The aim is to fix defenders via the attacking players running straight, and preserving the space on the outside and to stop defenders from drifting. This will support the executing of overlaps.
Practice the different options in recycling the ball. A lot of the time, the ball will be tied up and an offload won't be on.
Develop this drill by allowing the players to call how the ball should be played, and for their teammates to react.
Here's an example of a simple but effective 2v1 drill to practice the offload. Players concentrate on staying strong and getting their shoulders through contact, with the ball remaining in two hands. Support players communicate their position and time their run.
Decision making is a tricky skill to coach. Danny Wild the Leeds coach uses conditioned games with breakout technical sessions to improve this process as well as working on some groundwork skills
Bath academy players practice the shape and lines of running for a "Diamond shape" attack system. The waves of players provide a number of different options