Soccer Education Resource www.cbcdutchtouch.com

Team Building through Player Development

Soccer – by definition Soccer is a game played between 2 teams and each team is trying to score more goals than the other team. Soccer games are decided by goals. Practice centers on creating and finishing opportunities, or, on denying them. The entire soccer world revolves around one team trying to put the ball in the net while the other tries to stop them.

Team Building First – analyze the whole situation Second – find out how it works (fits) together Third – integrate all the parts into the whole Then it becomes a continuous, daily process Together Everyone Achieves More Style and tactics in accordance with the profile of the players, the history, tradition and identity of the club.

Analysis of the Technical Level of the Group Quality / weaknesses of the group Possibilities of / within the club Infrastructure Financial condition Technical staff

RULES OFF THE FIELD Harmony -- get along with each other Discipline -- respect rules, norms and behave accordingly Clear objectives -- targets that are realistic, yet challenging that create interest and motivation Hierarchy within the group -- ‘pecking order’ Common enemy approach -- “ we against the world “ Importance of coaching -- flexible and credible Interaction -- group feedback Communication -- the basis for success or failure Concentration -- define objectives and values, develop confidence Morale of the group

  TEAMWORK ON THE FIELD Choice of system -- according to the players available Coach defines the system -- based on coach’s philosophy and concepts Training -- use game to teach the game Pros and cons of system System -- based on players’ qualities and club culture Establish and define responsibilities -- who does what , where and when Potential of team Balance between attack and defense

TEAMWORK ON THE FIELD - 2 Counter attack -- best attack, yields best results Good positioning -- movement with and without the ball Who does what Zonal defending -- the ball is the target -- move with the ball Buildup -- fast, efficient -- get to opponent’s goal fast Style of play -- based on individual ability, Star player must be able to decide the match result Performance measured by individual quality and collective work

ATTACK Open, penetrate, support, mobility Support -- help Open -- flank play Depth -- target Penetrate -- get behind defense Improvise -- do the unexpected, creativity

DEFEND Recovery -- get behind the ball Cover -- help teammate Compact -- block Balance -- get numbers up and organize Delay -- pressure -- take away time and space

ATTACK VERSUS BLOCK DEFENSE Patience -- circulate the ball across the field, looking for opening(s) Early deep ball to target player 1 v 1 Wide play to flanks -- get around and behind defenders on the flank Look for / create space, chance, goal First look – deep to goal

The Soccer Learning Process 10-12 years to develop an established soccer player Thousands of touches per training session Demands of the game are changing faster than ever The Journey of development takes: time, patience, great understanding, and a plan Basic fundamentals remain the essence of the game Players must be flexible in playing roles and adaptable to the constant changes within the game Speed of execution is the key factor

The Learning Process The Learning process depends largely on practice. Soccer is best learned by playing, and the time children spend playing the game is important for their soccer development. Children need to learn the game and understand it on their terms. It must be meaningful to them. They must have involvement and recognize what is going on and participate accordingly Learning up to around age 11 or 12 is mostly concrete learning, the abstract learning starts to kick in around 11 or 12 for most children. The golden age of learning is considered between the ages of 9 and 11.

Slanty Line Theory Developed from the traditional method of eliminating children as the level of difficulty increase. This becomes very counter-productive Slanty line theory allows children to participate at their own level, where they feel comfortable and secure. They now will seek out their own new challenges

“ Soccer Brain “ The ability to see the game in detail A clear picture of all that is going on Think and react quickly to the best option Understand, anticipate and react to what may suddenly happen during play The “soccer brain” will improve in training if the player is made to think Develop insight during small-sided games

From Dependence to Independence Questions vs Answers Coaches should ask more questions of the players in regards to what is going on or wrong during play Coaches should provide fewer immediate answers to the situations Players will now be required to think more and become more involved in the learning process and develop more insight into the game

Age Group Characteristics U 6 through U 18 represents a major part of the early life cycle -- be sensitive to the age level and stage of development Certain essential qualities and characteristics dominate each level of development – Take time to get to know what your age can do – physically, intellectually and emotionally Think of what that aged person might be doing in school – relate soccer to their experiences whenever possible

Ages and Stages of Development Up to age 8 -- fundamental stage – no real frame of reference to the game – introductory Age 9 - 12 -- learning stage – capable of significant development Age 13 – 16 -- transition stage -- physical and emotional changes Age 17 on -- development / fulfillment

Stages of Development 6 to 8 years old: Discovery Easily distracted, short concentration span They all want the ball – 3 v 3 becomes 1 v 5 Limited to kicking ball forward, dribbling and shooting at goal Every player needs constant ball contact Create fun games with the ball for them Must introduce the game of soccer to them Size 3 ball and 4 v 4 in a modified area

Stages of Development -- 2 8 to 10 years old: Development More small-group oriented Longer attention span Ideal age to development fundamental soccer skills. They learn by imitation More awareness, purpose & aggressive Can combine with 1 or 2 other players Can handle light soccer pressure

Stages of Development -- 3 10 to 12 years old: Creativity Control own movements and consciously work to improve their game Continue with skill development Add insight into the mix Small-sided games for problem-solving Motivation to learn and achieve is higher Size 4 ball and up to 7 a side games

Stages of Development -- 4 12 to 14 years old: Discipline Growth spurts for some, but not for all Awkward stage, coordination is a problem More assertive, with their own opinions Talent gap noticeable Team concepts (attack, defend, transition) Curious to know why (what’s the purpose) Size 4 or 5 ball with 8 or 11 a side

Stages of Development -- 5 14 to 16 years old: Competitive Winning becomes more important than ever Capable of playing very competitive soccer Playing pressure increases dramatically Play the game with more insight and intensity Tactics and team play become main themes Positional play becomes more important Some players struggle to keep up

Age - Appropriate Just exactly what can a 6 year old do What is he capable of doing Motor skills Learning capacity Attention span Interests – relate soccer to their interest “ Star Wars ” -- “ Cowboys and Indians “

School vs Soccer Approach Ability Attitude Ambition Slanty line theory -- everyone may not be at the same place, deal with them where they are – don’t set the bar so as to eliminate, but rather to give everyone a fair chance

The Elements of Soccer First, you need a ball. Then teammates and opponents. A field of some dimension (best if it is rectangular), boundaries and some simplified rules . Add goals and you are now playing soccer – from 1v1 up to 11v11. Removing any of these elements takes away from the total soccer learning experience. Any of the elements can be modified for a desired training effect -- “ dry swimming “ As the number of elements increase, so does the degree of difficulty. Every additional element added increases the difficulty significantly

Simplify the Developmental Process If we were to simplify the developmental process to the most basic elements, this would be the platform: (always with a goal of some sort to attack and defend) 1) master the ball (creating a base to play and to play against others) 2) playing together (with teammates and against opponents - combining skills with insight) 3) playing within a system (team tactics, roles)

Levels of Play and Involvement Fundamental Intermediate Advanced (elite) Grassroots ……. Experience Recreational ….. Fun Competitive …… Ambition Elite ………………. Talent, Performance

1 vs 1 through 8 vs 8 1 vs 1 – it’s all on you 2 vs 2 – now with a teammate 3 vs 3 – first sign of shape (triangle) 4 vs 4 – new shape – diamond – width and depth 5 vs 5 – field players only, no keeper – add a player to the center of the diamond 6 vs 6 – now include the keeper 7 vs 7 – introduce wingers 8 vs 8 – beginning of line play ( backs-midfield- forwards)

Playing to Goals Goals give direction and purpose Goals represent the essence of the real game Goals give an outcome The real game is played between 2 goals with the object of the game being for 1 team to score more goals than the other team Develop the mentality of attacking and defending a goal and the transitional moment of the ball changing from 1 team to the other Goals bring the game and the activity to life

Natural Progression First, learn to play with the ball Second, learn how to play with teammates Third, learn how to play against opposition Fourth, learn how to play in various game situations

4 v 0 15 x 10 yd

4 v 0 15 x 10 yd

4 v 1 15 x 10 yd

4 v 2 15 x 10 yd

4 v 2 + 1 15 x 10

4 v 3 20 x 15 yd

4 v 3 + 1 20 x 15 yd

6 v 3 + 1 30 x 25 yd

6 v 4 + 2 30 x 25 yd

4 v 4 + 2 + 2 K 30 x 25 yd K K

4 v 4 + 8 T w 2 K 35 x 20 yd 4 v 4 + 8 T w 2 K 35 x 20 yd K K K K

Why 4 v 4 Smallest manifestation of real soccer All of the elements are present to experience real soccer Players will get more touches on the ball Involved physically and mentally Quicker action sharpens concentration Constant action and always on or around the ball

Objectives To play real soccer To build up and score, defend and play in transition as the ball exchanges Fewer players and more confined space – more involvement Simple framework to learn the elements of soccer

Elements of Soccer The minimum # of players needed for all the principles of play Penetration – width – depth – support Free movement develops mobility Ball, goals, rectangular playing field, boundary lines, teammates, opponents, space, pressure, rules and direction of play

Shape 1 player up top for penetration 2 players wide for width 1 player stays back for depth In possession, make field big Look to play deep, early Loss of possession, make field small A diamond shape

Coaching in 4 v 4 Freeze the moment Don’t over coach Coach those that need coaching Ask questions, avoid statements Coach what is real Stand where you can see Bring the game to life

Coaching -- 2 Think of 3 moments 1 -- give just enough directions to get the game going 2 -- what are the big mistakes – can they solve the soccer problem 3 -- fine tune, introduce changes

Less talk, more activity Kids will remember: what they hear ..….. the least (20%) what they see & hear …. more (50%) what they do …… the most (90%) Spend as little time as possible telling them Spend more time showing them Spend the most time letting them do it

The Manchester United 4 v 4 Pilot Scheme Source: “FA Insight”, Based upon study performed by the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the Manchester Metropolitan University.

Quantitative Analysis* # of Passes Scoring Attempts Goals 1v1 Encounter Dribbling Skills 2-Goal Game 170 44 18 51 39 Line Ball 160 NA 37 56 58 GK Game 149 49 17 92 36 4-Goal Game 106 62 28 52 45 8 v 8 108 20 5 16 *Numbers listed are “Mean” scores

Quantitative Summary On Average 4v4 versus 8v8 had: 135% more passes 260% more Scoring Attempts 500% more Goals Scored 225% more 1v1 Encounters 280% more Dribbling Skills (tricks)

Small – Sided Games “ In simplified, modified games, players learn to be aware and to improvise, to concentrate and to recognize the situation. Skills are important , but the value of skill is to be able to use them efficiently in a fraction of a second. Practices should be one quarter skill training and three quarters applying those skills in endless situations.” --- Rinus Michels – Former Dutch National Team Coach and the FIFA Coach of the Century

No Shortcuts The expectation of the coach must be appropriate to the age and experience of his players. The road to success has very few travelers because the majority of them got lost along the way looking for shortcuts. Playing soccer without thinking is like shooting without aiming

The Best Team to Coach   is a Team of Orphans

A Team of Orphans A team of orphans has: no parents to second-guess your decisions, to tell you why their child should play more than everyone else, scream from the sidelines at officials and players. But most importantly, there would not be any parents around to criticize the children for losing.

Soccer Education Resource www.cbcdutchtouch.com