Soccer Education Resource

1. Soccer Education Resource www.cbcdutchtouch.com

2. Team Building 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 QuestionsvsAnswers • 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 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

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 gamesituations

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

42. 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

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