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http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SIjiSnLHr1M
Above is a YouTube video of U9 Wigan FC playing with tactics. Jay Cochrane, one of the coaches, was kind enough to post a few videos on YouTube. He corrected his post on twitter that he accidentally posted U10, but in fact U9. I like the in-depth direction given to the kids and notice they are capable of retaining the info.
For those wondering who uses tactics and/or positioning at your ages U8 and U9? Barca, Wigan, and many others. As Tim Lees stated on Twitter (paraphrased) – if you only use Coerver type training at u9 elite, you are hampering te development of your kids.
Point is – kids with a good technical foundation (not great, but good) are fully capable of doing a lot of the 3four3 plan. They are smarter and can absorb more than most think. You are not hampering their development b/c there is still technical training going on when tactically training…it’s just more game like than static. I still do foot skills/1v1s at U8/U9, but I also believe that a better development plan is to have field awareness. Otherwise an opportunity is lost for them to get more touches and truly possess the ball.
Alfredo – young kids finding space is the never ending challenge. They all tend to stare at the ball and do not recognize space very well. A vocal coach during practice and games helps.
Here are a few:
1.) Play positions
2.) Have kids ask themselves “can I get the ball?” while thinking about passing angles AND Ask kids to look around and recognize if they are standing next to the opponent.
3.) Pattern Play helps kids out a lot. Cones are key as noted in the 3four3 blog last fall. Do a walk thru 5v0. Just Gary points out as the ball work thru the back the opposite winger needs to know he moves into space. The CF’s job is to find a gap/space…”can I get the ball?” After Walk thru they have to make 20 consecutive passes. Focus is on speed of play, movements, body position, and receiving. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Make several groups if needed. Once they are getting the hand of it, add 2 or 3 defenders. Details are still the focus. If you need to stop play and point out options for space/gaps then do so. Repeat scenario in defensive 1/3, mid 1/3, and attacking 1/3.
4.) Space/Gaps? 4v1 Rondo is perfect or any keep away game. A few more for gaps? Pass the line drills for 5 field players. 3 Rectangle Zones on top of each other. Your two offensive defenders in zone 1, actual defenders in zone 2 (may 2 or 3 defenders), and 3 forwards in zone 3. Players cannot leave their zone which forces kids to find the gaps between the other team. Apply any rules you want. I do 3 passes in your zone then look for thru ball. Go for 3 minutes with a faster pace each time then switch.
5.) Other Games are 3v2 zonal or 5v3 zonal games. Example, make a zone in the middle of the field for 5v3. Must get 5 passes, then to get out of the zone and go to goal one of the following must occur: thru ball, give/go, up/back/thru, or overlap…cannot dribble ball out of zone. Keep in mind same Pattern play with cone drill just implemented in game-like scenario.
6.) Switch the Field Drill – just split field in half and play 5v3. Switch field first and 3 passes before allowed to go to goal. Key focus is on weakside winger finding space and getting away from opponent….similar to pattern play. Move to 6v6 after they gain confidence.
7.) Pattern Play with the combos noted above – give/go, etc… I always start 5v0, then 5v3, then 6v6 game.Hope this helps.
Alec – forgot to add…
When possessing this age, look how often your kids touch the ball, pass the ball, receive the ball, find space, use passing combos, do 3-pass sequences, take kids 1v1 (actually use foot skills), and your teams % of possession. Then compare it to the opponent.
DEVELOPMENT.Alec – quick info on me: I coach 3 club teams, two U8s and a U7 in St Louis. One of my U8s is very good while the other is middle of the road. All three play 6v6 (5 field players).
To answer your original question of what I think of the video: IMHO – it depends what you are trying to accomplish. A futsal/street soccer plan for 4v4? Then they are doing well – lots of moves, a variety of them, and some good individual players. The only tweak I would do is if it’s street soccer/foot skills as the main focus, then there should be no aimless kicks under stress. Make them play under pressure, put them in difficult situations, dribble too much in 1v2 situations to increase comfort on the ball, and continue to try moves they wouldn’t ordinarily try. Even if you want to play possession soccer, playing this futsal type format for a winter session is a good idea too.
To answer question on possession for U9s? Again, IMHO – Absolutely!!! My U8’s played possession this fall. Possession obviously is defined differently b/t opinion, but we play a U8 version of possession. We play out of the back, there is no aimless kicks, no clear it to gain comfort on the ball, I count 3 pass sequences (age and 6v6 appropriate), we look for switching the field/1v1s, and quick transitions. A good indicator for me is how many 3 pass sequences (age appropriate). Sound familiar? Mix in the 3four3 stuff with foot skills and 1v1s.
-Pattern play out of back, middle 1/3, and attacking 1/3. Just as Gary/Brian explain, kids are clueless about finding space if you do not show them with Cones. Walk thru, play 5v0 (no goalie for me at this age while possessing…maybe Spring), play 5v3 (1 pt for 3 pass combos), and 6v6. In 6v6, must get 3 pass combo before go to goal. It’s worked well for me so far. Ever watched U8/U9 kids try to figure out where to be if a coach asks them to play possession? Clueless. Many stand right next to the defender. The game isn’t the teacher and, yes, kids this age are more than capable of pattern play/possession.
-Passing combos: give/go, overlap, up/back/thru, thru balls along with switch the field.
-To avoid clear it, upon possession (trigger) have CF support ball side into space on the outside. Teammate automatically knows he should be in the area and to find the quick pass if needed. Another Pattern I added and starts quick transition.
-First, teach kids how to find space/gaps. This is what we did in the fall. Next week, we get back to it and will be using “lose your man” in addition to find space/gaps.
-Proper receiving (will try Rondos 4v0/4v1 and S-pattern starting next week). I had been doing same idea of drills, but probably not as effective. Big key for kids this age to play faster.We practice 1.5 hours, 2x/week. Still heavy focus on foot skills and 1v1s, but plenty of time to add 3four3 games. If beating a team bad in games, we move to 5 pass minimum before go to goal.
As you know most teams at this age play jungle ball. If you possess at this age, there are times you flat out embarrass supposed elite teams.
-Just look at the KS Rush team you played, the parents deserve a refund to the “let the kids play/figure it out approach.”In 6v6 my top team does a very good job, in a few 8v8 tourneys they struggled compared to normal b/c of the lack of practice of 7 field players. The middle tiered U8 team would be lost kids w/o the pattern play. They have longer to go, but really look forward to how they will look come May.
You have skilled kids. Do it.
Good luck.
PhilJohn – good stuff. Similar sentiments to Brian’s for the attacking 1/3 and well done in the back and mid 1/3s. One thing I wanted to add was speed of play – the opposing team in several of your videos seems to recover quickly on ball switches or the attacking 1/3 due to speed of passes. It’s hard for me to measure speed of girl’s playing both with and without the ball (since I coach boys), so I may be off. The foundation is obviously there and I have seen your 7v4 rectangle drill (very fast paced) so now speeding up the process might be a good idea.
Well done.
Find the Barca USA vs Barcelona game Gary posted on his website/blog. Two teams using P&P. Due to Barcelona’s pressure and talent USA had to send longer balls, but more than competed against the best in the world.
Why does a dead touch have to be under the body? Most of the 4v0/4v1 is what I would consider ‘dead touch’…receive across the body and pass with oposite foot. Perhaps different definitions of dead touch vs live touch. Stepping on the ball is an extreme version of dead touch while live touch is pushing the ball immediately to space.
Teaching/drills for when you receive the ball with Blackfoot and pass with opposite in virtually the same space vs pushing the ball into space was te origination of the question. I believe Gary responded already.
Frank – a few ideas for switching the field…
1.) Take goals away from them. There are two ways to get points to “win”. a.) 5 pass combos = 1 pt b.)Switching field = 2 points. c.) I always include minus 1 pt for aimless kicks (helps teach them to do things with a purpose, get comfortable on the ball, and not just play kickball…but I coach U8).
2.) When introduce goals – they must get 1 switch of field before scoring.
3.) I would also suggest starting with uneven teams — 5v3, 8v5, 10v7 (pending ability to move the ball — to build confidence in what you are trying to accomplish. Once the kids get comfortable you can move to full field, but I always start with uneven numbers.
Draw a line down the middle of the field with cones to split the field OR split field in vertical 1/3s.My U8 players can even figure switching the field out with the above scenario.
Correct on the Live vs Dead touch.
Sure you can add defenders. From what I have gathered, you need to 5v0 first to gain correct tactics. You can make more challenging by increasing the speed at which they play 5v0 then have a 5v3. Count how many 5 pass combos they can successfully make, how fast can they play, and once you feel they are getting better add another defender (5v4). If you go straight to 5v5 you will probably get crap. Layer it and as your team gets better 5v5 is possible, but 5v0 is a great warm up drill to concentrate on technique, tactics, and progress to full speed. Other ideas, if you play 11v11 would be 8v4 or any combination — going from small spaces to larger/full defensive 1/3 size space.
No…not a true perception. Bad behavior is very much present in the States. Most of it is poor parenting. Some of it is immaturity while I feel a portion is mental capacity. I typically see, at the early years, the kids with a mental capacity to absorb information and pay attention are also the ones who tend to be better players. If you only deal with rec players this may be why you have that perception.
