Foundational Knowledge

Although football is a very difficult game for players to master, the essence of the game can be very simply expressed:

‘Two teams of players try, within the rules of the game, to win by scoring at least one goal more than the opponent’.

In other words, the purpose of the game is trying to score goals when we have the ball and prevent the opponent from scoring when they have the ball.

So as we consider any game of football, regardless of formation or playing style, we can divide it into 4 phases:

1. Ball Possession (BP) : this is the phase when our team has the ball and we are attacking;

2. Ball Possession Opponent (BPO) : this is the phase when the opponent has the ball and we are defending;

3. Transition to defence (BP>BPO) : this is the phase when we lose the ball and must switch from attacking to defending;

4. Transition to attack (BPO>BP): this is the phase when we win the ball back and switch from defending to attacking. 

We call these phases the ‘four main moments' in a game.

While some clubs may choose their own football philosophy on how they want to see football being played by their team or across a club. It's worth noting the playing philosophy of our national body

A proactive brand of football, based on effective possession with the cutting edge provided by creative individuals.

Defensively the key components are quick transition and intelligent collective pressing.

The Playing Style is underpinned by a strong ‘team mentality’, capitalising on Australia’s traditional strengths.

As a coach this translates to us developing players and teams that:

• Dominate and control the game through effective possession

• Get the ball and our players into goalscoring positions in a structured manner

• Break down compact defences through individual skill and creative combination play

• Strive to possess the ball (the more we have the ball, the less we have to defend)

• Win the ball back through quick transition and intelligent collective pressing

There are some main principles of the game of football that we can develop in players. These are based around Attacking (BP and BPO>BP) and Defending (BPO, BP>BPO).

The principles of Attack are:

• Penetration - The ability to play through or behind the opposition. Exploit space with good on and off the ball movement.

• Support - teammates should be available in supporting positions ahead, to the side and behind the ball (first attacker or player in possession). This requires good dispersal when in possession to spread the field. Angles, distance and timing of passes becomes important.

• Width - The ability to stretch our opponents laterally across the field and also provide opportunity for penetration via wide areas. Correct positioning also gives opportunities to switch the play to exploit the weak side.

• Mobility - The ability to interchange positions and provide good movement to support the play. Movement on and off the ball to create space for the first attacker or other players.

• Improvisation/Creativity - The ability to provide inventive and unpredictable play, either through individual skills or small group combinations. For example: 1vs1's, 1-2's, overlaps, feint movements, etc.

The principles of Defence are:

• Press/Delay - The ability to prevent the ball from being played forward quickly. A pressuring player needs to reduce the time and space of the attacker to prevent the ball being played forward. This is especially important when outnumbered to allow the team to re-shape to a loss in possession appropriately.

• Cover/Depth/Support - Reduce the space behind the pressuring player. Provide support in defence. These players do not provide pressure on the ball but instead support the challenging player. Their relative position to the pressuring player is dependent on the situation and part of the field they are supporting the player in. Defensive support is generally much tighter than attacking support. An easy concept to coach with defending soccer drills.

• Balance - In order to cancel the threat of mobility provided by the offense, balance is required by the defending team to retain defensive shape. Balancing is an extension of delay and support. Balancing players provide additional support. Be prepared to leave weak side attacking players unmarked to balance the strong side of the field.

• Concentration/Compactness - The movement of players to concentrate into an area of the field vulnerable to scoring opportunities. Most teams generally drop on loss of possession and recover towards their own goal. Players should make runs back towards their own goal and goal side of the ball if desired.

• Control/Restraint - Defending players need to be patient and assess the risk involved in challenging for the ball. A well structured defending line can quickly become disorganized with one rash challenge. Players need to exercise control and restraint and re-adjust their shape to changing scenarios. Players also need to be alert to their surroundings at all times (switched on!).

Game models are a framework you can develop with your team. It can help  guide the way you play and train each week. 

Before developing a model for your team it’s important that you make sure you consider the skills and abilities of your players. 

To develop a model take the 4 phases of play in possession (BP), out of possession (BPO), transition to attack (BPO>BP) and transition to defence (BP>BPO) and identify the key actions that the team needs to enact during these phases. Below are some options that could fall under these phases.

• Play in possession (BP)

  • Building from the back

  • Controlling possession

  • Creating and scoring

  • Gain width

  • Play the best pass, not the most forward pass

  • Create space (triangles and diamonds)

• Out of possession (BPO)

• Pressing

• Intelligent defending

• Force opponent wide (outside)

• Leave the furthest play (Balance)

• Protect the central space (Compactness)

• anticipate what's next

• Transition to attack (BPO>BP)

  • Counter-pressing

  • Can you run beyond the opponent?

  • Connect with first pass

  • Maintain possession if opponents are balanced

• Transition to defence (BP>BPO)

• Counter-attacking

• Turnovers and restarts

• Can you win the ball?

• Can you press the opponent back?

• Recover and regroup

Once you have worked out what actions you want your team to enact then these can be formalised into your weekly session plans and schedule.

Note the connection of words between the Objective of Football and the Principles of Play.

There are four main pillars of football, which are evident at every level of the game TECHNICAL, TACTICAL, PHYSICAL and PSYCHOLOGICAL.

Clearly there will be different emphasis placed on each one depending on the age and ability of the player. It is important that a coach has clear goals for their team prior to working with any age group. A focus on helping players develops these skills and very basic tactics is critical as it will serve as the foundation for skills and tactics that will be introduced when players move on to the next age group. The key focus is still the technical aspects of the game and to ensure all the players are having fun.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• Physical: Focuses on the athlete's physical capabilities, including strength, speed, endurance, and agility. 

• Social: Emphasizes the importance of teamwork, communication, and leadership skills, as well as the social dynamics within the team. 

• Psychological: Addresses the mental aspects of football, such as confidence, resilience, focus, and emotional regulation. 

• Technical/Tactical: Covers the technical skills (e.g., passing, dribbling, shooting) and tactical knowledge (e.g., formations, strategies) required for success on the field. 

In football, "systems of play" refer to the tactical organization of players on the field, outlining their positions and roles, which can be represented by formations like 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. 

How it works

• Formations: Systems are often represented by formations, which are numerical representations of the number of players in each defensive, midfield, and attacking lines (e.g., 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-5-2).  Note the goal keeper is not identified in these formations to make it easier to read, else it could look like 1-4-4-2 or 1-3-5-2

• Player Roles: Each player's position within the system dictates their responsibilities and how they interact with their teammates and the opposition. 

While formations are a key part of a system, it also involves tactical organization, such as how players move, how they defend, and how they attack. This can be defined as a teams Style of Play or Game Model. Teams can adjust their systems during a match based on the opponent, the score, and the flow of the game. 

A well-chosen and executed system can give a team a tactical advantage, allowing them to exploit weaknesses in the opposition and capitalize on their own strengths. 

As coaches our sessions shouldn't be a reaction to last weeks game, but a planned program to develop our players long term. Periodisation refers to the planning of training programs with the aim of maximising training gains and achieving optimal performance in matches for our players.

In simple terms its the breaking down of the season into smaller phases and cycles,