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Overlapping Runs And Creating Space

An overlapping run is a run around a teammate into an open space. 

Overlapping Runs Against "Man Marking"
When a attacking player makes on overlapping run the opponent marking (guarding) them will usually follow them if the opposing team is "man marking" (guarding and following the same player most of the time). When the opponent marking the teammate making the overlapping run follows them:

• the "space" the attacking player making the overlapping run is moving into will have both the attacking play and the opponent marking them so the pass to the player making the overlapping run will be "off", and
• the "space" they and their marking opponent leave to make the overlapping run will become "open space" (space without any opponents) and will be available for a teammate of the player making the overlapping run to move into. If no opponent moves into that "open space" a pass to a teammate in that "open space" is "on" and their teammate in possession can pass to them (or any teammate who is in a "better position").

Opponent marking Attacker making overlapping run follows.
Pass is "off". See red circle.
When attacker makes overlapping run open space is created.
A pass to player moving into that space is "on". See green circle.

Overlapping Runs Against a "Zone Defense"
When a player makes an overlapping run the opponent marking (guarding) them will protect their zone (area) of the field if the defending team is playing "zone" defense. When the marking opponent  does not follow the player making the overlapping run:

• the "open space" they are running into does not yet have an opponent and the pass to them is "on" (unless another teammate is in a "better position"), and
• the "space" the player making the overlapping run leaves is still defended by the opponent playing zone defense. If a teammate of the player making the overlapping runs into the space they left then the opponent defending that zone will mark that teammate and a pass to them will usually be "off". Moving into an area to force the defending opponent to guard you often helps your team if it creates "open space" for one or more of your teammates.

Defender playing zone doesn't follow Attacker
making overlapping run and the pass is "on"

Overlapping Runs And Passes Training

The best training format for teaching overlapping runs and passes to the player who has made the overlapping run is a rectangle that is 25 meters (27 yards) long and 15 meters (16 yards) wide with goals at each end. For practicing overlapping and attacking a goal from the right side:

• Cones are placed even with each right goalpost and 15 meters (16 yards) from each goal. A line of 3 to 5 players with balls stand in line at each of these cones.
• Cones are also placed on the midfield (center) line that are 2 meters (2 yards) in from the touchline. A single server plays at each of these two cones. The server trades places with a player with a ball every 5 minutes.
  

Substitute left for right to practicing overlapping and attacking a goal from the left side.

See Animation Below

Players learn fastest and retain what they have learned when they are focused and challenged. To keep players from becoming bored the lines of players with balls should be kept short, but just long enough players are not standing in line too long waiting for their turn.

With 2 lines of 4 players each and 2 players serving, each player should be able to average just over 3 overlapping runs per minute (approximately 40 total overlapping runs and shots in a 12 minute non-stop exercise).

Exercise Sequence:

• First player in each line passes to the server on their side of the field and instantly starts to run going between the server and the touchline (sideline) and continues their run along the sideline towards the goal.
• Server deflects ball with their 1st touch to their side closest to the goal their teammate is running towards as they turn to pass the ball towards the end of the field. Ball is passed 2 meters (2 yards) in from and parallel to the touchline. After passing server instantly turns to receive pass from next player and repeats.
• Receiving player uses inside of far foot (right foot if attacking from the right side) to deflect ball 1 step towards goal and then shoots at goal with their next touch. Then player gets the ball out of the goal and gets in the line at that end of the field.

After the players master the basic concept of the fragment without any opponents the fragment is practiced with

• passive opponents not applying high pressure, and then with
• active opponents applying high pressure.

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