Making Football Simple
Football is the greatest and simplest game in the world, if we want it to be; two groups of players, each trying to kick a little white ball between a set of posts. However, the football industry often over-complicates the game, and the intricacies become overwhelming, especially for young players with little experience. When coaching, it is my intention to paint a very simple picture for my players, one that offers them with lots of decision making opportunities, but with simple choices within those decisions.
In the paragraphs below I will share the simple decisions which I believe are the most important for young players to consider when playing in match situations.
Your team in possession.
(When one of your teammates is in possession)
Basic response: Find a space where you can receive the ball.
Details:
- Find a space on the pitch where there is NOTHING between you and the ball carrier.
- The space must be somewhere that the ball carrier can realistically get the ball to your feet.
You in possession.
(When ‘you’ the individual has control of the ball)
Basic response: Space in front of you? Dribble. No space/time? Pass.
Details:
- If there is space on the pitch then be confident enough to dribble with the ball close to your feet.
- If the space is then taken away (by a defender for example) then make the choice to attempt to take them on, or pass the ball.
- If there is little time/space on the pitch, then pass the ball.
- With VERY little time, take minimal touches.
- With SOME time, have a touch, get the ball out of your feet, and then play.
Your team defending.
(When your team are not in possession, but you are not personally pressing the ball carrier)
Basic response: Mark an opposition player.
Details:
- Get tight to a play.
- Mark them goal-side.
-Ensure all your team-mates are doing the same.
You defending.
(When you are personally pressing the ball carrier, or directly defending the ball)
Basic response: Don’t let them play.
Details:
- Press the ball player.
- Make play predictable with your body shape.
- Be proactive (make the attacker do want YOU want them to do, not what THEY want to do).
Football is the greatest and simplest game in the world, if we want it to be; two groups of players, each trying to kick a little white ball between a set of posts. However, the football industry often over-complicates the game, and the intricacies become overwhelming, especially for young players with little experience. When coaching, it is my intention to paint a very simple picture for my players, one that offers them with lots of decision making opportunities, but with simple choices within those decisions.
In the paragraphs below I will share the simple decisions which I believe are the most important for young players to consider when playing in match situations.
Your team in possession.
(When one of your teammates is in possession)
Basic response: Find a space where you can receive the ball.
Details:
- Find a space on the pitch where there is NOTHING between you and the ball carrier.
- The space must be somewhere that the ball carrier can realistically get the ball to your feet.
You in possession.
(When ‘you’ the individual has control of the ball)
Basic response: Space in front of you? Dribble. No space/time? Pass.
Details:
- If there is space on the pitch then be confident enough to dribble with the ball close to your feet.
- If the space is then taken away (by a defender for example) then make the choice to attempt to take them on, or pass the ball.
- If there is little time/space on the pitch, then pass the ball.
- With VERY little time, take minimal touches.
- With SOME time, have a touch, get the ball out of your feet, and then play.
Your team defending.
(When your team are not in possession, but you are not personally pressing the ball carrier)
Basic response: Mark an opposition player.
Details:
- Get tight to a play.
- Mark them goal-side.
-Ensure all your team-mates are doing the same.
You defending.
(When you are personally pressing the ball carrier, or directly defending the ball)
Basic response: Don’t let them play.
Details:
- Press the ball player.
- Make play predictable with your body shape.
- Be proactive (make the attacker do want YOU want them to do, not what THEY want to do).
When written in a list it may appear that there is an awful lot for a young player to remember, however these points will delivered over time by coaches, and regularly reinforced at training sessions. If a young player can take in the four ‘pictures’ above (you in possession, team in possession, you defending, team defending), then their basic decision making cannot go too far wrong.
By breaking the game down into four different scenarios, the young players can visualise a picture n their head of what their options are on each occasion. Of course the coach would not show the players a sheet with all of this information as it would baffle and confuse them, but these points would be continually reinforced whilst players are participating in match related sessions (i.e. small-sided-games, possession games, attack vs defense etc.), in order to etch these basic decision making processes onto the minds of our young footballers.
By breaking the game down into four different scenarios, the young players can visualise a picture n their head of what their options are on each occasion. Of course the coach would not show the players a sheet with all of this information as it would baffle and confuse them, but these points would be continually reinforced whilst players are participating in match related sessions (i.e. small-sided-games, possession games, attack vs defense etc.), in order to etch these basic decision making processes onto the minds of our young footballers.
It goes without saying that painting these pictures and decision making processes is almost totally void if our young players do not have the range of techniques that it requires to carry out the physical action that their mind has decided upon. i.e. it is no good a player knowing the best decision is to dribble, but being incapable of dribbling whilst maintaining possession of the ball and being comfortable with it.
The four pictures which are painted above are only the most basic formats of the decision making processes which we want our players to go through. As they get older and develop, and their maturity and techniques improve, then we allow players to begin to decide upon the various possibilities for a given situation. For example: if going strictly by the guidelines above, when one-on-one against a defender, our players would pass the ball (as there is no space in front of them), but this is not necessarily the correct decision.
You may have considered that I havn't mentioned shooting throughout this article. As we all know, most children are already quite capable of deciding when and where to shoot, and it is often an aspect that doesn't require additional encouragement, as they will naturally acquire the initiative to shoot.
We need to offer our youngest players these decision making processes, and as they develop and learn the game, we must nurture their own decision making processes and support them, the best way for them to figure out the best decision is to allow them to make mistakes for themselves, and as the gain more experience in the sport they will naturally do this. The four processes above are for the young or inexperienced players, to give them a basic insight into the game.
It's time to think, Think Coaching.
The four pictures which are painted above are only the most basic formats of the decision making processes which we want our players to go through. As they get older and develop, and their maturity and techniques improve, then we allow players to begin to decide upon the various possibilities for a given situation. For example: if going strictly by the guidelines above, when one-on-one against a defender, our players would pass the ball (as there is no space in front of them), but this is not necessarily the correct decision.
You may have considered that I havn't mentioned shooting throughout this article. As we all know, most children are already quite capable of deciding when and where to shoot, and it is often an aspect that doesn't require additional encouragement, as they will naturally acquire the initiative to shoot.
We need to offer our youngest players these decision making processes, and as they develop and learn the game, we must nurture their own decision making processes and support them, the best way for them to figure out the best decision is to allow them to make mistakes for themselves, and as the gain more experience in the sport they will naturally do this. The four processes above are for the young or inexperienced players, to give them a basic insight into the game.
It's time to think, Think Coaching.