Hi Greg, love your progression blogs and am looking forward to you starting to break down some of those key areas that are missing from the FFA literature, specifically how one conveys the skills required - especially useful for those of us interested in coaching who have never been involved in football as a player.


What do you think about the FourFourTwo blog Full Field 11v11 - The U12/13s?
Our young players enter the full field at age 12. This is a large step for most players. The field size doubles and two more players are added to a team. Players are now divided into elite and communi...

Have your say.

Coaching Points for Basic Defending:


Body shape and the approach to the attacker. Side on and jockeying becomes important (balanced position to ensure rapid changes of direction)

Gregory Parker


Another useful tip I've picked up from a US college programme is to drop as low as possible which helps a defender change position more easily.

This is still not taught enough in this state. A state league club TD was saying this just a few days ago. I've actually learnt a fair bit about defending from him over the years.

Are you observing this, Juve Juve?

Coaching Points for Zonal Defending

Roles of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defender

Gregory Parker




Can you expand on this in some detail, Gregory?

I noticed a big difference between KNVB's Ad Derkson and Arie Schans and the top FFA coaches in this area.

The FFA Curriculum is low on detail. Somehow information is supposed to occur by diffusion. Information is power. Coaches from all levels want more detail. The point of this blog was to explain each age group and give an examples of the type of detail given in a training session. If you study Dutch Methods you will get the general idea. I have given many references throughout.

Using the principles outlined in my blogs I will have coached U6s, U12s and U15 sessions this week. The NC does seem to work. Lets give credit to the FFA for this. The approach and content is different for each age group.

What key areas are you referring to General?

Fig 8 is an integral stage in KNVB training as the third stage of a four stage training ground pan.

I must admit I've often used it as an 8v7, using a keeper on the defensive team to incorporate the midfield triangle.

Gregory, do you know how to use the 7v7 in incremental stages leading up to the full 7v7?

I think your diagrammatic representation is excellent for coaches to observe.

When I'm criticise for posting anonymous split state league senior coaches' training ground regimes, there is no sequence and theme in many of them. Yet I'm told by the FFA about all the recent training of coaches in accredited courses.

Edited by Decentric: 4/8/2011 01:23:43 AM

Figure 8 can be built up as required.

* Use 1-4 vs 3 (front 3). Good for coaching defending for back 4 and/or defending roles for the front 3. This can also be used for playing out with different rules.
* Gradually increase players dpending on topic. Add the midfield on the attacking side. Then add the holding midfielders on the defending side. Then add a central back on the attacking side etc.

Other coaches may jump steps depending on their objectives. The field size, number of players and number of goals used can be added or deleted. The coach may wish to focus on the defending of the "attacking side". For example he/she can have a central small goal in which to defend. The aim here is to pressure the ball from inside to outside (more advanced topic).

In summary the possibilites for this style of game are endless depending on the coach's objectives and numbers available (up to 11v11). This includes youth to seniors. As per the game sense philosophy we are manipulating the environment to achieve our required aims. Next time I will show how to coach the roles of the midfield triangle in an advanced group of 14/15s. Trust this gives you a ideas on build up of this style of game.

The NC stipulates that we coach zonal defence. Players must put pressure on the ball rapidly (another name is ball oriented defence). If we put pressure on the ball we must cover and squeeze together. This brings in the concepts of the first, second and third defender for cover in our zonal defence. The idea is to ensure that the opponent is moved away from our goal or at the very least cannot break down our defence. With cover the second defender may become the first defender if the ball is moved sideways or the ball is advanced past the first defender and so on.

At an advanced level we may wish to pressure the ball to win it back as a unit. The two methods have pros and cons and can be used according to the coaches tactics and in different parts of the field.The first way is to force the opponent into wide areas and the second way is to force opponents centrally where we generally have numbers up (this is much harder to coach).

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I was interested in your response. This is the same as KNVB.

Depending on what the coaching emphasis was, the attacking /defensive facet of a team, it was advocated to decrease the number of players in the facet of the game which was not the focal coaching point.

For instance if the onus was on coaching the defensive shape, use like lower numbers of attackers. Even start with 2v7, increasing to 3v7,4v7 until it increases to 7v7.

I'e found this very effective on the training track.

What surprised me with our state league senior coaches, is that none of them were doing this with their teams. None of them worked on team shape and structure with incremental and sequential stages in 7v7s with their regular team shape.

That sounds great.

Unfortunately I'll be overseas for a few months. I hope someone else can post it here.

I like Fig 1, but as in many drills, I'd like to see the players not involved performing stationary ball skills as they wait.

If they can do the stationary ball exercises and watch the active players with their heads up, even better.

In Fig 1 it would be preferable to match players of similar speed.

Edited by Decentric: 5/8/2011 12:05:02 AM

Fig 5 looks to be a good defending game.

In Fig 4 what are the advantages of playing three teams simultaneously?

That is, as opposed to two?

Using 3 teams makes one team work very hard as a unit. They must put pressure on the ball immediately and squeeze. They must find a solution to numbers down. The players must display all the facets of good defending to win the ball back. Rules can be added to make the process easier like making the field smaller or limit the touches of the attacking team. The game continually changes the players focus/awareness as they must play with different players and coloured teams.

This is a very powerful game for all ages.

As for players waiting around in figure 1, this is minimal, and gives the players recovery time. They are doing sprints to get to the ball! If you have that many players start another grid and have another player or manager play the ball in.

The art of coaching is to be creative and improvise as situations arise.

Very important issue. Many junior coaches are unsure of what is required or best practice. Wish the FFA would use Youtube as a demonstration or lectureing tool.

Without enough "content" instruction it could end up underming the NC.

Doesn't that go without saying. I mean, it's just common sense. I was never taught it either. I wouldn't expect i'd need to teach a defender to look at the mid section of an attacker in a one on one situation either.

I don't know, maybe it was just my upbringing. If you've been brought up in a football orientated family this is all taught to you in the backyard.

Indeed.

More a reflection on decentric's low level understanding of sockah basics.

Some of us did not grow up with football at all Chips, I grew up watching rugby, cricket and league, I played ARF, basketball and cricket at primary school competitively and football occasionaly in the schoolyard. I got into football in highschool but again only played it in the schoolyard and the competitive sport I was part of was rowing. As someone who is interested in coaching football I have the ability to provide many skills to players, but they are not skills that are specific to football - they are general sports skills which are cross code in nature.

This means that I have a high end understanding of the game without the necessary low end knowledge. I would require practical training on the techniques needed to be in turn able to impart them to a player. Things like body positioning as an attacker and defender are things that players will learn themselves - but being able to provide an example which was provided as part of a coaching resource pack, or even better online database, would be far more effective. Resources that someone like myself would need would include a well constructed written guide designed in congunction with an on line library of videos detailing individual skills and team exercises. All these are things that would cost the FFA a lot of money to implement - but if they are serious about upskilling coaching in this country are a must.

People like myself are most likely going to be the first experience a player has, essentially a low skilled parent coach who has a background which does not include football. If you want to dramatically improve the base pool of the game then it is people like me who need to have the most work done on them. I know Chips bangs on about the cream rising to the top, well it does - it rises to the top in sports other than football because that is where they receive the best coaching and most enjoyment.

Transitional moments are my main one, as well as explicite techniques for creating space and reducing space within the oponents and your teams structure.

I'd like to put a couple of suggestions after reading the comments. If you really want to get the idea of zoning across to players so they get used to keeping their shape etc., make the back four defend against a larger number of attackers, that way they learn how to block shots and cover each other and learn to mark the most dangerous players, in terms of who might score. Establish the behaviours and get lots of repetition. Secondly, there was a comment about encouraging defenders to get as low as possible when defending or pressing the ball. Please believe me, this is not good advice. If a player leans over at the hips too much he/she will stand up before moving, which is inefficient. Players need to keep a narrow base to be able to move quickly in any direction, with knees just slightly bent, thats all. All the best. Ron

Hi General,

I sense your frustration. Years ago, in the late 70's early 80's we used to conduct a two day course about organising players into practice. It was designed specifically for people who didn't have much experience as a player but were in a position of being responsible for a team of junior players, i.e. mum or dad. My suggestion to you would be to focus on the quality of the practices that you organise and creating the environment for learning to take place. I will be releasing an iPhone App very soon with lots of practices, all animated with voice over, so that will help people like you enormously. I'll keep you posted. Regards Ron

Can you also have it Android compatible? I don't have an iPhone (my wife has one and I think it is balls) so would only be able to utilise an Android version. Cheers though as it sounds v helpful!

A balanced position in defending means just that. Balance for rapid change of direction. Try it out yourselves as coaches. What allows you to make a rapid change of direction whilst facing the opposition? Jockeying may involve feet changing position whilst still facing the opposition. Yes feet position with narrow type stance with knees slightly flexed as suggested.

The iphone app sounds interesting. There is an enormous amount of information out there on defending (DVDs). The FFA also gives free subscriptions to S2S. This was supposed to have all the Curriculum specific exercises on it. However it is still a generic version at my last inspection some months ago.

From age 12 our youth should be taught the 3 moments of football in more detail.

Inherent in all the exercises that the NC uses and game sense philosophy is movement. If you cannot move you cannot play effective football. Movement "creates space" if there such a thing. To help this concept develop in my players I ask that once a player passes a ball they move to a new area. Secondary players off the ball move in specific patterns that the coach determines. Tertiary players also have roles. Third man running concepts come into play around the ball.

I start coaching possession by laying down a concept of not playing the ball back where it came from (not a firm rule but a concept). In this way players are looking for space to play the ball into and players will move into those areas. Another simple concept to start with is to play the ball and move to where there is the "most grass". This is not a kick and chase concept. Players begin to look for areas to play the ball into. Recievers then start to look for that space to get into. These are gradually introduced concepts that I have found successful. Other coaches may have other ideas. Lets hear them!

How do guys rate how the under 17s/20s performed at the world cups from the past couple of months playing the 1-4-3-3 system???

simple ssg from gubog foundervpaul cooper, after you pass you have to move 5 yards/metres otherwise free kick to the other team , suitable for u9 upwards

Edited by Decentric: 11/8/2011 05:19:43 PM

Generally set up a shape/formation laid down. Eg a diamond in a 4 v 4 or a 4-3-3 in 11 v 11.

Then speak about players opening passing lanes when their team has the ball.

Then speak about players closing them down whilst the team is without possession.

This is done with the formation set out in cones in an area 3m x 3m. The team looks on and listens before the exercise.




Look for free player in most advanced position to pass the ball to.


I like the suggestion of moving to the area with 'most grass'.

I suggest it is better to get into a diagonal position to receive the ball, rather than position oneself for square or straight balls.

The lower body position is taught in full time college soccer programmes in Washington State.

I'm not sure that players a playing at higher levels gain more enjoyment form playing football - or indeed other sports too.

KNVB decree it would be a useful stepping stone to have the back four, plus the midfield triangle, playing against limited numbers initially. That is for the defence to be able to hold shape successfully against limited pressure.

Gregory depicts a back six, which could manifest as a back seven (outfield players), playing against two lines of three in the attacking line and the midfield line.

Welcome to the forum, Ron.:)



Edited by Decentric: 12/8/2011 02:38:29 PM