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Quicky asked me to post my coaching philosophy, which is pasted below, but this thread is for anyone to comment on football philosophy.
In my Premier League coaching days I used to put the boys through football university. What follows is their reading homework. REdaing it just now it's a little dated but the basic principles regarding time and space remain relevant.
FOOTBALL UNIVERSITY
The Mission
To have the entire Premier League squad thinking and playing the same way, and to achieve substantial strategic and skills improvement in every player.
The Basic Goals
(A) To have every player conscious of team shape.
(B) To have every player working in unison to achieve the two basic objectives:
in defence – to win the ball
in possession – to create time on the ball in the opposition third
(C) To have every player conscious of his technical weaknesses and working on a personal plan to turn them into strengths.
(D) To have every player inspired by the concept of the “team brain” and playing in accordance with the concept of “intelligent competitiveness”.
The Method
To practice drills which are specifically tailored towards achievement of the above goals – with an emphasis on explaining what is being targeted. Every player undertaking a drill should be able to explain the point of the drill and how it links with the Basic Goals.
Competition within the squad can be facilitated by dividing the entire squad into four man teams and having them compete against each other for an ultimate prize. The teams within the squad concept enhances the goal of the entire squad thinking and playing the same way, as it makes no distinction in terms of which team a player is selected in each week; ie, there should be both squad training and team training every week.
The four man teams should be created by rating every player as A, B, C or D (without letting them know) and then putting them all together with one from each category. The teams will compete for points every week at training (including attendance – to put pressure on each other to turn up). Possibly, every player could contribute a small amount to a pot to be competed for.
Points will be allocated on a basis to be determined, but will emphasise attendance, technical improvement, understanding, and competitiveness. There will also be a mini tournament throughout the year of ten minute games. The games will be three touch, with free kicks for taking more than three touches.
The Drills
There should be certain basic drills which are repeated every week. These drills could take the form of warm up and should be self directed by the four man teams (on squad training night). The emphasis of these warm up drills should be:
stretching
fitness
ball control
three-on-one grids
More advanced drills could be used on an occasional basis to promote:
basic strategy and planning
advanced ball skills
Team Training – Debrief
At the team training session (separate from the squad session), we should always commence with a debrief about the previous game. Every player should be able to contribute in terms of both personal and team performance, making reference to how the team played with regard to the Basic Goals and how the individual played in reference to his personal plan.
The Plan – (Time and Space)
The game of football is simple – when we have the ball, we pass and move into space in accordance with some basic principles as follows:
Everything starts from the back. When we get the ball we want to create time to do something with it. It is always easiest to create time and space at the back. We need time and space to keep the ball and to do something with it.
So…every time we win the ball, unless there is immediate opportunity to move forward, we always look for time and space behind. This gives our whole team time to transition from defensive shape into attacking shape.
Once we are ready to move forward, the plan is to find time and space in the other team’s half, and eventually, in their box…time and space to shoot.
The key is team shape and movement.
Defensive shape means getting (almost) everyone between the ball and our goal.
Attacking shape means everyone is using as much of the pitch as possible – to expand the playing area to create time and space for ourselves and so that the other team will have to run further to win the ball from us.
Moving forward
We start from the back – finding time and space wide, although a Centre Mid should drop for the ball centrally now and then to prevent our wide play becoming too predictable.
From there, there must always be people moving into space creating options short and long, and wide and square. Always give the ball to someone with more space (and therefore time) than you, then move to where you might receive the ball back.
Unless an opportunity presents itself (through the failure of the other team to patrol their own key spaces) our second objective is to create time and space wide, and just inside the attacking half. This is the launch pad for most attacks because, from here, one pass can be devastating.
Of course, time and space will be constricted from here because all players are squeezed within one half and tackling gets more desperate as the ball comes closer to the danger zone. There must be options line and square, and from here movement is the key to unlocking the defence. We should always want the ball back in the other team’s half. The pass back the way it came is frequently the killer ball approaching the danger zone. Wherever possible, send two or three men against one.
At the edge of the danger zone (ie, the final third…or within shooting distance) our first option should be trying to get in behind the defence to hit the hard low cross into the path of oncoming strikers. Our second option is to look for the inside channel runners who will be looking either to shoot or to knock square. Our third option is going wide and then hitting a cross.
We do not shoot from outside 20 metres…it is too low percentage. We keep the ball until a better option presents.
When shooting, we always pick our spot…we do not just blast and hope. Look at the ball when you shoot. The ball is much more likely to behave as you wish if you watch the ball as you hit it.
Learn how to beat the first man – pace is best but trickery can be learned. There are some easy drills that will give you confidence. If you beat the first man you immediately put your team at an advantage as at least one man is now out of position and the whole opposing team must scramble to adjust. It is always easiest to score against a team out of shape.
Losing the ball
If you lose the ball, it is YOUR JOB to get it back. It is always easiest to win the ball back within seconds of losing it; ie before the other team can establish time and space.
It is everyone else’s job to transition instantly into defensive shape; ie, get between the ball and our goal to shrink the distances between our players and to make our danger zone difficult for the other team to navigate. If we do this, then 99 times out of a 100, it will be too hard for the other team to score.
A basic tactic to win the ball back is to always herd the other team towards the sideline. If someone is looking to get past you always show him the line (ie, step inside to make going outside a more attractive option for the enemy) to constrict his available space and set him up for a second defender. If our second defender knows you are going to do this, it is much easier for us to win the ball.
Always listen to the man behind you and do as he says. He can see you in the game – you can’t. If we all see the game the same way then the advice he gives will be the same as you would give yourself.
Remember to enjoy the game. If you don't enjoy it you shouldn't be playing.
In my Premier League coaching days I used to put the boys through football university. What follows is their reading homework. REdaing it just now it's a little dated but the basic principles regarding time and space remain relevant.
FOOTBALL UNIVERSITY
The Mission
To have the entire Premier League squad thinking and playing the same way, and to achieve substantial strategic and skills improvement in every player.
The Basic Goals
(A) To have every player conscious of team shape.
(B) To have every player working in unison to achieve the two basic objectives:
in defence – to win the ball
in possession – to create time on the ball in the opposition third
(C) To have every player conscious of his technical weaknesses and working on a personal plan to turn them into strengths.
(D) To have every player inspired by the concept of the “team brain” and playing in accordance with the concept of “intelligent competitiveness”.
The Method
To practice drills which are specifically tailored towards achievement of the above goals – with an emphasis on explaining what is being targeted. Every player undertaking a drill should be able to explain the point of the drill and how it links with the Basic Goals.
Competition within the squad can be facilitated by dividing the entire squad into four man teams and having them compete against each other for an ultimate prize. The teams within the squad concept enhances the goal of the entire squad thinking and playing the same way, as it makes no distinction in terms of which team a player is selected in each week; ie, there should be both squad training and team training every week.
The four man teams should be created by rating every player as A, B, C or D (without letting them know) and then putting them all together with one from each category. The teams will compete for points every week at training (including attendance – to put pressure on each other to turn up). Possibly, every player could contribute a small amount to a pot to be competed for.
Points will be allocated on a basis to be determined, but will emphasise attendance, technical improvement, understanding, and competitiveness. There will also be a mini tournament throughout the year of ten minute games. The games will be three touch, with free kicks for taking more than three touches.
The Drills
There should be certain basic drills which are repeated every week. These drills could take the form of warm up and should be self directed by the four man teams (on squad training night). The emphasis of these warm up drills should be:
stretching
fitness
ball control
three-on-one grids
More advanced drills could be used on an occasional basis to promote:
basic strategy and planning
advanced ball skills
Team Training – Debrief
At the team training session (separate from the squad session), we should always commence with a debrief about the previous game. Every player should be able to contribute in terms of both personal and team performance, making reference to how the team played with regard to the Basic Goals and how the individual played in reference to his personal plan.
The Plan – (Time and Space)
The game of football is simple – when we have the ball, we pass and move into space in accordance with some basic principles as follows:
Everything starts from the back. When we get the ball we want to create time to do something with it. It is always easiest to create time and space at the back. We need time and space to keep the ball and to do something with it.
So…every time we win the ball, unless there is immediate opportunity to move forward, we always look for time and space behind. This gives our whole team time to transition from defensive shape into attacking shape.
Once we are ready to move forward, the plan is to find time and space in the other team’s half, and eventually, in their box…time and space to shoot.
The key is team shape and movement.
Defensive shape means getting (almost) everyone between the ball and our goal.
Attacking shape means everyone is using as much of the pitch as possible – to expand the playing area to create time and space for ourselves and so that the other team will have to run further to win the ball from us.
Moving forward
We start from the back – finding time and space wide, although a Centre Mid should drop for the ball centrally now and then to prevent our wide play becoming too predictable.
From there, there must always be people moving into space creating options short and long, and wide and square. Always give the ball to someone with more space (and therefore time) than you, then move to where you might receive the ball back.
Unless an opportunity presents itself (through the failure of the other team to patrol their own key spaces) our second objective is to create time and space wide, and just inside the attacking half. This is the launch pad for most attacks because, from here, one pass can be devastating.
Of course, time and space will be constricted from here because all players are squeezed within one half and tackling gets more desperate as the ball comes closer to the danger zone. There must be options line and square, and from here movement is the key to unlocking the defence. We should always want the ball back in the other team’s half. The pass back the way it came is frequently the killer ball approaching the danger zone. Wherever possible, send two or three men against one.
At the edge of the danger zone (ie, the final third…or within shooting distance) our first option should be trying to get in behind the defence to hit the hard low cross into the path of oncoming strikers. Our second option is to look for the inside channel runners who will be looking either to shoot or to knock square. Our third option is going wide and then hitting a cross.
We do not shoot from outside 20 metres…it is too low percentage. We keep the ball until a better option presents.
When shooting, we always pick our spot…we do not just blast and hope. Look at the ball when you shoot. The ball is much more likely to behave as you wish if you watch the ball as you hit it.
Learn how to beat the first man – pace is best but trickery can be learned. There are some easy drills that will give you confidence. If you beat the first man you immediately put your team at an advantage as at least one man is now out of position and the whole opposing team must scramble to adjust. It is always easiest to score against a team out of shape.
Losing the ball
If you lose the ball, it is YOUR JOB to get it back. It is always easiest to win the ball back within seconds of losing it; ie before the other team can establish time and space.
It is everyone else’s job to transition instantly into defensive shape; ie, get between the ball and our goal to shrink the distances between our players and to make our danger zone difficult for the other team to navigate. If we do this, then 99 times out of a 100, it will be too hard for the other team to score.
A basic tactic to win the ball back is to always herd the other team towards the sideline. If someone is looking to get past you always show him the line (ie, step inside to make going outside a more attractive option for the enemy) to constrict his available space and set him up for a second defender. If our second defender knows you are going to do this, it is much easier for us to win the ball.
Always listen to the man behind you and do as he says. He can see you in the game – you can’t. If we all see the game the same way then the advice he gives will be the same as you would give yourself.
Remember to enjoy the game. If you don't enjoy it you shouldn't be playing.
