OPENING THE ONIONTRAINING GAMES TO BUILD SPATIAL AWARENESS
TOM TURNER
OHIO YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION NORTH
SPRING 2014
INTRODUCTION
THE TWO MAIN CHALLENGES FACING YOUTH SOCCER COACHES GENERALLY RELATE TO
IMPROVING THEIR PLAYERS’ COMFORT LEVEL WITH THE BALL AND HELPING THEM SPREAD OUT.
THIS PRESENTATION PROVIDES A TACTICAL PATHWAY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPATIAL
AWARENESS, WHICH SHOULD BE SEEN AS A LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENTAL CONTINUUM
BEGINNING WITH YOUNG PLAYERS RUNNING AROUND IN A CLUSTER AND ENDING WITH
PURPOSEFUL POSITIONAL PLAY IN 11-A-SIDE SOCCER – A PROCESS ANALOGOUS TO SLOWLY
PEELING BACK THE LAYERS OF AN ONION.
THE MARCH FROM “MOB BALL” TO PURPOSEFUL POSITIONAL PLAY TAKES MANY YEARS AND WILL
EVOLVE MORE SLOWLY, OR MORE RAPIDLY, OR NOT AT ALL, BASED ON THE QUALITY OF THE
COACHING AND THE MOTIVATION OF THE PLAYERS.
INTRODUCTION
GOOD COACHES BUILD SKILLS AND TACTICAL UNDERSTANDING AND HAVE THE PATIENCE TO
ACCEPT MISTAKES AS ESSENTIAL TO THE LEARNING PROCESS. THEY WORK WITH THE BEGINNER
WITH THE VISION OF THE COMPETENT MATURE PLAYER IN MIND.
THE MOST IMPORTANT FOUNDATIONAL SKILL IN SOCCER IS DRIBBLING: IF EACH PLAYER, IN TURN,
CAN MAINTAIN POSSESSION BY DRIBBLING THE BALL AWAY FROM, OR PAST PRESSURE, THE TEAM
(SMALL OR LARGE) CAN KEEP THE BALL AND CREATE SCORING CHANCES.
THE NEXT KEY SKILLS ARE PASSING AND RECEIVING, WHICH DETERMINE HOW FAR APART
TEAMMATES WILL SPACE AND HOW QUICKLY THE MOB WILL START TO TAKE ON A RECOGNIZABLE
SOCCER SHAPE. IN TIME, “SUPPORTING” EVOLVES INTO “SPACING” AND SPACING EVOLVES INTO
“TWO LINES” (FRONT AND BACK) AND TWO LINES EVOLVES INTO “TEAM PLAY” IN THREE LINES.
INTRODUCTION
DURING ANY SOCCER GAME, MOST OF THE OPEN SPACE IS FOUND AT THE BACK OF THE TEAM
AND ON THE SIDE OPPOSITE FROM THE BALL. THE SIMPLEST ROUTE FORWARD IS OFTEN FOUND BY
DRIBBLING THE BALL AWAY FROM PRESSURE AND PASSING BACKWARDS OR SIDEWAYS AWAY
FROM THE PACK OF TEAMMATES AND OPPONENTS.
EMOTIONALLY, THE MOST CONFLICTING TACTICAL OPTION FOR WIN-ORIENTED COACHES IS
ENCOURAGING YOUNG PLAYERS TO PASS BACKWARDS OR SIDEWAYS AWAY FROM PRESSURE IN
ORDER TO FIND OPEN SPACE. WHEN SUCCESSIVE WIN-ORIENTED COACHES PERPETUATE NO-RISK
TACTICS FROM U6-U8-U10-U12-U14 TO HIGH SCHOOL, THE END PRODUCT IS PREDICTABLE.
THE TABLE ON THE NEXT SLIDE PROVIDES A DEVELOPMENTAL ROAD MAP FOR PURPOSEFUL
POSITIONAL PLAY. THE “TYPICAL” AGES CAN VARY WIDELY.
SPATIAL AWARENESS MARKERS
SPATIAL AWARENESS MARKERS
NONE(Typically U6)
PLAYERS ON BOTH TEAMS COMPETE FOR THE SAME BALL.
LEVEL ONE(Typically U8)
PLAYERS START TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE BALL.
LEVEL TWO(Typically U8 – U10)
PLAYERS START TO DEMONSTRATE AWARENESS OF
WIDTH AND DEPTH AND MOBILITY.
LEVEL THREE(Typically U10)
PLAYERS START TO DEMONSTRATE AWARENESS OF
POSITIONAL PLAY IN TWO LINES (BACK-FRONT).
LEVEL FOUR(Typically U12)
PLAYERS START TO DEMONSTRATE AWARENESS OF
POSITIONAL PLAY IN THREE LINES (BACK-MIDDLE-FRONT).
LEVEL FIVE(Typically U14+)
PLAYERS DEMONSTATE PURPOSEFUL POSITIONAL PLAY IN
11-A-SIDE SYSTEMS (i.e., 4-3-3).
PHASES OF PLAY
SOCCER IS A GAME OF TURN-OVERS WHICH
NATURALLY CONNECT TO CREATE A CYCLE
OF TACTICAL SITUATIONS, OR PHASES OF
PLAY. THE FOUR BASIC PHASES OF PLAY ARE
SHOWN ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDE.
COACHES WHO USE TRAINING GAMES THAT
NATURALLY FLOW BETWEEN GOALS ARE
MORE EFFECTIVE IN TEACHING YOUNG
PLAYERS TO UNDERSTAND SOCCER THAN
THOSE WHO FAVOR REPETITIVE DRILLS.
We Have the Ball
“Build-Up / Attack”
We Win the Ball
“Counter-Attack”We Lose the Ball
“Defend Counter”
They Have the Ball
“Recover Possession”
PHASES OF PLAY
7
“OPENING THE ONION”
THE REMAINDER OF THE
PRESENTATION OFFERS EXAMPLES OF
TRAINING ACTIVITIES USED TO
SUPPORT EACH LEVEL OF
DEVELOPMENT. THE INCLUSION OF
ADULTS PLAYING “WITH” YOUNG
CHILDREN HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT,
NOT ONLY ON THE SPEED OF
DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO ON THE
EFFICIENCY OF PRACTICE TIME WITH
REGARD TO RESTARTING PLAY WHEN
THE BALL HAS GONE OUT OF BOUNDS.
LEVEL ONE
GROWING SPATIAL AWARENESS IN YOUNG OR INEXPERIENCED PLAYERS IS FIRST DEMONSTRATED
BY THOSE WHO MOVE AWAY FROM THE TEAMMATE WITH THE BALL. THIS SUPPORTING DISTANCE
MAY ONLY BE A FEW YARDS.
PLAYERS AS YOUNG AS FIVE AND SIX WILL MOVE FURTHER AWAY FROM AN ADULT “TEAMMATE”
BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THE BALL CAN BE PASSED OVER A LONGER DISTANCE. THIS
OBSERVATION HAS SIGNIFICANT IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PRACTICE GAMES.
TO MAXIMIZE THE DEVELOPMENT (TECHNICAL/TACTICAL REPETITION) AND ENJOYMENT
(PERCEIVED AS FUN) OF LEVEL ONE PLAYERS, PRACTICE GAMES SHOULD GENERALLY NOT INCLUDE
MORE THAN THREE SAME-AGE PLAYERS ON THE SAME TEAM (3V3).
Moving Away From The Ball
Moving Away From The Ball
Moving Away From The Ball
Moving Away From The Ball
Moving Away From The Ball
Moving Away From The Ball
LEVEL TWO
THE SECOND LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY CHALLENGES PLAYERS TO DEVELOP AN AWARENESS OF HOW
TO OPEN SPACE BETWEEN THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE TEAM (THE PRINCIPLE OF DEPTH) AND
HOW TO OPEN UP SPACE TO THE SIDES (THE PRINCIPLE OF WIDTH).
ALSO EMERGING AT THIS TIME IS PURPOSEFUL MOVEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE BALL AS THE
GAME TRANSITIONS FROM DEFENSE TO ATTACK (THE PRINCIPLE OF MOBILITY).
TO MAXIMIZE THE DEVELOPMENT (TECHNICAL/TACTICAL REPETITION) AND ENJOYMENT
(PERCEIVED AS FUN) OF LEVEL TWO PLAYERS, PRACTICE GAMES SHOULD GENERALLY NOT INCLUDE
MORE THAN FOUR SAME-AGE PLAYERS ON THE SAME TEAM (4V4).
Width, Depth and Movement
Width, Depth and Movement
Width, Depth and Movement
Width, Depth and Movement
Width, Depth and Movement
Width, Depth and Movement
Width, Depth and Movement
LEVEL THREE
THE TYPICAL U10 PLAYER WILL BE CAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING THAT A TEAM HAS “POSITIONS”
AND MOST WILL BE CAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PLAYING AT THE
BACK AND PLAYING AT THE FRONT. GOOD COACHES WILL DEVELOP PLAYERS WHO ARE
COMFORTABLE IN EITHER ROLE AND ENSURE “GOALKEEPERS” ARE ALSO CAPABLE FIELD PLAYERS.
AT THIS LEVEL, THE TECHNICAL RANGE OF THE PLAYERS WILL LARGELY DETERMINE THE QUALITY
OF THE SPACING AND THE ROLE OF THE COACH CAN OFTEN START TO EVOLVE FROM BASIC IDEAS
ABOUT SPACING TO IDEAS ON HOW TO PLAY FASTER IN COMBINATION WITH TEAMMATES.
PRACTICE GAMES FOR LEVEL 3 PLAYERS WILL TYPICALLY RANGE BETWEEN 1V1 AND 6V6.
KEY ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES
THERE ARE TWO KEY PRINCIPLES THAT SHAPE THE TACTICAL MOVEMENT OF PLAYERS.
MOBILITY AND BALANCE
“MOBILITY” IS THE CONCEPT THAT PLAYERS HAVE TO MOVE WITHIN THEIR LINE (BACK, MIDDLE OR
FRONT) AND BETWEEN THE LINES TO FIND OPEN SPACES TO SUPPORT THE BALL. MOBILITY ALSO
RELATES TO THE IDEA THAT, WHEN ATTACKING, PLAYERS FROM THE BACK OF THE TEAM MUST
MOVE FORWARD TO SUPPORT THE PLAYERS AT THE FRONT OF THE TEAM.
KEY ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES
THE SECOND PRINCIPLE UNDERPINNING PLAYER-MOVEMENT IS BALANCE.
“BALANCE” RELATES TO THE ORGANIZATION OF PLAYERS WHEN TEAMMATES FROM THE SAME
LINE MOVE LATERALLY OR VERTICALLY TO SUPPORT THE BALL OR ATTACK OFFSIDE SPACE.
CLEARLY, NOT EVERY PLAYER CAN GO FORWARD AT ONCE. IN PART, BECAUSE THE TEAM WOULD
HAVE NO DEPTH TO HELP CIRCULATE THE BALL; AND, IN PART, BECAUSE THE TEAM WOULD HAVE
NO ORGANIZATION TO DEFEND WHEN THE BALL IT TURNED OVER.
Width, Depth and Mobility
Width, Depth and Movement
Width, Depth and Movement
Width, Depth and Mobility
Width, Depth and Movement
Width, Depth and Mobility
Developing “Lines”
Developing “Lines”
LEVEL FOUR
APPLIED POSITIONAL AWARENESS AT LEVEL FOUR IS A FUNCTION OF MATURATION, SKILL,
COACHING AND EXPERIENCE. IRONICALLY, THE ABILITY TO PLAY IN TWO AND THREE LINES IS
DEPENDENT ON TWO VERY BASIC TACTICAL CONCEPTS DEVELOPED IN LEVELS ONE AND TWO.
THESE CONCEPTS ARE SHOWN ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDES.
PRACTICE GAMES FOR LEVEL FOUR PLAYERS WILL TYPICALLY RANGE BETWEEN 1V1 AND 8V8.
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN TWO PLAYERS
IN ORDER TO EXCHANGE THE BALL UNDER PRESSURE, TWO PLAYERS MUST READ THE SAME
TACTICAL CUES ON WHERE TO RUN AND WHEN TO PASS THE BALL.
READING A TEAMMATES’ MOVEMENT
PLAYERS FROM THE SAME LINE MUST UNDERSTAND WHEN TO MOVE TO SUPPORT THE BALL
AND WHEN TO STAY IN A SPACE / POSITION AWAY FROM THE BALL.
Developing Ball Cirulation
Developing Ball Circulation
Developing Ball Circulation
Developing Ball Circulation
LEVEL FIVE
EFFECTIVELY COACHING TEENAGE PLAYERS WHO HAVE DEVELOPED TECHNICAL AND TACTICAL
COMPETENCE REQUIRES A CLEAR VISION OF HOW A TEAM SHOULD PLAY TOGETHER.
THE COACH MUST HAVE THE SKILLS AND PERSONALITY TO SHAPE THE COLLECTIVE THINKING OF
THE INDIVIDUALS WITH THE TEAM; AND BE COMPETENT IN A WIDE RANGE OF RELATED FIELDS,
SUCH AS EXERCISE SCIENCE AND SPORT PSYCHOLOGY.
COACHING ADVANCED PLAYERS DEMANDS AN ADVANCED UNDERSTANDING OF SOCCER.
THE BASIC PHASES OF PLAY, OUTLINED ON SLIDE SEVEN, MUST BE EXPANDED TO FULLY EXPLAIN
THE RANGE OF POSSIBLE MATCH SITUATIONS. THE DIAGRAM ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDE OUTLINES
THE TACTICAL FRAMEWORK FOR TRAINING ADVANCED PLAYERS.
Possession, Style and the Phases of Play
Counter-Attacking
Building vs High
Restraining Line
Building vs Medium
Restraining Line
Building vs Deep
Restraining Line
Attacking Restarts Defensive Restarts
Bunkering
Defending From
Behind A Line Of
Confrontation
Pressing
Defending Against The
Counter-Attack
Attacking Defending
PHASES OF PLAY - EXPANDED
W
e
H
a
v
e
T
h
e
B
a
l
l
T
h
e
y
H
a
v
e
T
h
e
B
a
l
l
Moving Away From The Ball
Developing Three Lines
Developing Three Lines
Developing Three Lines
Playing in the Attacking Half