1. Soccer Education Resource

2. Team Building through Player Development

3. 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.

4. 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.

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

6. 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

7.   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

8. 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

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

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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

15. “ 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

16. 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

17. 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

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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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 “

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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)

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

29. 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)

30. 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

31. 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

32. 4 v 0
15 x 10 yd

33. 4 v 0
15 x 10 yd

34. 4 v 1
15 x 10 yd

35. 4 v 2
15 x 10 yd

36. 4 v 2 + 1
15 x 10

37. 4 v 3
20 x 15 yd

38. 4 v 3 + 1
20 x 15 yd

39. 6 v 3 + 1
30 x 25 yd

40. 6 v 4 + 2
30 x 25 yd

41. 4 v K
30 x 25 yd K K

42. 4 v T w 2 K
35 x 20 yd
4 v T w 2 K
35 x 20 yd K K K K

43. 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

44. 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

45. 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

46. 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

51. 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

52. 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

53. 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

54. 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.

55. 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

56. 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)

57. 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

58. 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

59. The Best Team to Coach
  is a Team of Orphans

60. 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.

61. Soccer Education Resource