Mark Edwards U.E.F.A. ‘A’ Licence holder 1994 Level 2 Coach Educator Manchester United Academy Coach 1995 – 2007 Manchester City Academy Coach 2007 - Present

WHAT IS A PREMIER LEAGUE ACADEMY?

‘The country’s highest ranking youth development system scheme for aspiring male footballers’ Source : www.premierleague.com 41 licensed academies in england – licenses last for 5 years – must provide certain facilities

‘Schemes are designed to develop the best available talented youngsters to enable them to reach their full potential’ Source www.premierleague.com

The Premier League’s ideal was to provide a stress free environment in which the young players could learn.

became apparent that this ideal was forgotten whenever Unfortunately it soon became apparent that this ideal was forgotten whenever Manchester United played other academies.

Winning became the main priority for all our opponents. Our young players were exposed to this environment every week.

These matches did not allow them to develop and practice new things. Our young players were experiencing the same style of matches every week. These matches did not allow them to develop and practice new things.

it’s about how we win the matches, that is what is important’ ‘ It’s not about winning matches, it’s about how we win the matches, that is what is important’ Source: Jim Ryan Director of Football Manchester United F.C

We as an academy took the decision that whilst the players needed to understand the need to win matches, the results would become secondary to performances.

How where we to implement this new philosophy ? Our young teams had to play ‘The Manchester United way’ Source: Sir Alex Ferguson Manager Manchester United F.C. ?

COACHING STRUCTURE An Overview

QUESTION? Do you base your coaching on a syllabus ? OR Do you react to the performance Of your team?

Academy youth football is about development; not results. The culture in youth football is to react to situations and move on to the next. Academy youth football is about development; not results. Reacting to performances should be left until results are important i.e. professional teams.

These thoughts were collated during a series of meetings with one specific aim. This aim was to create a syllabus for the whole academy.

It was decided to break the academy players down into specific age bands. Under 8 – Under 11 Under 12 – Under 14 Under 15 – Under 16

The coaches at these specific age groups created that part of the syllabus using their expertise at that age group.

Technical Tactical Physical Social The coaches at each age group developed a syllabus to include the following contents: Technical Tactical Physical Social

HOW WERE WE TO IMPLEMENT THE SYLLABUS? The consensus of opinion was that the academy should become a Place of learning.

Therefore the academy should be based on the education system used Successfully In England for numerous years.

We decided that in order to create the best learning environment that blocks of work would be introduced

THE RATIONALE A math tutor for example, would not have the class learning algebra one lesson, percentages the next lesson and fractions the next. He would work to a block of work.

As such the club developed a pilot It was decided that the syllabus for the younger players would be based solely upon small sided games. As such the club developed a pilot 4 v 4 programme.

RATIONALE Games programme is adaptable and can cater for up to 68 players plus goalkeepers if available. Players divided into teams of 4 and play on a rotational basis in 4 different games.

Each game will last for 8 minutes. RATIONALE If a team has more than 4 players the subs will come on during the game on a rotational basis. Each game will last for 8 minutes. No scores. No referees required.

RATIONALE Each boy will play a minimum of 6 games to optimise playing time. 2 minute break between games. Coaches there to monitor and supervise. Minimum coaching / Gentle encouragement

This pilot programme was presented to the F. A This pilot programme was presented to the F.A. Premier League on April 9th 2002 and was duly sanctioned but only if agreed to by other clubs.

First game versus Blackpool F.C. Unfortunately other clubs were not keen on the idea and initially we were limited to the number of games we could play. First game versus Blackpool F.C. July 17th, 2002

Each age group at the academy could contain up to 20 players. This would result in 11 players playing in the game and up to 9 players not playing or having limited playing time.

Is to be involved and playing the game, Given that the best way to learn Is to be involved and playing the game, players were missing valuable learning time every week. Time that they could not afford to miss!

SOURCE : MANCHESTER UNITED 4 V 4 BOOKLET AIMS OF THE 4 V 4 SCHEME. ‘Games based on 4 v 4 whilst using various simple conditions to create optimal learning and playing environment where players have maximum ball content’ SOURCE : MANCHESTER UNITED 4 V 4 BOOKLET

GOALKEEPERS GAME Area 35m x 25m Junior goals 2m x 6m 4 v 4 with 2 goalkeepers Normal throw ins and corner kicks If no goalkeepers available players will alternately be the goalkeeper

Ball dribbled back into play TWO GOAL GAME Area 30 m x 25m 4 v 4 with poles as goals Corners taken No goalkeepers Ball dribbled back into play

FOUR GOAL GAME Area 25m x 25m 4 v 4 game with 8 markers as four small goals No goalkeepers Ball dribbles back into play

LINE BALL Area 25m x 20m 4 v 4 using end line as goals No goalkeepers Ball dribbled back into play

All Eight Games Can Fit Onto One Full Size Field 4v4 Line Game 25x20 4v4 Four Goal Game 25x25 5v5 GK Game 35x25 4v4 Two Goal Game 30x25 5v5 GK Game 35x25 4v4 Four Goal Game 25x25 4v4 Line Game 25x20 4v4 Two Goal Game 30x25

Obviously the impact of this programme Could not be gauged immediately. We would have to be patient and wait to see if we had made the correct decision.

Was the scheme a success? 5 YEARS LATER. The young players that first experienced the 4 v 4 scheme are now playing for the clubs under 13 academy team. Was the scheme a success?

The club is extremely pleased with the development of these players and the impact that the 4 v 4 scheme has had upon their development.

The players played with a new found freedom and enjoyment. We found that initially the pressure of playing academy football was removed almost instantly. The players played with a new found freedom and enjoyment. Players had far more possession of the football and so had more chances to develop their techniques.

Fitness levels of players improved. Players were encouraged to express themselves far more, without the fear of making mistakes. Fitness levels of players improved. Decision making of the players improved.

This format was introduced to the training sessions as well as the games programme. As the season progressed more and more teams bought into the idea and so games became more frequent.

A similar programme has now been introduced by the football association And the format is now used in the football association coach education programme.

under 15 – under 16 age groups. The following thoughts were developed by the coaches responsible for the under 15 – under 16 age groups.

We decided that our blocks of work would be in the following order. Defending Counter attacking Possession Finishing

You might debate that defending before possession is in the wrong order but that is for you as coaches to decide.

We decided that in order to play football effectively you needed to be in possession of the ball. Sounds simple.

How Did We Win The Ball Back? Both as a team and also as individuals? Did the players know? More importantly did they understand?

How Did We Use the Ball When We Regained Possession? Did we see the chance to break? Did we dominate the 2 v 1 situation? Did we sometimes leave ourselves vulnerable through poor decision making?

Were we comfortable in possession? If we did not break… Were we comfortable in possession? Could we keep the ball for a purpose? Were we patient?

Did we maximise our opportunities? When we did break… Did we maximise our opportunities? If not why not?

We now had to use existing or develop new coaching sessions that enabled the players to develop their skills and understanding in these situations.

Field Session Demonstration of session used in the Manchester United Academy. Transition when regaining possession.