Tip the scales either way to help defence

The game of soccer involves lots of overloaded and underloaded situations.

From my own coaching, I believe the game is basically made up of 1v1s, 2v2s and 3v3s. 

Generally, the best players in the world in any position, goalkeepers included, are the best in those scenarios.

Elite defenders, for example, are not only the best at 1v1 defending, but also at 1v1 attacking as well. Full-backs like Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson are among the best in the world, for that reason.

In terms of using underloads and overloads in practices, if you underload the attackers, that is probably going to help the defenders, because they have more players. 

That option may be good for players at the beginning of their soccer journey, or those who need a bit more confidence in their defending.

It is also more realistic to the actual game because, generally, attacks have fewer forward players in them than defenders.

Overloaded practices, on the other hand, will help the attackers more, but it does mean you can challenge defenders. 

"Overloaded practices will help the attackers more but you can challenge defenders..."

You may be giving them a little less realism as a result, but you are also stretching them and giving them more experience of moments of last-ditch defending, which always comes in handy.

An overload for defenders can also help with playing out from the back. The goalkeeper will add the extra player and create that overload.

You can work on the distribution qualities from the defenders – the passing and dribbling forward, and the breaking lines.  

Overloads can also help defenders with that transition element, the press and counter-press, and the mental side, forcing them to react to losing the ball and going from in-possession to out-of-possession.

The overload just makes that a little bit easier on the defence, because they will have more numbers to press.

So, if you want to stretch and challenge, you might do it underloaded or numerically even. If you want to improve confidence, or if they are new to pressing as a topic, then overloaded situations may give your defenders a little bit more success initially.