Very good. Cheers.


What do you think about the FourFourTwo blog Attacking From The Back - Training Sessions for U10/11s?
Stage three of the NC is the under 10 and 11 year age groups. These age groups fall into the skill acquisition phase or the golden age. This is an ideal time to increase the technical and insight comp...

Have your say.

Great stuff, thank you for that very informative blog.

Excellent, Gregory.

Thanks for posting it Munrubenmuz.

The diagrams really help. I've been struggling to show 5v3 and 5v2. Those diagrams nail it.

Krones, the middle player in the 5v2 for the team in possession would be forced to make a lot of quick decisions for a player who needs to develop quicker decision-making.



Edited by Decentric: 6/7/2011 08:53:38 PM

5 v 2 with one in the middle is very good, why ? because so many coaches tell kids not to pass to a player if he under pressure. Its by getting used to receiving under pressure thats missing from older youth players. Had to laugh when uncle abert from coerver hated 5 v 2 .

Paul cooper's book is superb and if you combine it with the magic rectangle you have great sessions. The magic rectangle will be demoed by watford coach at brisbane coaching seminar this weekend.

It is also good because of the triangles it creates.

Main Part

Figure 4 shows a basic transition style game with 8 players. This type of game can be expanding upon in the older age groups with more players and a central zone for midfielders. In this way the ball must be played through the midfield.

The ball is played out in one half (2v1). The ball is passed or dribbled into the next half, allowing another attacker into the half, where another 2v1 situation takes place. Players and goal keepers rotate continually to create 2v1 situation in each half. Make a point of coaching width in attack, passing and receiving, and movement off the ball (attacker in next half getting "free").

As players progress, additional restrictions can be placed on the players before an extra player can enter the next zone, eg, a "bounce pass"









Just love the diagrams!!!:)

It is why I'm so long winded when trying to explain things as I try to demonstrate exercises restricted keyboard icons and letters!!!:(

Gregory, when I've done work with FFA senior coaches Tony Franken, Kelly Cross, Norm Boardman and David Abela, they haven't delineated roles for defenders in these exact 5v2, 5v3 exercises.

KNVB coaches Ad Derkson and Arie Schans, and former FFA TD Rob Baan, very specifically had prescriptive roles and body shapes for defenders in this exercise too. They recommended the 5v2s and 5v3s for youth and adults too, which was the targeted cognitive level.

The Australian FFA coaches didn't emphasise the defensive roles of the players at all, even when describing drills/exercises for youth and senior players.

I know 10 and 11 years is a young age , but would you have prescribed defensive roles for them, Gregory?

Would you suggest optimum distancing between the two or three defensive players?

If you did, would it be more targeted to elite/rep players or suburban players?

I think what you are doing seems ambitious for the age group in terms of TIC for that age. I may not have coached players of this calibre in terms of Insight and Communication at the same age though.
Rob Baan likes 4v4, or 5v5 with goalies, right up to the ages of 13, like they do in Brazil. The focus primarily being on Technique and game sense through heuristic (learning through doing) discovery.

Edited by Decentric: 6/7/2011 11:06:01 PM

Gregory, in Fig 2 for the first players receiving the pass in the 1-2-1 formation in the diamond, I like the way you prescribe the receiving foot and the passing foot.

The only problem is that the passing arrow in the diagram in Fig 2 goes straight to the cones for each flanker on the left and right. Which side of the cone should the ball go to when the player receives the ball? My spatial awareness isn't too flash.

I tried a diagonal passing diamond exercise which had been set out in FFA drills on the FFA website, with an under 12 team for players to extend the Barca Academy directional control passing drill. It was an unmitigated disaster.

That was because it hadn't been set out where the players should stand, or which body position, or which foot the ball should be received with. Unfortunately, the state TD was watching the session to evaluate us. I hope he left before that exercise!

Over time I'd work out how to do the passing diamond more effectively. Those cues of yours just make it easier when one tries an exercise on the training track for the first time.

The training ground exercises for registered FFA coaches are hard to access on the log in to. Those coaches who have managed to access them have found them hard to follow. Conversely, your diagrams are excellent. The training ground exercises are well set out and easy to follow.
If some of the trolling could be eliminated on here, I know a significant number of coaches I'd recommend to come to Performance to observe your articles/diagrams and explanations of sequential training ground practices.

I really like the look of Fig 2 as a training exercise. I'll try it soon on the training track with players ranging in age from 10 to adults.
For the two players standing waiting at the bottom of the diamond, or any extra players waiting in Fig 2, I'd ask them to choose any one dribbling technique and rotate from seven stationary dribbling techniques to increase touches over the session.

Keep it up.:)


Edited by Decentric: 6/7/2011 11:38:19 PM

A lot of effort went into that, good work! Also I heard from my friend that (in NNSW anyway) they're making it U12's also play a modified game next season, meaning that the first season of "real" football is U13's.
Decentric: Since I've played center fullback for 13 seasons, I feel as though I could be qualified to answer your question about defensive roles for 10/11's. At that age I'd be focusing on teaching them how much space they should allow the attacker while they're jockying them, and really drive home the importance of jockying instead of diving in. Really work at getting them competent at this as it's one of THE most important skills for a defender. Other than that, train them in heading high balls (this can be combined with training your goalkeeper's accuracy from drop-kicks). Work on first getting them to consistantly meet the ball properly and then have them practice aiming these headers at teammates. Other than that, it's really just a continuation of improving their first touch, short passes/clearence kicks and having them practice trapping high balls.

Thanks for the advice, Cardiff.

I have a pretty clear idea what I ask players to perform defensively at 10 and 11 and I'm confident in this area, but I was asking Gregory what he would do with the age group?

I am receiving pressure from FFA state officers to do a C Licence. I maintain I've covered most of the content in the C Licence and some in the FFA B Licence from KNVB coaches who know much more than any of the Australian FFA coaches, other than Han Berger. I feel the KNVB coaches were much stronger at delineating roles/positioning/dstancing/cohesion for defensive roles in any training ground exercises than our top FFA coaches.

I've learnt nothing about body shape in either KNVB or FFA courses. Thankfully, my co-coach at Football For Everyone has done a lot of work with a former state TD in this area and I'm learning from him. It seems a previous state TD did a lot of useful work with Tasmanian coaches in body shape.

I also know nothing about keeping, other than organising the defensive lines, but my FFE co-coach does, having trained an Australian underage futsal keeper.

Jockeying I've learnt quite a bit about and have added some really useful stuff from a US college player. For many years I taught modern karate. A useful jockeying position is similar to a classic boxer's stance.

Mentioning heading, I have few good heading exercises/drills other than juggling in pairs. Can you suggest some interesting ones for developing players, Cardiff?
In international matches against Asian players heading seems to be a strength of Australian players.

Edited by Decentric: 7/7/2011 12:00:48 AM

Well, you could try playing "football volleyball", which is basically where you divide the players up into two teams, mark out a playing area (with a middle line divding the two teams' sections). The ball is allowed to bounce once in a team's section before it is kicked/headed into the other team's section, if it bounces twice, then the other team earns a point. This can be a lot of fun and should keep everyone's attention, and when you're having fun you learn really quickly. This game focuses on both heading and volleying ability. There's also "football baseball", where you've got a "pitcher" (usually the coach) who passes the ball to the "batter", who then kicks it into the outfield and runs to a base. Same rules of baseball apply (the ball must leave the "diamond" within its bounds). To get a player out: The fielding team must either head the ball on the full, or they must complete five passes before the kicker gets to the home base. This game might be a little bit hard for this age group though depending on how well your players can kick the ball, since if they can't all get good air on a kick, it's not gonna help heading. Should still be a fun way to train passing and team work.

Yes this training session is ambitious. Remember this is a theoretical session for advancing players who have been in the "system" for some years and have learnt the steps of NC. I always pitch at higher level then come back to the players level and then extend them.

If the players you are dealing with cannot do the positional games then go back a step and use 3v1 without boundaries. As you work through the year re-introduce the positional games and work on them. Continue using game sense 4v4, or 5v5. Did anyone download the e-book of small side games. I highly recommend it!

Decentric, the technique diamond is a progression of the Dutch Passing Square (there are many variations to this as well). Note that the formation resembles the game positions. Re-enforce this when doing the exercise. The pass is directed to one side of the cone or furthest foot. The progression involves "checking in" communicating with the passer then continuing. The next progression involves a bounce pass back with the reciever running around the outside of his cone to recieve the ball on the run. The exercise involves communication, passing and recieving, moving into space, body shape, running with the ball and first touch.

The insight or positional games should always involve the defenders having tasks. To make the game competitive use a scoring system. The game becomes real. Your topic may be defending. The positional games allow for this as well. The defenders need to work together ie 1st and 2nd defender concepts.In latter blogs I will introduce formation training, where there is always a direction.This type of training becomes even more specific and a powerful coaching method.

I will answer the other comments when I get a moment. It is great to see the enthusiasm.

Knowing the content of the advanced courses is one thing, coaching it to required standards is another. Coaches are like players, they need practice and development. Our system is poor. The reliance is on the coach to educate him/herself then front up to a course and get pulled apart. The learning system is poor. Once you have paid and get the licence you are on your own. I can't remember when the last update course was run for Advance Licence holders. Imagine if we did this players. On top of this everything the FFA puts on is so expensive.

Go to the FFA home page and attempt to apply for an advanced licence. It asks you to read the advanced licence course information. You cannot because the document is being updated. So you have no idea what you are getting yourself into. Even the course content changes year by year.I beleive there is a new system coming where you can be a senior B licence or B youth licence holder.

Getting an advanced licence still means little. The boys club exists and jobs are handed to those in the loop. The best coaches do not get the best jobs. The FFA has a policy on who they hand jobs to.

If you want to hand over 4-5000K for a licence for what is an amateur sport because you love it then go for your life. If you think having an advanced licence will make a difference in getting jobs think again. I know two excellent AFC A and B coaches who cannot get positions. An interview or resume does not tell your employer weather you can coach. Why don't clubs test coaches before hirering?

I didn't post it.

This is the same in every industry, it is almost never the most skilled but the best connected who gets the gig.

Nor should it.

It would be a sad day (in any sport or industry) when theory takes precedence over genuine real world experience together with a CV that points to tangible success.

Edited by judy free: 7/7/2011 11:26:28 AM

Or more importantly knowing the right people.

How many coaching jobs require you to perform a task to demonstrate your ability? Generally its an interview and who you know.

In the real world applying and getting a skilled job requires an interview, pyschometric testing, and perfroming tasks to demonstrate your competence.

What I am saying is that when hiring coaches for paid jobs, the applicant should be put through his/her paces to demonstrate competency.How else are improved standards and change implimented (thats what the FFA wants).

If the coach has no CV or experience (unlikely in a paid job) to speak of then you are probably right.

Otherwise, it's simply a case of pointing to the scoreboard i.e. list achievements.

Thanks, Cardiff.

I completely forgot about football tennis. This is probably the most technical training ground exercise I did as a player in the non-technical sixties and seventies. Apparently football tennis is as common as 11v11 football in the Czech Republic.

I have done it a lot with two person juggling. With a high net this is useful for defensive heading and general aerial receiving too. I think I'll incorporate it into the KNVB 4v4 rotation model, even if it isn't a 4v4. I have no other decent SSGs to develop heading.

What if the role is a developmental position as opposed to a results one? Not all coaches can do both.

Good point.

I must admit results based coaching is a tenuous career.

Look at Frank Farina.

The Roar were probably playing better football than Victory and should have won the title under Frank's, Han Berger restructured team. Early next season he was sacked. I was told the other day he is now coaching New Guinea!!!! Nobody can convince me FF lost his coaching ability in a few months.

Ditto, Aurelio Vidmar. Probably one of the greatest coaching achievements by a local coach, reaching the final of the ACL, albeit with a weaker team than his opponents. Next season there were calls for him to be sacked. Again Aurelio didn't lose his ability in a few months.

Many coaches in the KNVB course wanted development jobs. Who can blame them? I still remember being vilified for dropping a player from a state title winning rep squad. In FFE everything is a win/win situation.

Ron Smith is lauded as a good development coach, but he struggled as a senior A League results based coach.

In a game like football, which is competitive, even with all the best coaches in the world coaching in the A League, someone has to finish in the bottom positions.

Edited by Decentric: 7/7/2011 05:09:52 PM

Even some of our split state league players seem to be unaware of this, in the female ranks anyway.

I had a relaitve who wouldn't listen to me about defensive jockeying. The footballer went to the US college system and this was immediately identified as a weakness. The player received good defensive coaching in the states. I am now learning some extra points from this player in regards to defensive coaching to augment what I know.:)

When we teach dribbling techniques with players having partners we also focus on the defensive body positioning of the passive defenders.

In the sixties and seventies we were just told to go in as hard as possible and win the ball, even in a state side!!!! If a player didn't win it, coaches used to tell us we didn't go in hard enough.](*,) ](*,) ](*,) ](*,) ](*,) ](*,) ](*,) ](*,)



Edited by Decentric: 7/7/2011 05:20:04 PM

I enjoy coaching defending. Defend well attack more. Zonal defending next. We will cover basic and some advancing defending topics.

Back to topic though. How useful have coaches found the positional games for insight and technique training?

99.9% of coaches operate within a competitive structure i.e. the team plays a game and a ref keeps note of the score.

A coach's competitive record (list of achievements) determines his value, at any level.

So lemme ask you how you would determine the achievements and value of a non results based coach and what criteria would you use to appoint one?

Edited by judy free: 7/7/2011 07:51:40 PM

Test the skills of the players before the season. Set goals and test them at the end of the season.
I think there is another institution involved with the development of children that does it just that way.

No problem, glad I could help.


Damn, things have improved so much since then. Han Berger deserves a lot of praise for his work.

Troll. :lol:

Fine, if you're happy to conveniently overlook the fact that the game of sockah is played between two teams, with two sets of posts and the winner is determined by who scores the most goals.

You need to be reminded that the development of receiving, passing, shooting, heading, first touch, tackling, stepovers etc etc is fundamental stuff in any junior 'results based' coaches charter.

If your team is developing well then it will ALWAYS be reflected on the scoreboard. Even your tassie mate has one example of this. :d

In another section on KNVB training I delineated rondo training in sequential KNVB form. I feel this is a strength of my coaching. What your diagrams have done is provide a useful reference point for other coaches to follow.

As I said before, if some minor trolling details could be rectified, I would recommend your articles on this site as a reference point for almost every coach of youth/juniors I know.

I like FIg 2 for a useful training ground drill. I would add stationary dribbling for the players at the start of the exercise at the bottom of the diamond who are waiting for passes.

I would also add specific dribbling techniques, like the Matthews' cut (repetitively), for the dribbling at the end of the exercise when they return to the start fom the middle of the diamond. Aussiesrus utilises this technique ( Matthews' cut) in his training ground sessions he delineated some time ago.

I have a very clear KNVB structure for training sessions. What you provide is a refinement to various activities. Also, your articles draw more constructive comments from other posters on 442 who haven't posted here before. I've now incorparated soccer tennis, in 4v4, 3v3 SSGs to our SSGs circuit, from Cardiff (thanks), for our football school. This came from questions about defending.

What you are providing is excellent, Gregory.:d I see this section as a potential epicentre for Australian coaches, particularly when you provide the type of articles you do.

There are still a few questions I'd like you to answer from earlier in the thread regarding specific detail to your exercises in Fig 2.

I've often tried to explain the 5v2 and 5v3 on here. Some other posters can comment as to whether what I've tried to impart has manifested as the same as your diagram. If my diagrams have made no sense, then your articles are providing an integral tool in explaining training ground SSGs from my perspective.


Edited by Decentric: 8/7/2011 09:44:19 AM

Edited by Decentric: 8/7/2011 10:23:59 AM