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FCBEscola Coaching Seminar University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida

June 16-17, 2012

Day Two: June 17

“Trust the system 100%”

“The Philosophy is clear”

“Videotape training at beginning, middle and end of season to show progress”

“Must always include transition in training or players will not develop mentality to switch

quickly between attack and defense.”

Comments by FCBEscola Coaches

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Technical Work – Theory Technical or free-style? Free-style skills are not useful or practical in a soccer game. Therefore, the

technical training at FCBescola is not free-style, even though they may appear similar. They are always

directed towards the objective of being applicable to the game.

Offensive Contents

Running with the ball

Control passing

Dribbling

Shooting

Offensive Contents Content of Work Key Points

Running with the ball: on the ground or in the air.

Turns

Protecting the ball

Appropriate contact surface (speed = outside of foot, control = inside of foot)

Speed of execution

Peripheral vision

Right distance between ball and foot

Good balance

Using furthest foot from opponent

Use both feet

Control passing: establishes relationship between two or more members of a team. Foundation of teamwork.

Type of pass (short, medium, long)

Variety of pass (to foot, to space)

Passing line

Contact surface

Low (on the ground)

Intensity (pace) of the pass

Correct position of supporting foot

Use both feet

Shooting: Sending the ball on the opponents goal. Ball can be stationary or in movement, on the ground or in the air.

Diagonal run to ball: before impact, in order to increase shooting angle

Movement of arm opposite shooting foot

Supporting leg

Volley shot (“the bone”)

“Placing the ball” – inside part of the foot.

Dribbling : Advancing with the ball, keeping possession and getting past opponent b preventing them

from intervening in play.

Dribbling is used to condition the defense of the opponents

Dribbling is used to move the defenders to make space

Dribbling is used to move the defenders away from a teammate in order to allow him to receive

a pass.

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Phases of dribbling:

1) Physical or technical feints

2) Outward movement w/other side of foot

3) Change of pace

When do we use dribbling?

Must explain clearly

Stick with 8-10 types of dribbling moves, not 100

1 v 1 situations on the flanks

1 v 1 situations on goal

Attacking periods (offensive phase) allowing time for the team to get into position.

Inside opponents half of the field when no chance to pass or shoot.

When NOT to use dribbling?

When there is a pass possible

Inside your own penalty area in defensive situations (this is still OK for development at young

ages)

When we are on a fast counter-attack. Passing moves the ball much quicker.

Secondary Skills

Defensive Content Key Points

Tackling Anticipation, decision, and energy

Dual-vision => player and ball

Best moment: ball furthest from opponent, opponent distracted

Right distance depending on opponents characteristics (and angle)

Delay if no support or cover

Intercepting Exclusive attention on game

Simultaneous vision of ball and opponent

Speed of movement

Sense of attacking play

Self-conviction

Continuing game after interception – transition

Offensive Content Key Points

Aerial Play Including corners

Crossing Cross on ground, if possible

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Tactical Work – Theory Philosophy

“Our game, our idea to play is simple: I have the ball, I pass the ball; I have the ball, I pass the ball; I

have the ball, I pass the ball.”

Pep Guardiola after Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in 2011.

Cognitive Training: Inter-related exercises

Objective: To create clever players that can choose the best option in any situation of the game.

Speed of play has been broken down into the elements shown below. These four elements of speed of

play can be enhanced through training. The speed of information transfer from one neuron to another

can be increased through repetitive training.

P.A.D. = Perception → Analysis → Decision

Perception

Analysis

Decision

Execution

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Periodization: Four moments of the game

The above figure illustrates the deconstruction of the training objectives from “Big Picture” (Technical

Contents) to “Small Details” (Set Points). Set Points were the FCB Escola equivalent for coaching points.

Transition from attack to defense

Defense (without the

ball)

Transition from defense

to attack

Attack (with the ball)

Technical Contents

Game Contents/

System Contents

Set Points

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Tactical Content

Attacking Principle: Width & Depth 1) Losing markers 2) Free spaces 3) Overlap runs 4) 1-2s (“give and go”) 5) Others: support, control pace,

circulating the ball

Defending Principle: Support & Closing Down Space 1) Marking 2) Tracking back 3) Covering 4) Switching markers 5) Pressing 6) Others

Transition Attack -> Defense

Retreating/recovering

Pressing Defense -> Attack

Counter-attack

Positional play (compact shape)

Creating free spaces

Set Pieces

Defending corner kicks

Attacking corner kicks

Throw-ins

Kick off

Penalty kicks

Defending free kicks

Attacking free kicks

Goal kicks

Offensive Content

Depth & width Basic elements of attacking teamwork

Always from touch lines

Always from maximum vertical height

Circulation of the ball To temporize the opponent

1-2s Used to break lines

Move past defender

Losing marker Pass to feet or space?

Switching play or “jumps” Skipping adjacent player during passing across width

Defensive Content

Close & short (tight formation)

“With the ball we are defending, too.”

Support & closing down or spaces are the pillars of the defensive effectiveness of the team.

“We need to run. If you are running I will not complain about you. If you are not running, we will have problems.” FCBEscola coaches

Pressing

Marking Types: man-to-man, zone, mixed

“Vigilance” awareness of distance and movement with respect

to players we are marking

Covering/support

Switching covering especially on flanks between fullback and wide

midfielder

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Transitions

One of the keys to Barca’s success

“Transitions are basically changes of mentality”

Very important to train this!

Reaction speed

Right decisions

Training Factors

1) Organization

2) Zone where we recover ball

3) Timing – depending on whether we are winning or not will dictate the actions of the transition.

Transition from attack to defense

Pressing after losing the ball: Player losing the ball must press intensely to prevent quick forward

pass of opponent.

Game Systems Philosophy: The secret of a good team is in the order – everybody must know what they have to do at

each moment of the game at each area of the field.

Offensive

Creative

Keep the ball possession

System of play for FCBEscola based on Barcelona senior team 1-4-3-3 system.

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1-4-3-3 System

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Two systems are used at FCB Escola:

1-3-2-1 for U8 through U12,

1-2-3-1 additionally available for U12+

Each 7v7 system contains elements of the 11v11 system, identified by the position number. This is done

purposefully at FCB Escola so that during the player’s development they gain exposure to the complete

1-4-3-3 system through the smaller sub-systems. The offensive and defensive responsibilities for each

position number are the same regardless of the system.

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1-3-2-1 System

1-2-3-1 System

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Basic Principles of Attack

Players 3, 4, 6, 7 should never line up vertically. They should always be at different heights.

Player 3 must always support Players 2 and 5

Basic Principles of Defense

Defensive positioning is short and tight. Space between the lines is minimized and the width of the lines

is reduced.

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1-3-2-1 System

1-3-2-1 System

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Offensive Automatic Movements

A small number of automatic movements are taught in the offensive phase to enable the team to build

play and pass from the back. The application of the different automatic movements are based on game

situations, specific strategies, and the players ability to read the game.

Automatic Movement #1:

Automatic Movement #2

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Automatic Movement #3

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