I've done about 25 days in accredited FFA courses in the last year. Informally, I've also observed 20 odd sessions run by 20 club/rep coaches.

I'm now coaching one of three rep teams, which feeds players into the under 14 boys state team. ATM I'm lucky enough to be in a FFA loop.

Without breaking confidentiality, I'll pass on some of the current thinking from the FFA coaching movers and shakers. I won't say specifically who said what, but I'll pass on some interesting info.

One thought process in FFA is that top Australian players are so much technically worse than Japanese, Korean and Middle-Eastern players, particularly in first touch, that if we don't improve, we will be left behind.

FFA believes that Australia is currently tactically superior, but if the aforementioned teams improve their tactical awareness, they'll start to beat us decisively.

The SAP/Skilleroos is designed for Australians to catch up in technique.






Edited by Decentric: 3/2/2013 11:57:42 PM

In terms of the FFA National Curriculum and changing coaching practices, FFA believes the smaller states and territories are way ahead of the bigger states.

WA, SA, the ACT, and now, Tasmania, are considered to be disseminating better coaching practices more widely and much more quickly.

FFA considers there is a real problem in NSW with some dogmatic recalcitrants in some enclaves. They won't accept that Australian coaching practices are generally poor. Queensland and Victoria are considered marginally better.

Edited by Decentric: 4/2/2013 12:07:04 AM

Keep it coming, thanks.:)

I see a lot of ex SAP kids playing rep football at the moment and they are miles ahead in terms of technical ability compared to the kids that have come directly from club football. When you think about it the 12 year olds that did project 22 (the predecessor to SAP) have been training 4 times a week 42 weeks a year for 4 years. Most play futsal in the offseason as well. I think there will be some excellent technical players coming through the football NSW system in the next 5 years or so.

I'm really blown out by how good the SAP training course was that I did this past weekend.

I used a lot of the SAP stuff with a V League (state league ) senior team tonight in preparation for the C Licence prac. exam. The adults thrived on the content. I think most coaches should do the SAP course, even C Licence and B Licence holders.



The SAP was only for about 40 players in this state.

Now the next tier down, the state state team feeder teams and the under 12 rep team coaches, are being trained in SAP content.

The next stage of SAP will be the clubs.

When we have this established, augmented by the regular pathway (Community Coaching), plus the Advanced Coaching pathway, Australia will start to produce very good players if the other SAP instructors are the same calibre as the Tasmanian one. I actually think the SAP may be the most important.

Edited by Decentric: 4/2/2013 10:57:14 PM

I have just received some really good training ground stuff from the state FFA SAP trainer, collated by the state FFA TD. It is FFA C Licence/SAP exercises. They are also used in KNVB.

There is some really good stuff in there - some excellent drills I can't explain as well without the power point diagrams. Some work particularly well with adults, as well as kids from 10 upwards. There are also defending principles and zonal defence.

If you are interested PM me and I'll email them to you. Don't forget to send your email address! I'll just have to get the all clear from the state TD or the SAP trainer.

It might be a week or so before I send them as I'm heading off to a remote area for a while. There is limited internet access in the area.

I have the all clear from FFA to send some of this stuff privately to coaches who I know, or, who explain who they are and where they coach with bona fide details.

I cannot post them on the internet for all and sundry to view.

Don't forget to provide your email address.

To those who've requested SAP sessions, I've sent a few off via email, but have had a few bounce back!

I'll keep trying.

It would be good to see a few of you post here, anonymously.

To other members of the forum we have a few rep coaches, including some high level ones, from round the country who visit this site, but rarely post. I'm sure I speak for others in that their input would be greatly appreciated here.

Just cannot get over what an outstanding FFA regime we have in this state ATM. In the past state FFA would take one step forwards and three steps back. Now they are just moving forever forwards.:)

yep.......seen this too.

neverwozza that is a given and expected no - after parents paying their hard earned for their football loving boy/girl its chalk and cheese comparing a kid playing local club 1 train a week and a parent coaching.
True I agree the standard as mentioned especially the skill level now by 8-14yr olds is miles ahead compared to the past - so much football thanks to Fox/internet and their idols Ronaldo/Messi etc these kids mimmick them daily I'm amazed what I see and look forward what we have in the NT 5-8yrs from now.
Some good feedback Decentric thanks.

I have tried to send SAP exercises to all requesting them.

I'm having a bit of trouble with my email, so if your SAP exercises haven't arrived, they should soon.

This site has the potential to be a very big dissemination centre for football coaches catering for all levels in Australia. With some of the stickies, Andy's Performance section is great.

The coaching courses sticky started by Draupnier has value too.

Arthur's articles are often excellent.

Dirk's Academy sessions sticky addressed one of my issues - lack of good training ground practices. Our state SAP instructor has cast his eye over it, endorsing the Dutch, Chelsea and Arsenal training ground practices in particular, but saying, like Dirk, it is the when and how which needs to be addressed when using them. I had a pretty good idea of the when, but I've learnt truckloads from the state SAP instructor on the how.

He and the state TD could possibly have a list of a key list of coaching cues and player actions available for coaches that I may be able to post on here. This is great for assisting players to make solve problems and improve game sense (Insight).

I've run some senior state league players through this stuff and they like technical and tactical training. For many years, many senior players have attending training, because it was a requirement. The motivation was extrinsic - train or be dropped from the team.

With the technical training, players like attending sessions because they learn, improve and develop as players. They learn football by playing football in a four phase system. They perceive training as a a learning process and an intrinsic event.

A former regional FFA TD in another state, says he can already see the improvement in state league teams in their practice matches, from coaches utilising the C Licence course content and methodology.


A few years ago our state FFA was considered so ineffectual that national head office FFA sent down an administrator to sort it out. The good news is he stayed permanently.

A new regime in state FFA has made prudent appointments to new staff and restructured some current employees, so they are working to their strengths. The new CEO has sorted finances out. The current president did an excellent job hounding out the last of a number of unsuitable TDs, making his job untenable (the TD not appointed under his tenure). We now have a TD so good at his job, he is nearly irreplaceable. Our worry is he is so effective, a national position will be found for him, a bit like Peter De Roo in Queensland.

Most issues that previous state FFA found too hard, if one approached them, the new regime has already considered the issues and is attempting to proactively solve them.

From a basket case, state FFA is now considered one of the best in the country. All this in just a few years. We now have a state league. A few weeks ago one of the highest ranking coaching educators told the C Licence participants that we were lucky to have such good coach educators. Now unless he is a professional actor in his spare time, he meant every word of it. We now have three qualified instructors - most other states only have one. Next year our state FFA instructors should be running a local B Licence.

Maybe Capital Football is a few years ahead of FFT, but there are a lot of issues in other states. One in particular has a huge number of recalcitrants resistant to change in a one big city. Also, their state FFA body appears to be a massive problem.

I still have a few mates who criticise state FFA, but they haven't done coaching courses for a long time. However, no organisation is perfect. Their criticism is based on hearsay, even though they have some genuine grievances that need resolution.

One issue I think needs to be addressed, is that SAP training should be mandated for all FFA Advanced Coaching Course participants. There is an assumption we know more than we do. The SAP rectifies this. It is like Coerver, but with constant coaching cues and player actions to produce technically proficient players with game sense. When this spreads to all the rep teams and clubs, we should start to develop more good players. I think SAP training coaches redresses a coaching gap in FFA.

A few years ago I wouldn't have been able to pass on some useful training ground practices on here from state FFA. Times have changed!







Edited by Decentric: 14/2/2013 10:11:42 AM

Withe SAP/Skilleroos, I thought the rondos were in it.

They aren't.

I'll find them through the C LIcence or state conference material and send them to the same posters who have wanted the SAP stuff, when I locate it.

The rondos for 4v2 and 5v3(or 2) are well liked by senior players as well as juniors. The adults seem to think 3v1 is a bit babyish.

When I send out the next email, when you open the attachment go down to positioning games. I think it is after 4b.

Initially for those coaching juniors it sets out the principles of the 3v1 rondo. It is good for any age.





When you get there note the 4v2 rondo exercise. The players with the ball are in a diamond shape. The players can play the killer pass through the middle too, that splits the lines.

The player on the ball has a right, left and middle option.

Keep the defending players defending for about two minutes, then swap them over with two of the possession 4 every two minutes.




The other rondo which is really good is the 5v3 exercise further down the page. This is the diamond with a dot. The player with the ball at his/her feet, can play left, right, long or short.

Also as a variation, when the defending trio win the ball they can play 3v1 in the middle.

I keep players in the outside quartet active by having them perform stationery techniques, each with a ball, or, have them pass the ball around uncontested with each other in the diamond, ever watchful for the middle player to win the ball and return to 5v3.

Another variation is to try and force outside players to two touch or one touch.




This is very Dutch KNVB and Barca Academy training.

One of the previous three SAP documents was particularly good on structure and defending principles.

The second email has excellent Positioning Game rondos.

Our current SAP trainer uses the 3v1 rondo a lot in his Introduction. This equates to the Warm Up (Passing Games) and Positioning Games for adults/youth.

One thing that never occurs, is that the Bitters in Australia, never, ever have any alternative to these practices which they contend are better.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of disgruntled coaches who are highly qualified and are ambitious in Australia, but cannot land a paying football job. For me, coaching is a hobby. I can earn a lot more money from my profession. I earn a bit more than state TDs.

I just want to see a lot more sound training practice across the nation to ensure better quality footballers when I'm 2 metres underground . Also, for players to enjoy training in that they perceive it has a purpose, is improving them as players in TIC and they intrinsically enjoy it.





Edited by Decentric: 14/2/2013 04:21:08 PM

Edited by Decentric: 14/2/2013 04:21:46 PM

There are some high level coaches who access this forum, but never post.

Through the PM system, a number have contacted me for material.

They are further down the coaching path than me and can explain how to use some player actions and cues that I am in the embryonic stages of using. Eventually, I should have a list from the state TD and SAP trainer, which I hope to post on here, if authorised by FFA.

Another change in direction from FFA is this. A few years ago when I coached a rep team, coaches were evaluated by their results.

Now state FFA rates rep team coaches in the FFA system on the style and quality of football played. Results are now secondary.

Darren Davies, Victory youth coach, has always adopted this principle. Development over results has been his mantra. He works closely with Ange Postecoglou, who asks him to recommend players for the seniors.






Edited by Decentric: 18/2/2013 12:35:27 AM

Which hobby takes up more time, coaching or pretending to be Chips Rafferty on The Roar forum?

Good day Chips/Judy Free.](*,)

Your IP address gives you away. It is either yours or a proxy.

Just accept the 6 month ban like any other middle aged adult.

Another view within FFA , is that the current crop of senior players in the Socceroos were not inculcated with the current FFA NC 1-4-3-3 playing methodology, so an eclectic approach is acceptable for the senior national team.

That's odd. Chips/Judy Free is from NSW. On other forums I go by the name of 11.Boo or AussieHool. How our IP addresses would be the same given I'm in East Oakleigh, Victoria, baffles me.

Unless you are talking shi......

Situation normal then.

Edited by GaryBoulder: 20/2/2013 10:44:16 PM

Edited by GaryBoulder: 20/2/2013 10:44:48 PM