1. An Ajax Coaching Model “Return to Street Soccer”
Small – Sided Games
An Ajax Coaching Model
“Return to Street Soccer”

3. Street Soccer

4. Soccer Education Process
It’s more about solving problems,
much more than just mastering techniques
Small – Sided Games:
most efficient and effective way to create meaningful, realistic problems for the kids to solve.
The solution, then, belongs to the players

5. Small – Sided games Learn the game through games
You cannot teach faster than the kids can learn.
When does the teaching stop, and the learning start ?
Players take ownership of the game

6. Recess vs PE Class Performance in real games vs real opponents
The fluid, chaotic setting of soccer resembles recess more than PE class
Learning will require a different model
Small - sided games bridges the structure of PE class and soccer’s competitive and chaotic nature.

7. No Lines, No Laps, No Lectures
The small – sided games model requires the coach to construct simplified forms of soccer each centering on a real soccer problem.
The children learn how to play the game by mastering each simplified form.

8. Soccer is a Game – Play On
The small – sided model is designed around the players solving simplified soccer problems with their skill.
The game is the main source of instruction and the focus is on learning as opposed to teaching.
Games revolve around solving problems and at the end of the game, there is feedback (result).

9. Team Play Requires Teamwork
Soccer is a game of us vs them.
It requires cooperation and competition.
We have to solve problems and give problems they can’t solve.

10. Elements – define what soccer is
Goals give the game meaning and direction.
Field sets the physical boundaries
Ball – possession determines roles
Rules set limits and controls behavior
Players – teammates (cooperation)
opponents (competition)

11. Soccer – by definition
Soccer is a game with specific rules between 2 teams and each team is trying to score more goals than the other team.
Small – sided games provide the most natural, efficient and effective way for children to learn the game.
They learn the techniques and tactics, find solutions to problems and determine their own level of involvement.

12. Coaching in small – sided games
The first step is to identify the problem
Adjust the elements accordingly
Build the game around an actual soccer problem
Tweak the elements until right
The “coachable moments” will happen repeatedly.

13. Goldilocks rule
Make the necessary adjustments until the game is right for the kids.
Consider all the elements and remember to keep the activity age- appropriate.
Too much or too little will stifle progress

14. Principles of Play In Possession:
Penetration and Depth – threaten the space behind the opponents
Width – stretch the defending team from side to side
Mobility - attackers switch or change positions

15. Principles of Play Opponent in possession:
Apply pressure – single most important defensive principle - mark player with the ball
Cover and support – helping player
Balance in defense – distance between players – no gaps between players
Depth in defense – when the defense
cannot be beaten by a single action
Compactness – numbers around the ball

16. Soccer’s Main Moments We have the ball – ball possession
They have the ball – lost possession
Transition – losing possession and regaining possession
The immediate position of play determines when and where the players move within the game.

17. 1 vs 1 through 8 vs 8
Each level will build on and incorporate the lessons from the preceding one, while laying the ground work for the next.
1 vs 1 – it’s all on you !!
2 vs 1, 2 vs 2 – now with a teammate
3 vs 3 – first sign of shape – triangle
4 vs 4 – new shape – diamond (depth)

18. 1 vs 1 through 8 vs (2)
5 vs 5 – field players only – add an additional player in the center of the diamond
6 vs 6 - now include the keeper
7 vs 7 - introducing wingers
8 vs 8 – beginning of line play
( keeper, backs, midfielders, forwards)

19. 1 vs 1 through 8 vs 8 (3)
Distance, angles, timing and learning to use them properly is developed as you progress through the different levels.
As young players are exposed to a variety of games, they learn the ideas and master the techniques necessary to progress to the next level.

20. Coach – The Soccer Doctor
Observe - reading the game
Diagnose - what’s going wrong ?
Prescribe - build a small – sided game
Treat – patience, tweaking, repeating

21. The Soccer Problem At what moment – we / they have ball
What is the problem ?
Whose problem is it ?
Where on the field does it occur ?
When does the problem occur ?
Why does the problem occur ?

22. Build a game to correct problem
Start with the players that have the problem
Create a field where the problem occurs
Duplicate the situation
Include only rules that can help correct

23. Stages of Learning
Remember that a team can only travel as fast as the slowest player.
Stage 1 – Orientation
Stage 2 - Look for the biggest problem
Stage 3 - Fine tune the solutions
Stage 4 - Progress to different games
Stage 5 - Evaluation

24. Orientation Be very brief getting the game started
Most games should take less than
1 minute to get started
Use this period to evaluate the game, not the players, because first you must make sure that the game is right.
Tweak the elements as necessary to enhance the learning process.

25. Look for the Biggest Problem
Ask yourself, “ if I could change one thing
to make the game better, what would it be ?”
Concentrate on the one team that may be the biggest problem.
It’s about solving problems
The team that is better at giving and solving problems has a real advantage.

26. Fine Tune the Solutions
After awhile most of the organizational problems will be solved.
You will know that happens when the teams play a pretty good-looking game, with confidence and sense of purpose. The game flows.
Continue to challenge them with new ideas or increase the speed of play.

27. Progress to Different Games
Learning is a permanent change in behavior.
When players carry the lessons learned from one game to another, knowledge has been internalized.
Small – sided games pose problems for kids to solve. They take those solutions to the next game and learn new ones.

28. Evaluations
Objective - scoreboard, won/loss record, goals for/against --
Measurable and quantifiable
Subjective - “what you like “, opinion
Evaluate things that are under your control – keep in mind that time must be wisely used

29. Limiting factors in player development
Talent - inherited traits – speed
Motivation - internal and external
Internal – self-generating force self-starters
External - rely on outside sources for inspiration
Environment - the atmosphere you create at practice and games -- FUN

30. Evaluating Player Types
Start with just 3 categories:
Those who score goals
Those who make goals
Those who win the ball back
Pay attention to their natural tendencies -- where are they most comfortable and effective ?

31. Evaluating Player Types (2)
Is the player at the right level ?
At the right level, but in the wrong role or position ?
Players sacrificed for the good of the team – (need a keeper or left back)
When the level changes – promotion or relegation

32. The Players Key Qualities
Technique – the tools that a player needs to accomplish their objectives
Insight -- Reading the game, understand a situation and have a solution.
Personality -- handle pressure, stress and adversity – team player
Speed -- physical, mental, technical

33. Coaching Mentality First things first:
Get their attention and have them buy in to the message
The connection between your players’ thoughts and the results of their action.
Coach their thinking to change their behavior

34. Coaching Mentality (2) You cannot see anyone’s thought process
You will need to infer by observing body language, listening to comments, and asking questions.
Become an active listener and a critical observer.
Consider how much they care, their fear of failure and how quickly they grasp things.
Consider winning soccer as playing good soccer

35. Concentration in Youth Players
Success depends on their ability to concentrate.
Concentration is defined as directing one’s attention to something in particular.
Players must keep their attention focused on their immediate situation.

36. Concentration in Youth Players
Small – sided games develop concentration by engaging players in continuous play.
Both mental and physical concentration and stamina are developed.
Standing in lines allow concentration to wander.
Put them in situations where they can’t afford to daydream.

37. Concentration Breakers
Outside influences – parents, referee, coach, injury, fear of failure
When the game stops -- ball out of play
Transition moments – ball change hands
Fatigue -- when physical fatigue meets mental fatigue, learning takes place.
Release from tension – pressure’s off

38. Developing Concentration
Work smarter, not harder
Mental training is one of the biggest differences separating small – sided games from drills and exercises.
In small – sided games players stay engaged and have a vested interest in the final result.
The continuous flow of the game forces players to stay focused at all times.

39. Concentration Summary
Small – sided games are the most practical way to mold the basics of a player’s mental development at the earliest possible age.
A good way to increase their mental capacity to resist distractions is to decrease the amount of time that players have to think and act.

40. Street Soccer in the 21st Century
Small – sided games trace their origins to the street soccer games of the past.
They represent a return to the old-school style of learning, free form recess rather than a structured PE class.
Player – centered
Kids set their own standard
Ability, not age main criteria

41. Street Soccer in the 21st Century
Street soccer was played in an endless variety of forms, with different numbers, on different surfaces, with different goals, rules and even different balls.
Players learned quickly how to adapt to the changing situations and conditions.

42. Street Soccer in the 21st Century
Small – sided games allow children the greatest opportunity to develop all the basic skills within the context of the match, while they also encourage children to develop their own identities in the game.