviews)
The Sharks and Minnows dribbling drill focuses on using the body to protect the ball by placing their body in between the ball and the defender.

1v1 Diamond Shooting Drill

Chris Johnson 494,130 Views Rating 4.3 (10 Reviews)
Spice up your shooting combination drill by finishing with a 1v1 to goal. Add a fun little twist, and the kids love it.

Pirates of the Pugg

John Bychok 721,102 Views Rating 4.27 (384 Reviews)
This drill is an excellent drill for younger players ages 8-11 and focuses on dribbling technique in traffic which requires vision and awareness.

Alien Tag Soccer Game

Chris Johnson 343,117 Views Rating 4.27 (11 Reviews)
Alien tag is a great Under 4 soccer game for 3, 4, 5, and 6 year-olds. Your kids will like flying around and crashing in their spaceship.

4v4 Soccer to a Small Gate

Chris Johnson 249,625 Views Rating 4.24 (75 Reviews)
4v4 in soccer is the smallest game focusing on all aspects of a full sided soccer match.

The Flag Game - Dribbling in Tight Spaces

Chris Johnson 199,438 Views Rating 4.23 (48 Reviews)
The flat game soccer drill is designed to focus on young soccer players learning to dribble in tight spaces.

Four Corners Passing Game

Chris Johnson 802,411 Views Rating 4.2 (284 Reviews)
The Four Corners Soccer Passing Game is a great soccer passing drill to focus on changing the point of the attack, and timing of runs and passes.

1v1 Competition

Chris Johnson 341,825 Views Rating 4.2 (147 Reviews)
This drill is great to focus on 1v1 play. It is flexible and can be used to work on the offensive side or the defensive side.

Ouch!

Chris Johnson 691,834 Views Rating 4.18 (268 Reviews)
A FUN soccer drill for younger players (U6, U7, and U8) to introduce dribbling, looking up and correctly striking the ball at a target.