FA Level 2 Skill of Creating Space

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FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LEVEL 2 COACHING

Improve the Skill of Creating Space FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LEVEL 2

Improve the Skill of Creating Space

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INTRODUCTION Mike Trusson, who is a very experienced Football Association Level 2 Tutor and has tutored on over 50 Level 2 Courses, has written the content for the Skill of Creating Space. Mike is also the owner of www.grassrootscoaching.com which has over 300 animated, interactive 3D coaching sessions and a comprehensive section on the FA level 2 practical coaching curriculum with videos and downloadable PDF’s. The graphical content has been designed using Coaches Chalkboard, which is a very simple to use online football training planning software tool, which is available FREE at www.grassrootscoaching.com/freefootballcoaching/ WHAT IS A SKILL A skill is a progression from the technique. The technique is unopposed, allowing the players to develop their techniques and confidence in performing these techniques successfully without pressure from opposition players. The skill session introduces opposition players to create pressure, not only on the players’ technique, but on their decision making now that they are under pressure from opposition players. So for example, the Skill of Creating Space now introduces opposition players that will try and close space down. The players will have to not only employ the Techniques of Creating Space that they learnt and practiced in the Technique of Creating Space, but be able to make the right decisions under pressure on when, how and why they would use these techniques when opposition players are trying to pressure the ball and space. PROGRESSIONS Ideally a coach would have coached the Technique of Creating Space prior to coaching the Skill of Creating Space. The progression would be to play a small sided game with the coaching focus on improving Creating Space in a Small Sided Game. There are E Books available covering the Technique, Skill and Small sided games for all the FA Level 2 Practical Curriculum.

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1. ORGANISATION. Suggested area size. Inside area 35 x

20 yards. Circle areas of approximately 5 yards

in diameter as per graphic 2 x 5yard goals positioned at either

end, 10 yards outside of the area Play 7 attackers v 3 defenders, one ball Defenders are conditioned initially NOT

to go into any of the circles to defend. Adjust the size of the area to suit the

age, ability and number of players. The practice can be adjusted for 8 - 14

players

EQUIPMENT

Supply of footballs, cones to mark out areas and bibs. PURPOSE

To improve the Skill of Creating Space

2. START The ball starts with one player in the

attacking team The 7 attackers must look to keep the

ball away from the 3 defenders. Using the circle / space zones whenever they can

The objective of the practice is for the 7 attacking players to keep possession and to pass to a player in 4 different circles, then try and score a goal.

If defenders win the ball they can try and score in either of the goals

If ball goes out of play the Coach serves a ball to an attacker

In this example, a player has made a run to one of the circles and called for the pass


3. FINDING SPACE AND CREATING

PASSING CHANNELS The player on the ball doesn’t have to

pass to a team mate in one of the circles, but if a player can move into one of the circles and a clear passing channel can be created to bypass defenders, then this might be the best passing decision.

Communication from the receiving player, both verbally and with hand gestures would help the decision making of the player on the ball

4. MORE THAN ONE PLAYER CREATING SPACE

Encourage players who haven’t been involved in the pass or receiving the ball to time and communicate their movement into the circles to find space away from the defenders

The player on the ball should always have more than one passing option to pass to players in space


5. PLAYERS ROTATE AND

CHANGE POSITIONS TO CREATE SPACE

Another way for players to create and find space and to confuse defenders is to rotate positions

In this example, one player has made a run out of the middle circle, leaving the space for another player to time and communicate their run into the space created

6. THINKING AND BEING ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE GAME

Players should try and be one step ahead and time their movement before the player receiving the ball actually receives the ball

Encourage players to think about not just where the ball is, but where it is going to be


7. SCORING

After the attacking team has passed 4 times to players in different circle zones, they can score a goal.

For the goal to count the final pass must be from one of the circle areas

If defenders win the ball, they can score in either goal at any time

If the ball goes out of play, the coach immediately serves a football back into the attacking team and play continues 8. CHALLENGE

In 3 minutes of continuous play, how many goals can the attacking team score

Deduct 2 goals if defenders win the ball and score

Rotate defenders with attacking players after each challenge

9. PROGRESS TO 6 ATTACKERS V 4 DEFENDERS

Progress the practice, keeping the same rules, to 6 attackers v 4 defenders

Defenders can now go into the circle zones to pressure the ball


10. CHANGING DIRECTION AND

CREATING SPACE WITH THE BALL

The progression of 4 defenders will make it harder for the attackers to create and find space and will challenge their decision making

One other way for players to create space is to create space with the ball, by turning, either when receiving the ball or when in possession of the ball

As the player with the ball turns, it will need to trigger a reaction from other players to move into space that the turn has created

11. KEY COACHING Early, timed movement to create and

find space away from defenders Creating clear passing channels away

from defenders, in space to receive a pass

Early movement, acting and thinking one step ahead to find space

More than one player to create and find space for the player on the ball

Communication between players, both verbally and with hand gestures

Clever movement to create space – checks away from defenders and check back. Check to the ball and spin away

Turning when receiving the ball and when on the ball to create space

Runs to create space for others by dragging defenders away

12. PROGRESSIONS Progress to 5 v 5 Progress to Small sided Game – Improve creating space

On the next 4 pages there is an FA level 2 Coaching Session Planner Template. Please feel free to print it out and use. You will need to complete the details relevant to your session and needs.


Coaching Session Planner

Candidate Coach

Date Produced

Coach Educator Time Available

Information on Players

No. of Player Age Ability Level

Medical Info.

Particular Needs

Information on Facilities and Resources

Location . Session Date

Facility Needs Goals, safe and suitable playing area. Toilets

Equipment Needs

Balls, bibs, cones, Poles for goals

Health & Safety

Check Players for injury and for personal health and safety. Suitable footwear, clothing, shin pads, jewellery, Complete pitch check and ensure first aid kit and mobile telephone are on site. Risk assessment carried out prior to session start.

Action Plan, Points from

previous Sessions:

Give good demonstrations and intervene as appropriate. Ask questions of players. Use Guide and Discovery style of coaching with players. Progress the practice to the players needs

Session Plan

Session Aim

To improve the Skill of Creating Space

Timings

Warm Up Activities

Gradual increase of warm up activities with the ball. Looking to increase the pace and intensity of the players movement to game intensity prior to the session. Looking to increase heart rate and blood flow. Also looking to tune the players in mentally to the upcoming session. Stretching of the main football muscle groups

10 minutes

Cool Down Activities

Gradual decrease of physical activity – run to jog to walk. Gentle stretching of the main muscle groups. Gravity led exercises to rid the body of lactic acid.

10 minutes


Session Plan

Session Title

Improve the Skill of Creating Space Timings

Key Technical Aspects/ Factors

Early, timed movement to create and find space away from defenders

Creating clear passing channels away from defenders, in space to receive a pass

Early movement, acting and thinking one step ahead to find space

More than one player to create and find space for the player on the ball

Communication between players, both verbally and with hand gestures

Clever movement to create space – checks away from defenders and check back. Check to the ball and spin away

Turning when receiving the ball and when on the ball to create space

Runs to create space for others by dragging defenders away

ORGANISATION

*Suggested area size. Inside area 35 x 20 yards. *Circle areas of approximately 5 yards in diameter as per graphic *2 x 5yard goals positioned at either end, 10 yards outside of the area *Play 7 attackers v 3 defenders, one ball *Defenders are conditioned initially NOT to go into any of the circles to defend. *Adjust the size of the area to suit the age, ability and number of players. *The practice can be adjusted for 8 - 14 players *The ball starts with one player in the attacking team

THE CHALLENGE AND PROGRESSIONS *The 7 attackers must look to keep the ball away from the 3 defenders. Using the circle / space zones whenever they can *The objective of the practice is for the 7 attacking players to keep possession and to pass to a player in 4 different circles, then try and score a goal. *If defenders win the ball they can try and score in either of the goals *If ball goes out of play the coach serves a ball to an attacker *Progress to 6 v 4 and 5 v 5, defenders can defend how they want


LTPD 4-Corner Model Outcomes

When planning your session you will need to consider what outcomes you are trying to achieve in relation to the 4-corner model. You should aspire to identify outcomes for all 4-corners for each of your sessions.

Technical

Passing

Receiving

Ball control

First time passing

Decisions

Defending

Linked play

Psychological

Imagination

Decision making

Confidence

Self Belief

Spatial awareness

Communication

Physical

Running

Turning

Balance

Agility

Changes of pace and direction

Social

Decision making

Fair play

Communication

Team work

Challenges

Development of the Session

Some players are struggling to cope with the session, how would you adapt it to make it more achievable for them.

Make the area bigger to give the players more space and time. Slow down the practice to walking pace, and then increase the pace, as the players get better. Spend more time on the technique with the players.

Some players are finding the session to easy, how would you adapt it to make it more demanding for them.

Progress to 6 v 4 and 5 v 5 quicker Make the area smaller Introduce the challenges sooner

Identify what sessions you would ideally have coached prior to this session

Short Passing

Identify what the session content might be for the next session.

Forward runs / forward passing


Coaching Session Self Evaluation

Candidate Coach Session date

Were the arrangements and organisation of the session appropriate?

Size and pitch appropriate for the age group. All equipment ready and organised

Was the health and safety of the environment and session maintained?

Risk assessment carried out prior to session start, no issues.

Did the session content deliver the outcomes of the 4-corner model?

Discussed with the players and let them come up with the answers, which they did very well?

Did the session content meet the player’s needs and expectations?

Pretty much. They can all master the technique of creating space. They need to focus on support movement and decision making

Was your coaching style and communication appropriate to the players?

I gave good clear instructions and used the EDI formula when coaching. I also asked players questions on their performance and used Guide and Discovery to help players find out their own solutions to problems

Did the player’s performance improve as expected?

There were improvements as individuals and as a group. Although one or two players need a bit more individual help

What feedback have you had from other people involved in the session?

I had pretty positive feedback from the players and the parents watching. I also asked a Level 2 qualified coach on their views and they were very positive about the session

If you were to coach this session again, what might you change?

I would have spent more time initially getting the pattern of the practice right, so that players understood what they were doing better. I could have stepped in and shown them this

The aim of the next session might be:

Forward runs / forward passing

Personal Action Plan: Particular points that you think you should address at the next/future sessions:

Progressed quicker to the challenges, which the players really enjoyed. Observe more and coach sometimes from good practice when players had done well, rather than from coach from mistakes.


PERSONAL NOTES:


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FA Level 2 Skill of Creating Space