FOUNDATION PHASE: THE ROMANCE (U-12)
Development of individual skills — individual and small group tactics:
The effect of the role model is very important at this stage of development. Hero worship,
identification with successful teams and players and a hunger for imaginative skills typify the
mentality of this age. This is a time of transition from self-centered to self-critical. Players of this
age have a high arousal level in relation to the training of basic skills. This is the “golden age of
learning” and the most important age for skill development. Demonstration is very important and
the players learn best “by doing.” This is also an important time to introduce and teach the basic
principles of play. It is important to establish discipline from the beginning.
Coach must be: A sensitive teacher, enthusiastic, possess soccer awareness, ability to
demonstrate or utilize someone who can paint a good picture (older player, assistant coach),
knowledge of the key factors of basic skills, give encouragement.
Technique: It is important to establish a good strong solid base. The coach must develop individual
skills under the pressure of time, space and an opponent and increase technical speed:
• Dribbling: Encourage risk taking. Teach moves to beat an opponent and to keep possession.
• Shielding: Spin turns, change of speed, change of direction.
• Receiving: Ground and air balls — all surfaces from a partner and on the move.
• Shooting: Proper striking technique, partner serve from all angles, turns, cut backs, volleys.
• Passing: Emphasize the proper technique by using the laces; inside and outside of the foot
and short and long crossing.
• Heading: Start with self serve, then add a partner to serve. Teach jumping to head, turning
the ball and partner juggling.
• Tackling: Teach the proper technique with emphasis on balance and having no fear.
Tactics: The dawn of tactical awareness
• Individual: Start with 1 v. 1 situations in attack and defense. Play 1 v. 1 frequently.
• Small Group: Continue with 2 v. 1, 2 v. 2, 3 v. 1, 3 v. 2, 3 v. 3, 4 v. 2, 4 v. 3, 4 v. 4.
• Positions: Players must play a variety of positions. They must develop an awareness of the
game. Emphasize the complete player and the basic principles of play
• Attacking: Encourage keeping possession and risk taking. Have players take opponents on
1 v. 1 in proper areas of the field. Teach the concept of support, basic combination play
(wall pass, takeover). Promote attacking soccer.
• Defending: Emphasize the proper pressure both in front and behind. Teach the concepts of
channeling the player, immediate chase, cover and marking.
• Team: Team tactics do not take priority at this age. Focus is placed on maintaining balance
and playing skillful soccer. Players play a variety of positions and emphasis is placed on
player development instead of getting results as a team.
• System: Put players out on the field for the love of the game, without spending much time
coaching a system. Focus on teaching principles of play as opposed to systems. If playing 8
v. 8, then play a 2-3-2. If playing 9 v. 9, play a 3-3-2. Most importantly, players should
enjoy the great game.
Note: a great deal of coaching/teaching within 4 v. 4 games
Physical: All fitness work should be done with the ball, with partners, and using fun and engaging
activities. Physical activities should include the following components:
• Flexibility
• Agility with and without the ball
• Speed
• Strength
• Endurance
• Balance
Psychological:
• Keep it fun and enjoyable to foster a desire to play (intrinsic motivation)
• Encourage decision-making
• Imagination/creativity
• Increase demands in training
• Emphasize discipline
• Encourage players/teams to watch professional and National Team games on television
The Game:
• 8 v. 8 or 9 v. 9 (includes keepers)
Phase II of Player Development (U-14)
The Formal Phase: The Commitment
Development of individual skills – individual and small group tactics:
Adult standards and formal rules become applicable. The pace of development quickens at this time
due to the acceleration of physical and mental maturation. The demands of skill training as well as
training loads should increase, thus provoking improvement with mental toughness, concentration
and diligence. Awareness of tactics within the game becomes an important facet of the learning
process. Players tend to be self-critical and rebellious, but have a strong commitment to the team.
Coach must be: A strong personality with some soccer knowledge. The coach should be
enthusiastic and patient but demanding.
Technique:
• Build on the base.
• Emphasize the development of individual skills under the pressure of time, space, and an
opponent.
• Continue to increase technical speed.
• Dribbling: Encourage the players to take opponents on 1 v. 1. Teach feints/moves, how to
keep possession-, how to shield and spin turns.
• Receiving: Emphasize a quality first touch. Have players take balls out of the air and work
on turning. Players should use all surfaces and learn to receive the ball on the run.
• Shooting: Work on shooting on the run, on the turn, from all angles, from crosses and from
volleys.
• Passing: Work on short, long, bent, crossed, driven and chipped using all surfaces. All
should be learned on the run.
• Heading: Work on going to goal (shoot/glance), to pass and to clear.
• Tackling: Emphasize the proper techniques.
Tactics:
• Increase tactical speed (decision making under pressure).
• Individual: Work on 1 v. 1, in attack and defense.
In attack: Teach players to keep possession but encourage risk taking and taking
players on in the proper areas of the field.
In defense: Teach how to apply proper pressure (in front and behind), how to
channel players, when to use immediate chase and how to use angles of pressure.
• Small Group: Continue with 2 v. 1, 2 v. 2, 3 v. 2, 3 v. 3, 4 v. 2 and 4 v. 4.
In attack: Teach to keep possession, support, combination play (including the wall
pass, takeover, overlap, the double pass). Introduce the concepts of width, depth
and penetration. Begin work on crossing with proper runs in the box. Start to
demonstrate simple set plays.
In defense: Players should be introduced to angle and distance of cover, defensive
balance, delay and pressing as a group.
• Team:
In the attack: Teach players how to keep possession and how to play the ball away
from pressure. They should know how to maintain balance in the chosen system.
Introduce interchange of positions during the run of play. Encourage attackers to
take defenders on in the final third. The keeper becomes an integral part of the
attack (play balls back to the keeper). Players should still play a variety of
positions.
In defense: Players should learn to maintain good “shape.” Zonal concepts should
be introduced and should include knowing when to “delay” or “step.” Clear decision
on where the “line of confrontation” should be is important at this level. Coaches
should teach how to maintain good pressure and cover in all three thirds of the
field.
• System: The recommended system for player and team development is a 3-4-3.
Note: There should be a great deal of coaching/teaching in 4 v. 4 and 7 v. 7 games.
Physical:
• All fitness work should be done with the ball
• Flexibility – static stretching and dynamic flexibility
• Agility – Coordination with and without the ball
• Speed
• Strength – non-weight bearing, core strength and stability
• Endurance
• Balance
Psychological:
• The game should remain fun and enjoyable. Players should have a passion for the game
• Imagination/creativity
• Increase demands
• Establish training targets
• Maintain discipline
• Encourage players/teams to watch professional and National Team games on television
The Game:
• 11 v. 11
Phase III of Player Development (U-16)
The Fervid Phase: The Dedication
Development of individual skills – individual, group and team tactics:
This is a critical time in the player’s development. Many stop playing due to other interests, lack of
success, shortage of playing opportunities, poor leadership or other reasons. Players tend to lack
mental toughness and self-confidence. They tend to be self-critical and struggle with their desire to
be competitive or need to be more competitive. There is a need for attention and security. A great
focus on team spirit, leadership and discipline within the team.
Coach must be: Charismatic, experienced, knowledgeable, articulate, a disciplinarian, have
managerial know-how, a thoughtful persuader.
Technique:
• Skills should be mastered leading to artistry and improvisation, all under match conditions
• Individual skill covered during the warm-up and/or in competitive situations
• Increase technical speed. It is important that technique is still highly emphasized at this
age.
• Strike balls cleanly over distance with accuracy under pressure
Tactics:
• Increase tactical speed (decision making)
• Individual: Decisions based on thirds of the field
In attack: There must be an application of varied technical abilities in order to
increase tactical options. There must be an aggressive attacking mentality in final
third. Emphasis should be placed on predicting what the game will need next.
Knowing what each player’s specific roles and responsibilities are lends to greater
understanding of the big picture.
In defense: There should be a clear understanding of how the quality of pressure
affects team defending success. There must be an ability to take options away from
the attacker.
• Small group: 4 v. 4, 7 v. 7, 9 v. 9
In attack: Players must understand the balance of needing possession and
penetration. Continued work on combination play (wall pass, take over, overlap,
double pass, third player running etc.). Playing for penetration and creativity in
solving problems becomes important.
Mobility – movement without the ball
Crossing – picking out a runner rather than putting it in the box
Box organization – penetration, width and support for every ball played in
the box
Attacking as a group of three (forwards, midfielders and defenders)
Set plays (80 percent success rate: where we get: 1) goal; 2) shot on
goal; or 3) corner kick
In defense:
Compactness
Cover, delay, dictate and recover
Communication (who, what, when, where)
Defending as a group of three (forwards, midfielders and defenders)
Enjoy winning possession of the ball and dictating the play
Set plays
• Team: Clearly defined team tactics, how the team decides to play as a group.
In attack:
Comfort with direct and indirect styles
Sustained possession as a means to break down the opponent’s defense
Understanding how to counterattack
Decisions based on thirds of the field
In defense:
Comfort with “high pressure” and “delayed high pressure” styles
Understanding of zonal and man-to-man marking play
Goalkeeper as the last defender
Keeping good team compactness
Stopping the counterattack
Decisions based on thirds of the field and different systems of play
• System: The recommended system to expose players to various systems using a 3-4-3 and
a 4-3-3.
Note: A great deal of coaching/teaching within 7 v. 7 and 9 v. 9 games.
Physical:
Fitness should take place with and without the ball.
Flexibility – static stretching after training/matches.
Dynamic flexibility – partner stretching
Importance of discipline for warm-up and cool-down
Agility – with and without the ball
Footwork – keeping the feet active when moving/playing
Endurance – Aerobic and anaerobic
Strength – Upper and lower body. Core strength and stability
Balance
Nutrition – Proper diet pre-game, post-game, at tournaments
Prevention and care of injuries
Importance of rest/recovery – schedule issues relative to the physical demands
Psychological:
Increased concentration
Leadership/player responsibilities
Discipline
Respect for the game
Goal setting
Vary program – satisfy players’ urge for competition
Establish pre-practice and pre-game routine (as individuals and team).
Encourage players/teams to watch professional and National Team soccer
The Game:
11 v. 11
Phase IV of Player Development (U-19)
The Elite Phase: The Full Bloom
Development of functional and team play:
Fulfillment of a player’s potential depends on his or her own efforts, the support of teammates and
the unselfish guidance of her coach. He or she must be exposed to a playing and training
environment, which extends her mental, physical, tactical and technical capabilities to the limit. He
or she must have a sound understanding of the game’s principles and concepts. Players should
show emotional stability when confronted with pressure situations. Demanding and challenging
training sessions and matches are a must.
Coach must be: Charismatic, well informed, up to date, experienced, knowledgeable, articulate, a
disciplinarian. No doubts about his/her authority; managerial know-how.
Technique:
• Mastered skills leading to artistry. All at speed under match conditions, demanding
excellence. Individual skill covered during warm-up and competitive situations.
Tactics:
• Increase tactical speed (decision-making) with increased pressure and competition. Having
the ability to change and adapt to game dynamics, up or down a goal, management of the
clock and flow of the game.
• Individual:
In attack :A good deal of time spent in functional training environments
Decisions based on thirds of the field
Comfort in playing in the different areas of the field/team (back, middle,
front, center, wide).
Confidence to hold possession as an individual
Solve problems at the individual level.
In defense: Clear understanding of how the quality of pressure affects the ability of
the team to defend
Decisions based on thirds of the field.
Comfort at playing two different positions
• Small group:
In attack:
Improvisation/deception encouraged
Advanced understanding of combination play and how to combine to break
down a defense
Balance of possession and penetration with a purpose to score goals
Recognize opportunities to penetrate by a variety of means
Attacking in groups of three (forwards, midfielders and defenders)
In defense:
Pressure, cover, balance
Control of the game’s speed and direction due to defending decisions
Recognition of double team opportunities
Defending in groups of three (forwards, midfielders and defenders)
• Team: Understanding of lines and linkage between lines. Understand positional and team
needs.
In attack:
Comfort with direct and indirect styles of play
Combination play with tactical implications
Sustained possession as a means to break down the opponent’s defense
Speed of play; the game is faster and more physical
Creativity, quality of final ball to beat backs
Understanding how and when to counterattack
Serving runners in the box
Organizing the box with runners (penetration, width and support)
Decisions based on thirds of the fields
Set plays (80 percent success rate where we get: 1) goal; 2) shot on goal;
or 3) corner kick
In defense:
Comfort with “high pressure” and “delayed high pressure” styles
Understanding of zonal and man-to-man marking play
Goalkeeper as the last defender
Keeping good team compactness
Stopping the counterattack
Decisions based on thirds of the field and different systems of play
Pressing (when and where to pressure, channel and dictate defensively)
Systems: The recommended system – all. Based on a variety of factors
(individual/team abilities, opponent, field conditions, game management etc.).
Physical: • Fitness work with and without the ball • Flexibility – static stretching
after training/matches • Dynamic flexibility – partner stretching • Importance of
discipline for warm-up and cool-down • Agility – with and without the ball •
Endurance – aerobic and anaerobic • Strength – upper and lower body. Core
strength/stability • Balance • Nutrition – proper diet pre-game, post-game,
tournaments • Prevention and care of injuries • Importance of rest/recovery –
schedule issues relative to the physical demands
Psychological:
Increased concentration
Leadership and increased player responsibility
Discipline
Accountability
Goal setting
Respect for the game
Self-confidence, self-motivation, goal setting
Vary program – satisfy players’ urge for competition. Will to win.
Mental toughness/competitive mentality
Establish pre-practice and pre-game routine (as individuals and teams)
Encourage players/teams to watch professional and National Team games on
television
The Game:
11 v. 11
