Small Sided Games

Presentation to Member Federations, Zones,Associations & Clubs

- Improve overall technical standard of Australian player base- Design and oversee delivery of the best participation experience in Australian sport- Identify, attract and retain more and better athletes particularly in the 12-16 age group- Convert participants to life-long fans of the Australian game- Increase the number of accredited coaches and referees- Ensure facilities keep pace with demand

Educate, support, resource and serviceall football participants.- Participation (e.g. Small Sided Games)- National Skills Test- Coach Education- Referee Education- Club Development- Facilities- Regulations- Schools Football- Inclusive Initiatives- Indigenous Programs- Women’s Football- Futsal

Provide a defined pathway for talented players, coaches and referees with associated high quality programs and resources- National Teams- National Training Centres- National Youth Championships- National Futsal Championships- National Curriculum- National Skills Test- Coach Scholarships- Player Scholarships- Women’s National League- National Youth League- AIS

Talented Player DevelopmentGame Development

Football Development

Football Development

Initiative Phase In

Publication of Football Development Plan

November 2007

Small Sided Games Rollout Ongoing

National Coaching Conference 2008

Review of Referee Development 2008

Youth/Reserve League Solution2008

Women's National League 2008

My Football Club Rollout 2008

National Skills Test 2008

Targeted Coach Program 2008

Football Development

Benefits of SSGSmall Sided Games are played and endorsed throughout; England, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, Germany, France, Korea, USA, Capital Football, Football Northern Territory and Ku-ring-gai DSA to name a few.

The demonstrated benefits of SSG’s over the 11 v 11 game based on observational research of existing successful SSG models can be seen below;

• Far more repeated touches of the ball by all players• More touches throughout all areas of the pitch• More passes attempted and in a forward direction• More attacking 1v1s, final third and penalty area entries• Repeated decision making experience• The ball is in play far more

Benefits of SSG• Repeated experience of basic tactical situations• Active participation is directly related to increased fitness and enjoyment• More experience in all phases of the game. There is less hiding or dominant player hogging the ball. Every child has to participate in all facets of the game, attack and defend. The emphasis is on PLAYER DEVELOPMENT• Better success rate leads to improved quality of play, self esteem and player retention• The game is easier to understand• Freedom of expression – no positions in early stages• Less perceived stress on the player• 80% of children believed that they touched the ball more often in the small-sided game• Less perceived pressure from coaches and parents• Children enjoyed the progressive and sequential game formats

StatisticsSmall Sided Games studies of young football players in England, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, Germany, France, Korea and USA provided the following information between 4 v 4, 7 v 7 & 11 v 11;

• Players touch ball five times more in 4 v4, 50 % more in 7 v 7 than in 11 v 11• Players attempted three times more 1 v 1’s in 4 v 4, two times more 1 v 1’s in 7 v 7 than in 11 v 11• Goals scored on average every 1.5 mins. in 4 v 4, 3.6 mins. in 7 v 7 & 8 mins in 11 v 11• Technical skills performed by a goalkeeper is between two & four times more in 7 v 7 than in 11 v 11• Ball is out of play 8% of the match in 4 v 4, 14% in 7 v 7 and 34% in 11 v 11

Playing FormatsUnder 6• Numbers: 4 v 4 • Field Size: 30m x 20m• Markings: Markers or painted line markings• Penalty Area: Nil• Goal Size: Minimum 1.80m x 0.90m

Maximum 2.00m x 1.00m• Goal Type: Markers, Poles, Goals• Ball Size: Size 3• Goalkeeper: No• Playing Time: 30 minutes (2 x 15 minutes)• Half Time: 5 minutes• Referee: Game Leader• Competition: No

Field Set-upUnder 6Six to eight SSG pitches per full size pitch if required. SSG pitches to the correct dimensions can also be set-up on existing smaller fields or open grass areas.

Playing Formats

Under 7 & 8• Numbers: 5 v 5 • Field Size: 30m x 20m• Markings: Markers or painted line markings• Penalty Area: Nil• Goal Size: Minimum 1.80m x 0.90m

Maximum 2.00m x 1.00m• Goal Type: Markers, Poles, Goals• Ball Size: Size 3 • Goalkeeper: No• Playing Time: 40 minutes (2 x 20 minutes)• Half Time: 5 minutes• Referee: Game Leader• Competition: No

Field Set-upUnder 7 & 8Six to eight SSG pitches per full size pitch if required. SSG pitches to the correct dimensions can also be set-up on existing smaller fields or open grass areas.

Playing FormatsUnder 9 & 10• Numbers: 7 v 7 • Field Size: 40m x 30m• Markings: Markers or painted line markings• Penalty Area: 8m length x 16m width• Goal Size: Minimum 4.80m x 1.60m

Maximum 5.00m x 2.00m• Goal Type: Markers, Poles, Goals• Ball Size: Size 3 • Goalkeeper: Yes• Playing Time: 50 minutes (2 x 25 minutes)• Half Time: 5 minutes• Referee: Instructing Referee• Competition: No

Field Set-upUnder 9 & 10Two to four SSG pitches per full size pitch if required. SSG pitches to the correct dimensions can also be set-up on existing smaller fields or open grass areas.

Playing Formats

Under 11 & 12• Numbers: 9 v 9 • Field Size: 60m x 40m• Markings: Markers or painted line markings• Penalty Area: 8m length x 16m width• Goal Size: Minimum 4.80m x 1.60m

Maximum 5.00m x 2.00m• Goal Type: Markers, Poles, Goals• Ball Size: Size 4 • Goalkeeper: Yes• Playing Time: 60 minutes (2 x 30 minutes)• Half Time: 7.5 minutes• Referee: Instructing Referee• Competition: Optional

Field Set-up

Under 11 & 12Two SSG pitches per full size pitch if required. SSG pitches to the correct dimensions can also be set-up on existing smaller fields or open grass areas.

SSG Playing Format Summary

Format Under 6 Under 7 & 8 Under 9 & 10 Under 11 &12

Numbers 4 v 4 5 v 5 7 v 7 9 v 9

Field Size 30m x 20m 30m x 20m 40m x 30m 60m x 40m

Field Markings

Markers or painted line markings

Markers or painted line markings

Markers or painted line markings

Markers or painted line markings

Penalty Area

Nil Nil 8m length x 16m width

8m length x 16m width

Goal Size Min: 1.80m x 0.90mMax: 2.00m x 1.00m

Min: 1.80m x 0.90mMax: 2.00m x 1.00m

Min: 4.80m x 1.60mMax: 5.00m x 2.00m

Min: 4.80m x 1.60mMax: 5.00m x 2.00m

Goal Type Markers, Poles, Goals

Markers, Poles, Goals

Markers, Poles, Goals

Markers, Poles, Goals

Ball Size Size 3 Size 3 Size 3 Size 4

Goalkeeper No No Yes Yes

Playing Time

2 x 15 minutes 2 x 20 minutes 2 x 25 minutes 2 x 30 minutes

Half Time Break

5 minutes 5 minutes 5 minutes 7.5 minutes

Referee Game Leader Game Leader Instructing Referee

Instructing Referee

Competition No No No Optional

ImplementationA progressed implementation plan:

• 2008 – A selected number of Zones and Associations in the Under 6 and / or 7 & 8 year age group, that can be successfully informed, educated and rolled out with current Member Federations staffing and resources.(Member Federations more progressed in SSG may vary to increasing to more or all zones / associations and age groups)

For subsequent years:

• 2009 - Under 6, 7, 8 in all Associations in each Member Federation• 2010 - Under 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10 in all Associations in each Member Federation• 2011 - Under 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12 in all Associations in each Member Federation

Role of Member Federation

Member Federations and FFA State Based Staff will be responsible for the education process of Zones / Associations implementing SSG in 2008 and beyond.

Member Federations will appoint or redirect a staff member or department to facilitate the implementation of SSG in 2008 and beyond.

Member Federations and FFA State Based Staff will co-ordinate an Information Session for Zones / Associations implementing SSG in 2008. This may also require regional visits as needed.

Education ProcessMember Federations and FFA state based Staff as required will co-ordinate an Information Session for each Zone / Association and club representatives implementing SSG in 2008.

FFA will provide a dedicated SSG Handbook and DVD dedicated for each Zone / Association and club. The content will include;

• Why the move to SSG• Officials, Coaches, Managers, Parents and Volunteers education• Playing Formats• Rules• Field Layouts and set-up• Varying Implementation Methods at Zone / Association level• Role of Referee• Codes of Conduct

Role of Zone / AssociationZones / Associations will determine how SSG will be implemented into their current structures. Club delegates may be consulted to ensure the decision is practical and accepted. The following methods are a guide and may vary in use between the SSG age groups;

• Club V Club (Capital Football, Football NT)• Zone / Association hubs featuring a group of clubs coming to the one venue (KDSA)• Intra Club (Capital Football)

As an example Zones / Associations may decide that Under 6 football is intra club only and from Under 7 upwards play club v club on a weekly basis.

Education Process

Zones / Associations will facilitate the change to SSG and be responsible for the education of clubs in the following ways;

• Information session on SSG Formats and Implementation for club delegates, administrators and coach co-ordinator’s.• Distribute SSG Handbook, SSG DVD and on line educational resources to clubs• Adopt, promote and distribute SSG philosophy, formats and playing conditions for each SSG age group in a staged roll out• Set age group draws and venues • Conduct competitions

Role of ClubsEstablish and conduct SSG Formats for each age group in line with directive from Member Federation / Zone / Associations i.e., club v club, zone / association hubs, Intra Club or a combination of all.

Ensure equipment is in line with SSG Formats for each age group and implementation method;• Goal type and size – markers / poles suggested Under 6 – 8 and goals suggested Under 9 &10 and 11 & 12• Field markings – markers suggested for ease of field transfer

Register and form teams within each age group with a designated coach / manager / supervisor

Appoint coaching co-ordinator and SSG venue co-ordinator or committee responsible for SSG coach education, game day program, ground set-up and changeover.

Education ProcessConduct SSG practical and education sessions using the SSG handbook and DVD for coaches, managers, volunteers and parents prior to commencement of season.

Coaching Co-ordinator provide continual education and advice to coach / manager / parents on philosophy and training methods that compliment and are specific to SSG formats.

Ensure SSG philosophy, formats, playing conditions and codes of conduct are promoted throughout the club websites, newsletters, canteens and notice boards.