The Extra Man

Loops, overlaps and third-man runs — how ordinary teams manufacture two-on-ones out of nothing.

Gaelic football
Adult
75 min
14–24 players
1 coach
Effort 4/5
Half pitch
attacking
overlaps
loop-runs
support-play

The PitchPlans coaching teamGAA Award 1 & 2 coaches

Kit: 10 footballs, 22 cones, bibs for half, one goal with a keeper if possible

Warm-up12 min

Loop Lines

Setup: Lines of four across the width, one ball per line, 8–10m between players. Dynamic mobility first, three minutes, then the lines move.

How it works: The line advances up the pitch passing along it — but every passer immediately loops around the back of their receiver to rejoin on the far end of the line. The line never stops moving forward, so the loops must be run at pace or you're left behind. Up at a jog, back at three-quarters. Last two lengths: random order, so heads come up to find who's looping and who's holding. It looks like a passing drill; it's actually legs learning that every pass buys a run.

What to say

“Pass and loop in one motion — no admiring, no walking start.”
“Loop tight, shoulder to shoulder behind the receiver.”
“Eyes up out of every loop — the picture has already changed.”

Easier

Walk pace, loops optional every second pass.

Harder

Two balls per line; any stalled loop restarts the length.

Activity15 min

Loop and Lay

Setup: 20×20m boxes with a 3m cone gate at the far end. Threes: carrier, loop runner, defender. Waiting players swap in as defenders each go.

How it works: Carrier attacks the defender straight on; the loop runner starts a step behind and times a run around the carrier's back to take a short pop pass on the far side, then bursts through the gate. Defender plays it honestly — if the loop is early or slow, tackle the carrier or intercept the pop. Three goes in each job, then rotate. Progress to a second defender covering the gate so the loop must be followed by a give-back or a dummy. Walk the first two reps; sprint everything after.

The technique, step by step

Carrier attacks the defender's inside shoulder at pace to fix him.
Loop runner delays two beats, then runs hard around the carrier's back.
Carrier pops the hand-pass into the space in front of the loop.
Carrier follows the pass — now HE is the support runner for the next phase.

Common mistakes

Looping too early — the defender simply switches onto the runner and nothing was gained.
Floating the pop pass behind the loop — the runner has to stop, and the overlap dies with his momentum.

What to say

“Fix the defender first — attack his inside shoulder until he commits. No fix, no loop.”
“Loop at match pace or not at all — a jogged loop is an interception gift.”
“Pop the pass into the space in front of the runner, never at the man.”

Easier

Passive defender who only shadows; gate widened to 5m.

Harder

Second defender live from the start; the trio must choose loop, give-back or dummy-and-carry on the move.

Activity15 min

Overlap Alley

Setup: Channel 40×20m to the goal, keeper in. Three attackers v two defenders start at the top; a fourth attacker waits on the end line behind them, and a third defender waits at a recovery cone level with the goal.

How it works: The three attack the two. On the first pass, the deep man releases and sprints to join as the overlap — and the recovery defender releases too, chasing back the other way. Now it's a race: use the extra man before the numbers even up. Finish on the keeper — goal or point, attack's choice, but a pull-back to a better-placed man always beats a hero shot into a crowd. Rotate all jobs; everyone plays the deep runner. Count conversions out of ten entries per group.

What to say

“Deep runner — time it to arrive at full speed exactly as the carrier commits his man.”
“Carrier — when two go to you, the pass has picked itself.”
“Greed kills overlaps — the whole point is the better-placed man.”

Easier

Hold the recovery defender until the second pass; finish on an empty goal.

Harder

Release the recovery defender before the first pass, and require one loop within the move before the finish.

The rest of this session is free — along with 3 more this week.

PitchPlans coaching team

Free on PitchPlans — new sessions weekly.