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No. 42, September 2010

Ivo Šušak NK Zagreb Croatia W W W . S O C C E R C O A C H I N G I N T E R N AT I O N A L . C O M

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Contents

Cover Story

Ivo Šušak, NK Zagreb Croatia

Analysis

Hans de Jong, scout SC Heerenveen on game analysis (4)

Column

Analysis

Mental Development 20

Denis Iwamura, Analyst Santos FC

Observations and orientation, part 7

Training Sessions 37

Goalkeeping

Dutch Possession games

Raymond Vissers, goalkeeping coach RKC Waalwijk

Brazilian Corner 60

Fooled by Football’s Imposters

No.42 Septembe 2010

No. 42 September 2010 SoccerCoachingInternational is an e-magazine for soccer coaches all over the world from the publisher of TrainersMagazine, the Dutch magazine for soccer coaches. The Magazine will be released six times a year. Chief editor Paul van Veen Beatrixlaan 21, 2811 LZ REEUWIJK THE NETHERLANDS paul@soccercoachinginternational.com Publisher Sportfacilities & Media BV Visiting address: Steynlaan 19 B-D ZEIST THE NETHERLANDS Postal address: P.O. Box 952, 3700 AZ ZEIST THE NETHERLANDS info@soccercoachinginternational.com Phone: +31 (0)30 697 7710 Fax: +31 (0)30 697 7720

Managing Editor and Translations Maaike Denkers maaike@soccercoachinginternational.com Graphic Design Anton Gouverneur Tania Dimitrova studio@sportfacilities.com

Photographers: Tom van den Heiligenberg Jan Soek Editorial Staff Bruno Camar達o, Artur Capuani, Maaike Denkers, Larry Paul, Dusan Petrovic, Rob Robben, Hans Slender, Paul van Veen Copyright All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

ISSN 1571 - 8794 Project Manager Floris Schmitz f.schmitz@sportfacilities.com

From the Editor

Welcome to the 42th issue of SoccerCoachingInternational Our sixth e-Magazine! After the launch our e-Magazine and our new website we are currently fast at work to launch the third and final part of our complete product overhaul: MySoccerExercises.com. This online application allows coaches to easily draw their own diagrams, exercises and training sessions, archive them and most importantly save and print them. Sounds like the old one, but check out the demo on our homepage and you will see the difference. All current subscribers will receive access to this editor free of charge. New subscribers will have to pay an additional fee and non-subscribers can subscribe for €29,99 / year. I will keep you posted on the developments, but we hope to introduce you to our newest product feature shortly. A new start for SoccerCoachingInternational, but also a new start for football seasons around the globe. As the FIFA World Cup 2010 came to an end new seasons were starting all over the World. Qualifications for the Europe League, Champions League, the kick-off for the South American and European national leagues and of course the continental qualifiers around the world. It seems like the world of football never sleeps and neither does SoccerCoachingInternational. With 10 eMagazine a year and the news coverage on our website, you don't have to miss a thing.

5 This sixth e-issue has 64 pages and is packed with a great range of articles from all corners of the world. Including NK Zagreb head coach Ivo Šušak who talked to us about the importance of good defense. In Brazil we talked to Denis Iwanura about match analysis and the importance of performance analytics. We then move to Larry Paul for the seventh and final part of his series on Observations and orientation. Another article on analysis comes from the Netherlands where SC Heerenveen analyst and scout Hans de Jong talks about coaching his own U17s team in the fourth and final part of his series. Of course we also have another training sessions feature, this time on possession games and a goalkeeping article from Raymond Vissers, goalkeeping coach at RKC Waalwijk in the Neherlands. Last, but not least the Brazilian Corner and a very provoking column by Anthony Hudson on football's imposter in the US. All in all another great and diverse issue, brought to you online. I hope you enjoy this sixth e-Magazine! The seventh E-magazine will be available in October. I want to thank everyone for being part of the complete online soccer coaching experience!

Yours in soccer, Maaike Denkers Managing Editor SCI

No.42 September 2010

Cover Story IVO ŠUŠAK, NK ZAGREB CROATIA:

"Every competitive team sport is dependant on a good defence" “Ivo Šušak was born October 6th, 1946. He started his coaching career training the youth teams of NK Dinamo Zagreb. From 1997 to 2000 Šušak was the Croatian U21 National Team coach and in 1998 he also coached the Croatian national side during their third place finish at the World Cup in France 1998. Since then Šušak has had great success with many Croatian teams and abroad. He is currently coaching NK Zagreb and talked to SoccerCoachingInternational about his coaching philosophy, the importance of defence, systems of play and takes us through the seven day training cycle he currently uses to Zagreb. By: Dušan Petrović

No.42 September 2010

"I believe that every competitive team sport, including football, is dependant on a good defence. Why? So the team can gain ball possession as soon as possible and organize the attacking play, which is the purpose of the modern football. In this context I always insist on defending further away from our own goal, so that in transition from opponent possession to possession my team is as near as possible to the opposition’s goal. In order to achieve this, I want my team to pressure the ball, as well as their nearest individual opponent. The basis for my approach is to prepare the team so that with our own mobility we manage to create a ‘surplus’ in transition from defence to offense and vice versa in transition from offense to defence. All this can only be achieved by methodical coaching, and insisting on shortening the time for reaction from the exact moment of gaining or loosing the ball possession."

endeavour to search for and coach players that fit into my favourite 4-3-3- system."

System of play

- Morning training: Joint training exercise, not too high intensity of some 60-75 %. Various technical-tactical finishing exercises, with an accent on the high level of technical confidence and performance. - Watching video footage of the last match and analysis of this. Stressing each positive, whilst negative criticism only overall. I would only discuss a specific critical point in a one-on-one with a player or a small group.

"Combining my long coaching experience in different countries and cultures, whilst following all the modern football trends I used various tactical team positioning systems such as 4-2-4, 3-5-2, 3-4-3 and 44-2. I would say though that the 4-3-3- team positioning is most satisfactory to my own football philosophy. Of course, it must be stressed that the chosen system is always dependant on the choice of players available at any one moment. But I

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SEVEN-DAY TRAINING CYCLE Sunday: day after the game - Morning training: a light ‘recuperation’ exercise for those who played yesterday – easy ‘footing’ 22-26 minutes; stretching 10-12 minutes; football-tennis or some light technical-tactical exercise but not too intensive; massaging. - A much higher intensity training for the group of players who did not play yesterday, usually including a two-goal match with six or seven players each side on a shortened pitch – with a variety of special tasks.

Monday: one training session and other activities

Tuesday: very important training day – 2 sessions - 10.00: specific training 80-90 minutes, stressing on speed of movement and speed of reaction using technical and TETA exercise. - 12.30: joint lunch for the team and coaches. - 13:30-16:30: obligatory resting - 17.00: high intensity training session, mostly through full pitch size play and with specific tasks – playing between two penalty areas, limited number of ball touches, playing the ball across the halfway line.

Wednesday: one training session - Medium intensity training in groups: forwards and attacking midfielders form one group, whilst defenders and defensive midfielders are another. - Automatic repetition of certain standard actions, which I insist upon during the play. - Each group session last approximately 80-90 minutes with an obligatory massage afterwards.

Thursday: one or two training sessions (depending on player conditioning) - Morning: if two sessions, morning will be light intensity 60 minute training. We will practice automatic movements and repetition in technical-tactical exercise. Includes setplay training

- Afternoon: higher intensity training, but not longer than 70 minutes. Always to include a game of football on a shortened pitch. o Tasks: one or two-touch play, normal goals play or 4 smaller (2 meter) goals without goal-keepers. These are important in achieving a quality horizontal movement of the team and the ball. Obligatory playing the ball ‘across the half-way line’ achieves better vertical movement of players with and without the ball - When there is only one training session on this day, it will be the afternoon session – duration 90-100 minutes. This session would be a combination of technical-tactical exercises and the above described play.

Friday: day before the match; one training session - Morning: During the week I would have already decided on my best team of eleven players for tomorrow’s match, so the task of this final training session is aimed at perfecting the tactical play for this particular match. First team will play an 11v11 game against reserves. Progression would be: passive resistance at first, and gradually increase resistance throughout the game to full resistance. Additionally we will refresh the setplays both offensively and defensively and the session will end with a stretching

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exercise. Total training time – 70 minutes, at medium intensity. - Afterwards I will give a short presentation on the upcoming opponent and will demand full individual concentration; each player needs to ‘run a film’ in his mind about the match and every possible situation that can arise, depending on their position in the team and the individual characteristics of their direct opponents

Saturday: the match day (if home game) - Players arrive five-and-half hours before the start of the match. I will conduct a team meeting which will last 20-30 minutes. After the meeting we have a private lunch and then an obligatory rest of two hours. After this we go to the dressing room for individual preparation for the match.

Match preparation "On day 1 I decide on the team system and tactics for the next match, so that all the coaching sessions during that week are adjusted to cater to the best performance and winning the next game. The system will not change much or often, as this may create confusion and lack of confidence with my own team. During the training sessions I always insure that players are fully prepared for the team positions they are playing. My job as a head-coach is also

to prepare the team in such a way that the style of play is recognized as ours and is unique. I do consider the opposition, and will point out particular threat and individuals to my specific players – but in general I insist on the approach and philosophy: ‘Let us train, prepare and do all that is possible for the opponent to worry about us, and not the other way round!’ "My defensive part of the team needs to be particularly trained to act cohesively and synchronized, not only when defending against opponent ball possession but also when our own team has the ball. For this reason I rarely give additional tasks to any individual in my defensive line-up, as this breaks the required cohesion. Whilst insisting on this team unity, I also make sure that the entire coaching staff act as a team (assistant coaches, medical/physiotherapist, back-room staff and others). In order for this to function, each member of the team and staff must know what is their role, what is expected of them as well as what they should not be doing or saying at a given time. At the beginning of each week I will give my team of assistants the week plan, including the match plan. Each assistant will be given instructions as to their role. We hold operative planning meetings for 60 minutes before each training session. Coaching assistants are briefed to give discreet information to our players about the next opponent, while also creating a

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positive atmosphere and confidence in the ability of our team."

Team psychology "The positive mental strength of any team is based upon its technical-tactical qualities aided by sound physical preparation and creating higher overall performance standards. But ever so important is the psychological state of mind for each individual player and team as a whole. This is very much a result of the goals and demands you give them. Aiming unrealistically high brings an individual and

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the team into a state of apathy and even depression, thus resulting in instability and results below the capabilities. On the other hand, an objective as a task creates and immobilizes motivation and results in a stable and positive psychological state of individual player and the team, which in turn aids with attaining good results, which in exceptional circumstances can even be above the realistic capability of the team." â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;An old proverb says: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Lucky is the one who has a thousand wishes, but common sense prevails them all!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Ivo Šušak Date of birth: 06 October 1946. Nationality: Croatian Marital status: Married, two children Foreign languages: Basic conversation in German, 13

English, Russian

Education: Graduated at Zagreb University, Faculty of Physical Education, UEFA PRO Diploma

Professional Experience: 1975-1988: 1988-1989: 1989-1992: 1993-1994: 1994-1995: 1995-1996: 1996-1997: 1997-2000: 1998 2000-2001: 2002-2004: 2004: 2005-2006: 2008 2009 2010 - current:

FC Dinamo Zagreb, youth team and assistant coach for 1st team FC Dinamo Vinkovci head coach FC Zagreb (from third to top division in successive years, finished 2nd in 1st season) FC Izola, Slovenia head coach FC Osijek, Croatia head coach (Uefa Cup qualification) FC Marsonia, Croatia head coach FC Hrvatski Dragovoljac, Croatia head coach Croatia U-21 national team coach Croatian national team coach (third place at the World Cup, France 1998) FC Maribor, Slovenia head coach (successful Champions League qualification) FC Dinamo Tbilisi, Georgia (national championship and cup ’03. CIS Champions Cup) Georgia interim national team coach (two matches against Russia and Ireland) FC Osijek, Croatia head coach (4th place; qualified for Intertoto Cup) EURO 2008 – coaching advisor- Croatia A national team. FC Mika Yerevan-Armenia – head coach & director of football NK Zagreb, Croatia head coach

No.42 September 2010

Analysis DENIS IWAMURA, PERFORMANCE ANALYST SANTOS FC

"Facilitate the transformation of information into a training reality" Santos FC finished in first place after the first half of 2010 Brazilian competition. This success can be attributed to the individual talent of some of their young stars and the self-sufficiency of their coach, Dorival Júnior. Santos played a very offensive game, scoring 100 goals in this first half of the season and managed to win the São Paulo State Tournament 'Campeonato Paulista'. In addition to the magic brought by Robinho, Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso, the technical department was also strengthened by performance analyst Denis Iwamura’s two years ago. The former university and amateur athlete came over from Coritiba FC, where he was in charge of performance analysis for the youth teams as well as the first team. Denis assisted the conditioning and technical coaches with statistic match and training analyses. By: Bruno Camarão and Artur Capuani

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16 At Santos FC Denis now assists the technical department and is specialized in sports technology mechanisms. He sizes up the technical and tactical variables and passes them on to the coach. Denis' main objective is to facilitate the transformation of information into a training reality and is doing so with good results.

Career "I was an amateur and university athlete. I started my physical education degree in 1998 and my former coach was working as a conditioning trainer at the Coritiba FC youth academy. He invited me to join the department as a trainee. I started as a nonremunerated trainee working with the U15s. In the 2000 I became a physical trainer to the U11s and U13s. A year later I was working as the primary conditioning coach for the U15s and another year later I was asked to move up to the first team, at that time coached by Róbson Gomes. I became part in the technical staff for the first team at Coritiba FC working as the conditioning

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trainer's assistant. Due to this previous experience with performance analysis in youth teams, I also got to assist the performance analysis department at the club. In 2006 and 2007 I became responsible for the department and continued to work as a conditioning trainer's assistant. In 2008, I switched to focus solely on performance analysis, an occupation I currently carry out at Santos FC."

Scouting "The scouting department at Coritiba started as a pilot project. We worked, me and Érielton Pacheco (Pachequinho), in a two-person team at that time. We were trying to standardize observation and catalog the competitions and players of the various divisions in professional Brazilian football (and its youth teams), generating a database of players including a complete map of their performance throughout their careers. This data served as the basis for the Board of Directors and technical department to assess players they were looking to recruit. Parallel to this work, we also helped out the technical department with the observation and analysis of the opponents the club would face in various competitions throughout the year."

Function "A performance analyst is a technical assistant that can also work directly in the

"THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IS HOW WE PRESENT THE INFORMATION TO THE COACH AND OUR PLAYERS" field. I am specialized in sports technology mechanisms and use the technical and tactical variables to inform the coach about players and opponents. Denis' main objective is to facilitate the transformation of information into a training reality. My specific function is to translate the technical and tactical performance data, both individual and collective, of our team, throughout the season."

Tools "We use several tools, including 'FootStats' (statistical mapping of the movements of each and every player in a game), video analysis, longitudinal follow-up of competitions and some indicators we established internally to evaluate the performance of our players. Also I am responsible, along with other technical assistants, to analyze the performance, both technically and tactically, of Santos FC's opponents. We have a team working on the observation of live games, an editing room where all games are recorded and, subsequently, we review all material that we collected."

Link between theory and practice "The most important step is how we present the information to the coach and our

players. We translate information to facilitate their understanding, giving priority to the quality of the information, and not the quantity. This information is then used by the coach, his assistants, the conditioning trainers, physiologists, directors and the press office. All of them seeking to achieve, as much as possible, a better integration between their areas, each respecting their own procedures and contributing to the development of the overall team performance."

Difficulty of implementation in Brazil "Sports technology is still a bit frowned upon by Brazilian clubs. This is due to two main factors. First, the lack of willingness in Brazilian football culture to utilize these tools, which are very commonly used in the United States and Europe. Like in basketball, volleyball, and football. In Brazil, its applicability and results are often questioned, because of the high financial investment demanded in some cases. It is a cultural barrier that is slowly changing over the years. The second restricting factor is the lack of trained professionals who can work with these tools. We still do not have adequate courses for performance analysis. What we have are highly qualified professionals in technical and tactical areas

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"AT SANTOS FC WE HAVE A GREAT INTEGRATION AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT AND ALL OTHER DEPARTMENTS AT THE CLUB"

and on the other hand qualified professionals in technology, but bridging these professions is required to take steps in training performance analysis professionals."

Coritiba FC, a school "Coritiba FC was my 'University' of performance analysis. It was the place that gave me the opportunity to work and 'test' the various analytical tools and prove their effectiveness in the everyday life of a professional team. The club opened the door to the area of performance analysis and we were able to grow together over these years. In 2009, we had an editing room, trainees to collect data from scouts, various specialized trainers and our own scouting department."

Support found at Santos FC "Santos FC is a club with a great working structure, and I was hired to organize their performance analysis department. The main difference with Coritiba is that at Santos we have a team of analysts working solely on opponent analysis. This promotes an exchange of information, which is an asset to the growth of the technical department.

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We are also including technological resources in our day-to-day work to ensure the exchange of quality information to our coach."

Amisco System: is it possible in Brazil? Rafael BenĂtez works with the Amisco system, would a tool like this also be applicable for use in Brazil? "I know this tool. It is very efficient for performance analysis. In the way it is performed in Europe, I believe it is still financially unfeasible for the Brazilian clubs. At the time I was working at Coritiba FC, we contacted some companies about this system, but found that it is still to big of an investment for the Brazilian market. We are currently evaluating the opportunities for a system like this at Santos FC. We are looking for support from a company who is willing to invest in the technical materials needed to implement a system such as Amisco."

Staff cooperation "At Santos FC we have a great integration and cooperation between the technical department and all other departments at the club. I need to give credit to the abilities of

Dorival Júnior, Celso de Rezende and Ivan Izzo, who are all working together and making it possible for all staff members to perform their duties to the best of their ability. Celso is head of the physical department and he has worked closely together with Dorival for many years to come to a great cooperation between the physical and technical department. They know each other very well and have a great working relationship. The physical department also works closely together with the medical and the physiology departments. The medical department provides clinical assessment and recovery

of all players. They are continuously at the disposal of the technical department during training and games. The physiology departments acts as a 'compass', always seeking to assess the real situation of the players in relation to the strain the endure during the season. The physiology staff members receives this information and, together with the coach, adjust volumes and intensities of each player's training program during the duration of the season."

Dennis Iwamura Name: Dennis Iwamura Date of birth: 8 January 1979 in Curitiba Nationality: Brazilian Clubs: Coritiba FC (1998-2009) and Santos FC (2010) Titles: “Campeonato Brasileiro série b” (2007) – Brazilians second division Championship; “Campeonato Paranaense” (2008) by Coritiba FC – Parana State Championship; “Campeonato Paulista” (2010) by Santos FC – São Paulo State Championship.

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No.42 No.41 September July 2010

Mental Development OBSERVATIONS AND ORIENTATION, PART 7:

Implications 21

So far the focus of these articles has been on a single decision-making cycle using Boyd’s OODA Loop as a model. Now it’s time to turn that single event into a continuous stream and introduce interactions with other OODA Loops. In short, the real world. We’ll use Maradona’s second goal against England in 1986 as an example of how the process works in such an unremitting and interconnected setting. By: Larry Paul

Major decisions – visible actions The sequence of Maradona’s major decisions in this run begins when he receives the ball inside his own half, beats three defenders and carries it across midfield, we’ll call this OODA 1; after five seconds and thirty yards he cuts behind one defender and in front of another for OODA 2; three seconds after that, just outside of England’s eighteen, he goes by another defender, OODA 3; Shilton comes out and Maradona goes past him at nine seconds, OODA 4; one second later he scores, OODA 5. In roughly ten seconds

Maradona faced five major decision points and executed five major actions. Major observable actions are often mistaken as the sole point where decisions are made. The more striking the action the more this can happen as the “wow” factor captures our attention. However the decision process precedes what we actually see during a period called the reaction time. The reaction time bleeds into the observable part called the movement time. Together they constitute the total response time, what we call the OODA Loop cycle.

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The brain needs a moment to get itself together before you can see any evidence of an action-taking place. In short, while they are linked there’s a necessary time lag between the decision and the action. Actions are neither spontaneous nor instantaneous. They rise from stimulus and are the result of a process that includes time. In the example above there appears to be plenty of time to make a decision when you compare the real world to the total response time. The former allows a second or more while the latter demands only milliseconds. It should be easy to OODA your way through the game making nothing but the best decisions. However, observation indicates this isn’t always the case. Players constantly run out of time and make rushed, late, poor or inappropriate choices. There must be something else beyond these major decisions that demands time from Orientation. Something that leaves many players playing behind the game.

Micro-decisions – thin-slicing In blink, Malcom Gladwell defines thinslicing as a “critical part of rapid cognition… “Thin-slicing” refers to the ability of our unconscious to find patterns in situations and behavior based on very narrow slices of experience.” We’ll look at Maradona’s run for evidence of it using the interface between visual perception and cognition for

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context. It’s at this juncture that the feed forward/feedback relationship between Observations and Orientation becomes clear. Without the rapid feed forward of high quality data from Observation into Orientation decision-making is in effect blind. Without the shaping of Observations by Orientation the recognition and selection of quality data is reduced to the lowest level. We’ll start by introducing some basic terms and concepts that deal with the interface from Perception, Cognition, and Decision Training by Joan Vickers.

Attention Explains how we select information for more extensive processing in thresholds that minimally range from 120-200 ms.

Visuomotor workspace This is the spatial environment within which objects and locations exist that command the performers gaze and attention and upon which specific motor behaviors are enacted.

Spotlight for the attention The act of extracting and processing high-priority information in the visual field. Selected features from a stimulus pop out more than anything else.

Gaze control The process of directing the gaze to objects or events within a scene in real

time and in the service of the ongoing perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral activity.

The visual systems. The focal system is used when fixated or tracked information falls on the fovea and aspects of an object or location are viewed with full acuity or detail. The ambient system includes areas of the retina not within the fovea. The ambient system is specialized for motion (and) the rapid detection of information… (It) appears to be effective in contributing to accurate limb movements of very short duration (100 to 150ms) but when movements are longer or are novel, the ambient system is unable to process the information.

Eye movement. Fixation occurs when the gaze is held on an object or location… for 100 ms or more… The 100 ms threshold is the minimum amount of time needed to recognize or become aware of stimuli. Pursuit tracking occurs when the gaze follows a moving object (for at least 100ms). Saccades occur when the eyes move quickly from one fixated or tracked location to another… During saccades information is suppressed. Before we analyze the run it’s essential to appreciate the limitations of the two visual systems. Try this, hold your arm all the way out and look at your thumbnail. That’s about as large an area that the focal system can

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handle. Now stare closely at the first word on the left of a row of text in this article. How far across the row can you read without taking your eyes off of that word? You know there is text to the right but the details are indiscriminant. The word that your focal system has fixated on has captured your attention. This leaves the ambient system to provide the rest of your visual input and that limits your understanding and appreciation of the larger picture. The flow of key information is stuck; think of ball watching and its consequences. This is why saccades are so important. They allow movement from one fixation point to another without introducing new information. In effect they eliminate the ‘window shopping’ we would do going from one spotlight to another saving valuable processing time.

of action,” Vickers. This is how the brain compensates for its limited capacity to deal with more than a few pieces of information at a time. It groups objects, locations and events by commonalities into chunks, therefore incorporating more stimuli into the same number of pieces. The back four is an example of chunking.) Each of these workspaces holds stimulus that could provide high-priority information that would interest him. When the spotlight for attention finds a leverage point he’ll fixate his focal system on it long enough to assess its value and track it if necessary. Finally he saccades between workspaces and repeats the process until he decides on his next course of action. (He recognizes a key pattern or has to break the chunks down using analysis and synthesis to determine importance.)

Now for the run, imagine Maradona during OODA 1. He’s crossing midfield and his attention is divided between several visuomotor workspaces, the English goal, defender’s ahead of him, the ball, teammates and so on. He doesn’t dwell on specific details but concentrates on the big picture. (To understand the ‘big picture,’ or situational awareness, you need to understand the process of chunking. “Through learning and experience, seemingly diverse pieces of information are grouped together into more meaningful ideas or concepts that enhance the control

“Note how Orientation shapes Observation, shapes Decision, shapes Action, and, in turn, is shaped by the feedback and other phenomena coming into our sensing or Observation window,” Boyd from his OODA Loop diagram.

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Here we can see some of the microdecisions in action. For Maradona, his decision-making process controls the act of fixing his attention or redirecting his gaze. These micro-decisions, “where do I look? how long do I look? how long do I follow?”

are subject to the same time constraints as his major decisions. Every glance, fixation, saccade has it’s own OODA Loop and that, in turn costs him time leading up to the major decisions. Seconds melt away in increments of milliseconds. In soccer, the higher the level the more important these micro-decisions are. Without good microplanning major decisions can come too late. At lower levels it’s not as important. You can get away with running 20 yards without thinking because no one else is so no one notices. In Destruction and Creation you saw how the goal of life is “survival on your own terms” and that at times you’ll be in conflict with other individuals or groups. When you operate inside your opponent’s decision cycle, get a fraction of a second ahead of them in decision/actions and then build on that lead, you’ll have the initiative. Keep that going and the game will be played on your terms. This is what Maradona did. For ten seconds he was mentally a fraction of a second ahead of the English defenders and they were left to chase his decisions. The beauty of the run was in its simplicity. He didn’t employ anything but a variation in stride, tempo, some misdirect cues and the threat of passing the ball. There was nothing exceptional in his execution, but there was in the audacity and timing of his choices. So how did he do it? The English defenders

operated under the same constraints, they were all Internationals, were highly motivated, had a significant advantage in numbers and yet, for ten seconds looked like lost schoolboys. Why couldn’t they recover and retake the initiative for themselves? Here are three factors that Maradona was able to use to dominate the defenders decision cycles.

Friction, cheng / ch’i and rapid transients Prussian General Carl von Clausewitz is credited with introducing the idea of friction, the “fog of war” into military jargon. It applies to soccer as well. Friction is caused by many factors including stress, tension, demanding physical effort and dealing with unclear information. It creates and results in the loss of efficiency and effectiveness. Friction interferes with action by slowing down and disrupting the decision-making cycle. Teams attempt to minimize friction for themselves while amplifying it for the opponents. In his Organic Design for Command and Control Boyd observes, “Friction is generated and magnified by menace, ambiguity, deception, rapidity, uncertainty, mistrust, etc. In this sense, variety and rapidity tend to magnify friction” while “Friction is diminished by implicit understanding, trust, cooperation, simplicity, focus, etc… harmony and initiative tend to diminish friction.” Maradona captured the initiative by

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generating these factors and the English defenders could not catch up. The variety mentioned above comes from the skillful use of two concepts borrowed from the Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu; cheng, which is loosely translated as the orthodox or expected, and ch’i meaning the unorthodox or unexpected. When these two elements are rapidly mixed you create menace, ambiguity, deception, uncertainty and mistrust for the opponents. Cheng is used to hold or distract them while ch’i is used for the kill. When the opponents come to expect the unexpected you apply the reverse. The unexpected ch’i can hold,

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fixate them while the expected cheng applies the coup de grace. This gets you inside their OODA Loop.

Why? Such activity will make us appear ambiguous (unpredictable) thereby generate confusion and disorder among our adversaries— since our adversaries will be unable to generate mental images or pictures that agree with the menacing as well as faster transient rhythm or patterns they are competing against. Patterns of Conflict, Boyd, J.

Maradona was able to work at a higher operational tempo than half of the English team. He did this by having a faster observation-orientation-decision-action time cycle and not just better technique. He continually reoriented the details of his plan to a rapidly evolving reality that he helped to create and never lost the initiative. And here is the paradox of speed, decisionmaking and skillful play. The idea of operating at top speed all of the time does not produce skillful play. For the opponents such a plan becomes predictable, therefore unskillful. If the opponent knows that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to use speed alone they can prepare alternatives and that surrenders initiative. Instead, skillful play demands the control and manipulation of the tempo within the context of a rapidly evolving reality. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the rapid transitions between the expected and unexpected that combine to gain initiative and produce the friction that unravels the opposition.

environments and changes that have been previously experienced. Without analysis and synthesis, across a variety of domains or across a variety of competing/independent channels of information, we cannot evolve new repertoires to deal with unfamiliar phenomena or unforeseen change. Without a many-sided implicit crossreferencing process of projection, empathy, correlation, and rejection, (across these many different domains or channels of information), we cannot even do analysis and synthesis. Without OODA loops, we can neither sense, hence observe, thereby collect a variety of information for the above processes, nor decide as well as implement actions in accord with those processes.

Or put another way Summary of the implications The following are the Key Statements from Boydâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last briefing, The Essence of Winning & Losing that sums up the relationship between OODA Loops, speed and survival on your own terms. Without our genetic heritage, cultural traditions and previous experiences, we do not possess an implicit repertoire of psychophysical skills shaped by

Without OODA loops embracing all the above and without the ability to get inside other OODA loops (or other environments), we will find it impossible to comprehend, shape, adapt to, and in turn be shaped by an unfolding, evolving reality that is uncertain, everchanging, unpredictable. In the next issue:

Applications No.41 July 2010

No.42 September 2010

Analysis

HANS DE JONG, SCOUT SC HEERENVEEN ON MATCH ANALYSIS (4)

â&#x20AC;&#x153;You must make the match situations trainableâ&#x20AC;?

The past 3 issues we got acquainted with the way in which SC Heerenveen scout Hans de Jong analyzes matches. Exclusively for SoccerCoachingInternational he discussed various playing styles and illustrated the important decisions coaches must make. In this fourth and final article De Jong will show us which choices he is faced with as a coach of the U17s at sc Heerenveen. He discusses pressure, the build up from the back and the pre-match talk. "Playing with pressure demands a lot of vision from the players, " says De Jong. "I think it is an interesting process and it is great to see we are making it difficult for our opponents." The most important factor to analyze is the execution from his team. By: Hans Slender

No.42 September 2010

Where we mainly looked at the choices a coach must make when playing in certain formations on the field in the previous issues, we now look at a more important aspect; the intentions. "Even at the level we are playing with the sc Heerenveen U17s a lot of teams seem to have difficulties with well executed pressure. In order to accomplish this you must do more than merely move forward and pressuring. The players must force the opponent into a certain direction. We allow the opponent to pass the ball and force one of the lesser defender in the build to gain possession. The strikers must know exactly how and where to move off the ball. What is allowed and what isn't? Everybody must play a part."

Analysis When asked the questions what a coach can do to prevent his lesser defender in the build to gain possession, he answers jokingly: "select a different player." There are multiple ways to counter pressure from the opponent. During a match a coach has very few options. So, when you are not completely sure how the opponent will execute it, so must have several plans available. When you train various situations your players will know which strategy to apply when confronted with them. If you haven't done this you will have to wait until halftime to make the necessary changes. The formations of your upcoming

No.42 September 2010

opponents are often fairly easily to retrieve, their intentions are harder. Generally speaking their ranking and whether its a home or away game present a reasonable indication on whether they are going to pressure or fall back, but this still leaves the direction of the build up. The best solution is to train various strategies, so you are prepared to counter them."

Dealing with pressure "I think it is very possible to counter any pressure by an opponent. When you know the opponent will execute pressure on your left wingback, you must make sure this player is prepared to deal with it. The best thing he can do when he gets the ball is to pass it back to the goalkeeper, who can then quickly open to the other side, where the opponent is under represented. This way you can quickly play forward again by seeking a half winger or midfielder. These players are used to being in a 1v1. When the opponent pressure, your players must move forward. This will create opportunities on midfield, because your opponent will be out of position. Your intention should be to quickly shift play to the other side and skip one line. Easier said than done. First of all the wingback who is being pressured must be able to get the ball out, the goalkeeper must receive the ball and open to the other side. This is generally executed well in training sessions, but in a match this often goes wrong. Everything must go well,

31 because one is mistake can be deadly. The field must be made as wide as possible, so when you have one bad pass and you loose possession the transition will be too late. Another possibility is to have the wingback pass to an incoming central defender. This is a valid option, but it is also dangerous, because of the wide pass. This is very dependent on the passing qualities of your central defender."

Pass to midfielder When the opponent is trying to force the build up to one of your backs, you have a second option; build up through the center. "This second option may be even more dangerous than the first, because passing from one of your central defenders into one of your midfielders, who have an opponent in their back causes problems for lots of teams. The biggest issue is usually that the pass is too soft, so the midfielder will have to come to the ball. This causes him to doubt whether to receive the ball or wall pass it. A second mistake a lot of defenders

make is to move up after the pass. This will make the space between midfield and the last line very small. So, it is important your pass is hard enough, to the side where the opponent is not, make sure you are open to receive a pass back and coach your teammates.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Besides wall passing the receiving midfielder can also turn away from his direct opponent. This is risky, but also creates opportunities. When a midfielder turns away from his opponent, while they are executing pressure, he will have a lot of space in front of him. This allows him to immediately create an opportunistic situation. Midfielders at the highest level are usually very capable of receiving a pass with an opponent their back or who are able to turn away from their direct opponent. You often notice that the opponent doesn't dare to defend them closely. This is also the reason why a lot of team at the highest level do not play full pressure. They opt to fall back to their own half.â&#x20AC;?

No.42 September 2010

Back in the build up

You often see central defenders, but also wingbacks, move up after they have passed the ball. This creates dangerous situations, as the receiving midfielders will not be able to wall pass because the distances are too short. "The concept of moving in after a pass into midfield can largely be contributed to the Dutch training style. Almost all of our possession games involve passing and moving. This has logistical reasons, because of the continuation of the exercise. And this is fine. The disadvantage is that players automatically start doing this in matches as well. Moving after a pass is very important, but it doesn't have to be forward. You can move to the left or the right as well, or even back. Something not moving at all is the best option in order to be open for a pass. This is not part of the Dutch players' system and takes a lot of practice to get this automatism out of them.”

No.42 September 2010

Regardless of the playing style, the way in which a back is utilized in a build up is crucial. “If the back is frequently in possession during the build up, then you can often pin him down. A back only has limited options. Because of the limitation of the sideline, a back can only pass down the line or resort to a dangerous pass to the center. The ball down the line is often difficult for a winger to handle, as he has an opponent in his back. The best options are to pass the ball to the striker or back to the goalkeeper. Coaches who opt for a build up through the center would rather utilize the back in a later stage of the build up.”

Pin down Besides executing the pressure a team can also opt to pin the opponent down. “Pin down asks for different qualities than playing pressure. When pinning down an opponent the player will all move up further to prevent an defender from even getting the ball. The opponent will than be left with no other choice than to play the long ball. Teams with good headers and enough players who can win the second ball often choose this option. When you pin the opponent down, the build up is very difficult. The goalkeeper must recognize that playing the long ball is the only option. Goalkeepers can see if his team is being pressures, pin down or if the opponent is

“THE BEST SOLUTION IS TO TRAIN VARIOUS STRATEGIES, SO YOU ARE PREPARED TO COUNTER THEM"

falling back. This has consequences for the own playing style. As a coach you cannot do a whole lot during the match, especially not if the opponent is switching between strategies. The players must be able to recognize this themselves.”

Pre-match talk Especially at the amateur level it is impossible to prepare the players before the match on the tactical strategy the opponent will apply. It is likewise impossible to discuss everything just before the match. Maybe we as coach should accept that most situations should be resolved by the players themselves. We cannot control everything. "In my early years as a coach I was, like many other coaches, someone who held long pre-match talks. I want to talk about everything, all tactics and possible situations needed to be discussed. I wanted to make sure I didn't forget anything, it made me feel secure. But what is the added value for the players? Nowadays I am the complete opposite and I opt to deliver short message all throughout the week. During the pre-match talk I merely repeat the most important attention points. And of course you can use this as an opportunity to motivate your players. But the most

important information was already delivered to my players during the week.” “I realize this is easy for me to say, as I have six to eight training session a week to provide my players which the information. I have a lot of time to train specific match situations and provide them with the necessary information. Regardless, I do believe this is also possible at the amateur level. Most coaches have two training sessions a week. Take the time in between exercise to highlight the relation to the match. By working from the positions as much as possible, players can easily translate this to the match. You can also opt to have a pre-match talk after the last training session, or talk to players individually during the warming-up. My prematch talks never last more than 15 minutes, which is not too long for players. They will be able to really take the information in. When you talk for more than 15 minutes their level of attention will decrease. I use these 10 to 15 minutes to get the most important points across.”

Themes “I think it is unnecessary to discuss all themes every week. A lot of coaches opt

No.42 September 2010

"WHEN THE OPPONENT PRESSURE, YOUR PLAYERS MUST MOVE FORWARD"

train certain themes each week. One week they will focus on the build up, the next week on defending, another for finishing. When you focus on certain themes in your sessions, you can also focus on these themes during your talks. This will allow you to discuss the theme of that week in more details during your pre-match talk.”

Conclusion One of Hans de Jong's responsibilities at SC Heerenveen is analyzing the upcoming opponent. But when it comes to his job as coach of the U17s, De Jong primarily looks at his own team. “Most coaches do not have to opportunity to analyze their opponent completely. Furthermore, you should not want to modify your own style too much.” His message is to other coaches is to keep the opponent in mind, but to look for solutions that are most closely related to your own playing style. “There are coaches who believe that their team can completely modify in opponent possession and transition back to their own playing style when they have possession. I don't believe in this. Shifting or sagging across 10 meters in transition is doable, but that is the maximum. If the distance is larger you will

No.42 September 2010

always be too late. I would rather be faced with more frequent 1v1 situations, then to be confronted with a situation where you have to little passing options or in which you are completely out of position.” “Analyzing your opponent has a limited effect,” says De Jong. “First and foremost it is about the qualities of the players. You can tactically come up with all kinds of solutions and strategies, but if your opponent's players are simply better, winning will still be hard. Pressuring this opponent will not work, because you will be the one who is forced back. When two teams are a match, these things can make the difference. The most important thing is that the players master their own playing style. That they do not get out of position, that they make the right choices on and off the ball, that they maintain the correct distances, etc. A coach should pay attention to analyzing the execution of their own playing style. Coach should make match situations trainable. When your own players are able to recognize the opponents playing style and are able to anticipate on it, then you have accomplished something as a coach.”

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Training Sessions

Dutch Possession games No.42 September 2010

Training Sessions U9 U11 U13 U15 U17 U19 A

• Defenders can score on the two small goals, attackers must score on the large goal • Goal only counts when all players from that team are passed the middle line at the moment of scoring • Goals counts double when not all players from the defending team are back on their own half • Objectives: o improve working together as a team in possession, transition and opponent possession. o Play compact in opponent possession • Quickly position compactly as a team when opponent gains possession, work together, defend as a team

VARIATIONS

COACHING

• A large goal with a goalkeeper + 2 small goals

• Defending team pressures the ball and have a limited amount of touches

U9 U11 U13 U15 U17 U19 A

• Rectangle of 20x30m + 1 large goal + 3 small goals

• Team in possession: pass the ball around 10x = point • Defending team (team of 4l) must intercept the ball and can score on one of the 4 goals • Objectives: o improve cooperation between defensive team. Learn to pressure together, at the right moment, stimulate coaching • Work together, coach each other to the ball, attack the ball after weak pass from opponent, when intercepted score right away

No.42 September 2010

• Modify numbers: 6v3, 5v2 VARIATIONS

ORGANIZATION PROGRESSION

• 8v7 on half a field

POSITION GAME 7V4

COACHING

PROGRESSION

ORGANIZATION

ATTACK VS. DEFENSE

Training Sessions U9 U11 U13 U15 U17 U19 A

ORG.

TRANSITION

• Rectangle of 20x30m + 1 large goal with goalkeeper + 2 small goals

PROGRESSION

• Defender passes to attacker. Attacker tries to score on large goal right away. • Defender who passed the ball immediately tries to win it back • If the defender intercepts the ball he may score in one of the small goals

• Game continues until one of the players scores or the ball is out of bounds

• After loss of possession pressure the ball immediately, do not allow opponent to shoot, intercept the ball

VARIATIONS

COACHING

• Objective: improve transition after loss of possession • Play 2v2, 3v3 or with an outnumbering situation for the attacking team

U9 U11 U13 U15 U17 U19 A

10V5 ORGANIZATION

• Field: 50 x 30 meters • 3 groups of 5 players play 10v5 • The ten players tries to remain in possession for as long as possible • The team who looses possession becomes the defending team

COACHING

• At loss of possession pressure right away

VARIATIONS

• Limit amount of touches • Decrease field size • Switch to 8v4

No.42 September 2010

Training Sessions U9 U11 U13 U15 U17 U19 A

7V5 WITH 14 PLAYERS

ORGANIZATION

• Field: 60 x 40 meters, divided into 2 areas • The team of 7 (yellow) tries to remian in possession for as long as possible • Team of 5 (blue) tries to intercept the ball and open to one of the 2 striker • These 5 players + 5 players from the other team move into the other area • Blue team now has possession

• Quick and good transitions • Seek the strikers at the right moment • Limit amount of touches VARIATIONS

COACHING

• Team in possession stay calm on the ball

• Decrease/increase field size

U9 U11 U13 U15 U17 U19 A

- Play 6v6 with 2 neutrals - Play on possession - The objective is to go reach a player (deep) on th other side through a neutral player (midfielders) - The ball must stay below knee height - T: Hard and good passes; keep ball low - I: See depth and seek depth; Pay attention to field positioning - C: coach after passes

VARIATIONS

COACHING

ORGANIZATION

6 V 6 WITH 2 NEUTRAL PLAYERS

No.42 September 2010

- Midfield max. 2 touches - Decrease playing field

Training Sessions U9 U11 U13 U15 U17 U19 A

ORGANIZATION

1+7 VS. 7+1

- Game on large goal with goalkeepers - Play 1:4:2:1 vs. 1:2:2:3

U9 U11 U13 U15 U17 U19 A

COACHING

ORGANIZATION

TRANSITION IN A 5V5 - Play in 2 areas of 30 meters long and a penalty area's width - 5v5 in 1 area - When the ball in intercepted pass the the other area as soon as possible - The team of 5 that lost the ball must transition to defense in the other area - After 10 passes team may shoot on goal -

Come out of an opponent back Always pressure the ball Pass to far foot Follow through on your movements Come into the ball Eye contact

No.42 September 2010

Training Sessions U9 U11 U13 U15 U17 U19 A

- Defender only pressures the ball - Eye contact - Coaching - Hard and good passes

U9 U11 U13 U15 U17 U19 A

ORGANIZATION

- 3 defenders, 1 of them always pressuring the ball - The moment in which the ball is played to the other side the second defender will pressure the ball (defender 1 moves back)

POSITION GAME 3V1

COACHING

ORGANIZATION

CONDITIONING AND PRESSURE IN A 4V3

- We play a position game, 3 v 1 - The players do not work from the side line, but from a cone - After winning the ball or after a couple of minutes you have a change of defender

- Once a player receives the ball from a teammate the other two players have to make sure they run as fast as possible to the other two cones next to the player who receives the ball to find the open space again. - Make sure the players pay attention to passing the ball to the correct foot

No.42 September 2010

Training Sessions U9 U11 U13 U15 U17 U19 A

- Once a player on the flank has the ball, the other 3 players have to make sure they create two passing options, as fast as possible, without running completely to the cone. - Make sure the players pay attention to passing the ball to the correct foot

- This exercise has a transition point. Once you've gained possession you have to make the field wide. Otherwise 4 players will be positioned statically on the flank and that's not the purpose of this exercise. Now you are working more and more towards a real match situation

U9 U11 U13 U15 U17 U19 A

ORGANIZATION

LINE FOOTBALL 7V6

COACHING

- We play a position game of 4 v 2, with 3 teams of 2 players - We play Red with Blue against Green - As soon as the Green team steals the ball, they play, if they win the ball from the Blue team, with Red. The Blue team now has to win the ball. - In this exercise we work from a side. Every player of the foursome who has possession moves along a flank.

VARIATIONS

COACHING

ORGANIZATION

POSITION GAME 4V2

- We play a game of 7 v 6 - Teams can score by dribbling over their opponent's back line.

- The principle is the same. Every time you have to create triangles, so players have to come next to it and find the open space in the axis. Because you have an additional player you should be able to find the open spaces.

No.42 September 2010

RAYMOND VISSERS, GOALKEEPING COACH RKC WAALWIJK:

"Not isolated, but integrated!" Thirty-six year old Raymond Vissers has been in charge of the goalkeeping training at RKC Waalwijk for over four years now, while also still being active at the amateur level. Vissers believes that goalkeepers are still being trained too isolated from the rest of the group. "Especially at the amateur level this is an area that still needs improvement." SoccerCoachingInternational spoke elaborately with the animated Vissers about everything that has to do with the goalkeeping profession. By: Rob Robben Vissers, has trained goalkeepers at both the amateur and professional level and both adults as well as youth, which provided him with a broad and rich view on training goalkeepers. “Every level and age group need a different approach. Youth players have to be educated. A basis must be formed, as the foundation is essential. Up to and including the U13 level you are really only working on technique. From the U14s on you slowly start to introduce physical and mental aspects. And from the U15/16

you progress to include game tactics.”

Annual plan “With the U17-U19s I really focus on the match. Of course I continue to work on technique, but I try to incorporate as much match situations into the training sessions as possible. I will then look at what shortcomings and attention points there are and design new exercises and sessions accordingly. I do adhere to the annual plan. A lot of goalkeeping coaches work based

No.42 September 2010

on their gut-feeling. I am no different, but I do keep in line with the annual plan. I am continuously working to optimize the annual plan, by modifying and improving it. I write everything down. Working with an annual plan ensures you stay on track. That is why I spend one hour every week on technique. During the preparation phase I work a lot on fast feet and on coordination and agility. Both with a ball and without a ball. During the season I spend a lot of time on long and short passes and crosses. Hard straight shots and set-plays are also repeated a lot. When they talk about adult goalkeepers people often say you have to maintain technique, I do not agree with this statement. It is not about maintaining technique, it is about improving technique. Besides technique I also spend at least one hour a week on physical and mental training.”

No.42 September 2010

Match specific “The third part of my training sessions is match specific. The exercises I use for this part are based on the shortcoming and attention points I spotted during the match. I believe a goalkeeping coach should see as many matches as possible from his goalkeeper, so you can use the information gathered in the training sessions. With the youth goalkeepers this may be trickier because goalkeepers from various age categories are often trained together.”

Not isolated, but integrated! “I am also the goalkeeping coach at a first division amateur club here in Holland, called WSC. The problem is that I do not see the goalkeepers in action a lot. In this case I am very much dependent on what the head coach tells me. I believe coaches usually only look at the specific qualities of their

goalkeepers. But you must also pay close attention to the cooperation with the defense and the rest of the team. When a goalkeeper simply kicks a back pass down the field, a coach would blame the goalkeeper. However, he should be asking why the goalkeeper is doing that. Did he kick it down the field because he didn't have any other passing opportunities, because the rest of the team was out of position or because the players didn't ask for the ball? This brings me to my favorite topic. Training a goalkeeper to function as an integrated part of the team. The goalkeeping coach should get more responsibility for this. For example, by allow your goalkeeping coach to train the goalkeeper and defense together on the build up from the back.”

Cooperation with the head coach “All of this must be in good cooperation with the head coach. There is usually still a lot of room for improvement in this area. As more often than not the coach and goalkeeping coach only briefly discuss the sessions before the training. Usually this discussion is about the amount of time the goalkeeping coach needs with the goalkeepers and when the goalkeepers will be available for the 11v11. There is usually no discussion on the goalkeepers performance during the previous match. The goalkeeping training should be integrated, not insolated. This asks for a good cooperation between the

goalkeeping coach and the head coach. It would be ideal when the goalkeeping coach has the function of assistant/goalkeeping coach, as he would then also be on the bench during matches. I believe a goalkeeping coach should be a full member of the technical staff at the amateur level. I realize this is not always feasible, as there are also costs involved, but even when the budget allows it a goalkeeping coach is rarely part of the technical staff.”

Professionals “At the professional level the cooperation between the goalkeeping coach and the head coach is a lot better. Professional clubs have really improved this area. At first Ruud Brood, our current coach, did not want the goalkeepers to take part in possession exercises, as he felt it would decrease the quality of the exercise. I was able to convince him that goalkeepers should also be able to play football and in order to achieve this they need the opportunity to improve their skills. With possession exercises you can, for example, use the goalkeepers as wall passers on the short side of the playing area.”

Analysis Vissers takes the cooperation with the head coach further than merely training the goalkeepers. "I also analyze matches and opponents along with Adrie Bogers or John Feskens, Brood's assistants. I pay attention

No.42 September 2010

to the goalkeepers; how are they positioned, is he tall or short, how is the defensive line positioned and how does he go about the build up from the back. I also pay more attention to set plays. Does he leave the near or far post unguarded at a corner kick. Or both? Where does he put his defense? How many players does he put in his penalty area? What does he do with a free kick? Does he make a wall? If so, how many players does he use? These are all important details when you are making your tactical plan before the match against this opponent.”

Organization set plays Vissers, who is one of the youngest goalkeeping coaches at the Dutch professional level, does not have a set organization when it comes to set plays. “No, I think this is very dependent on the goalkeeper. Is he big or small, what are the opponents' qualities, do they have practiced corner kicks or free kicks, does the goalkeeper have strong headers in his defense and is he confident? Our away game against NAC last season was Levita's, our goalkeeper, first game. We build in some securities, such as guarding both posts at corner kicks and all players were back on defense with a corner kick. After a couple of matches, he gained more confidence and now he just wants 1 post guarded. Depending on the opponent he will choose which post that will be. The

organization for set plays is largely dependent on all of the above mentioned factors, however there is room for some set agreements. I believe it is essential to always have an open player in the zone at the 5 meter mark. Furthermore, you always need at least 1 player on the top edge of the penalty area for the second ball or to block a shot from the second line. Last but not least I believe 1 post should always be guarded.” Attention point for wall organization: - Do not use a wall if the distance is greater than 22 meters - The biggest players should be second and third players in the wall - Players must make themselves big, stand on your toes - Players should not jump - Players should keep their body straight after the shot, so don't turn

Goalkeeper qualities “There is always a lot of discussion as to what a good goalkeeper is. Which qualities must he have? In todays footballing climate we expect a lot from our goalkeepers. He must possess many qualities. He must be able to play along, coach, be strong in the air, control his area, be quick with the continuation of play. He must master every quality in detail. I believe good goalkeepers should be athletic, cat-like and quick on their feet. However, there is one real quality

No.42 September 2010

Future Vissers is currently taking the KNVB 1 course and has learned a lot from

goalkeeping coaches like Joop Hiele, AndrĂŠ van Gerven, Frans Hoek and Maarten Arts, but has no intention of copying them. "You learn something from every coach, and you apply some things to your own sessions, but I am Raymond Vissers and I follow my own vision." Vissers doesn't have the ambition to become a head coach in the future. "Goalkeepers never complain. Some say people say goalkeepers are a bit crazy, but I disagree. But goalkeepers are special and I enjoy working with them. I am taking the coaching course to improve myself and to expand my vision on coaching in general, not to switch specialties.â&#x20AC;?

U9 U11 U13 U15 U17 U19 A

COACHING

ORGANIZATION

CONCENTRATION (WITH ACTION/REACTION)

VARIATIONS

that all goalkeepers should master 100% and its quite simple. They must be good 'ball-getters'. Goalkeepers in Holland do not get the time to develop themselves anymore. They have to perform right away. An exception is Zaari, from FC Den Bosch. They allowed him to develop himself, which may have costs them some points in the beginning, but at the end it it paid off. A goalkeeper should get the chance to develop himself."

- The coach calls a colour and the goalkeeper quickly tabs the cone in that colour and moves to the opposite corner to save a shot

Quick action/reaction Concentration Technical execution Step in with your correct foot Attack the ball

- Both left and right corners - Low into the corner - Half-heigh into the corner - High into the corner

No.42 September 2010

Possession Opponent U9 U11 U13 U15 U17 U19 A

VARIATIONS

COACHING

ORGANIZATION

REACTION IN GAME CONTINUATION - Goalkeeper 1 is facing the red cone - At goalkeeper 2's sign, 1 quickly turns around (left) and saves a shot at the near post - 1 opens to goalkeeper 3 - 3 receives the ball and passes to 2, who functions as a striker - Quick reactions - Concentration - Game continuation by passing to 3 - Receiving and crossing - Position goalkeeper 1

- You can also do this with 1 goalkeeper and 2 players - Along both wings

U9 U11 U13 U15 U17 U19 A

COACHING

ORGANIZATION

TRAINING SHORT CROSSES AND QUICK CONTINUATIONS

VARIATIONS

- 2 passes to 3, 3 wall passes and 2 passes to 3 who is going deep. 3 crosses straight and short - 2 moves in as a striker - 1 tries to intercept the cross, if he can't a 1v1 will arise - 1 opens quickly on the empty goal, which is positioned about 10 meters in front of the middle line - Intercepting short cross - Quick and sharp continuation - Good positioning of goalkeeper 1 in front of the goal

- Other wing - You can also use players instead of goalkeepers - When 1 intercepts the ball he can open on the empty goal or play 1v1 against goalkeeper 2

No.42 September 2010

Column

Fooled by Football’s Imposters It’s very evident to the world and certainly to the people in America that the game of soccer is growing at such a tremendous pace. It is fantastic to see this amount of kids playing the game; more and more interest from the ‘other’ bigger sports’ fans and most encouraging of all is the amount of live games covered on US TV from all over the world. I can watch more ninety minute, live English, Spanish and Italian games now; than I could when I lived over in England, thanks to the likes of ESPN, Gol TV and of course the Fox Soccer Channel. This great sport that the world is in love with, is taking over America. By: Anthony Hudson

No.42 September 2010

But let’s not be fooled by what we are seeing, and even more so by what we are hearing. The glitz, the commercials, the talk shows and the ads are all over the place and people love them. But let’s face it, they are not the game. And all these gimmicks and bright lights overshadow a deep seated, un-earthed and unlooked-at problem that threatens to turn this young, novice, ‘rookie-like’ (as they say Stateside) and slightly naïve nation into a very dark footballing hole….one that my home nation finds themselves in right now, as we see the ‘great’ England team headed home early from South Africa to leave the world’s greatest competition to the real footballing nations. So what is this problem? I’ll give it to you in one sentence: The people in the media who are at the forefront of the game in the USA, the people that the whole nation hear on a weekly basis, the ‘expert’ opinions that are thrust into our living rooms everyday are under qualified, lack real football experience and have connections in the game that make there commentary and opinion bias, weak and hopelessly false. And if that’s not enough, any real personality or character is very much, few and far between. These are the people that are educating this great nation on the principles of the game of soccer, when the country is in such a fantastic, yet critical moment in its development.

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On a much smaller level, here’s how it compares; asking a 16 year old kid to teach you how to drive; hiring a man with no experience in the field of food and cooking, to open and run your restaurant that you have your whole life’s worth of investment in; a football manager asking his wife on a Friday night to help pick his team…hhmm…that one might not be so un-common. Only this is a whole country, not a car or a single business....the whole country’s future in the game being shaped by a handful of sub par, supposed ‘experts’. In America, 370,000 people watched Man Utd’s 3-1 win over Arsenal in January last season on the Fox Soccer Channel. That’s a lot. And here’s another one - 23.4 million people watched the 2010 World Cup final, setting records for a game of soccer on TV in the States (according to Nielsen data). It is growing! And with growth, comes huge responsibility.

The Chosen Ones (why….I’m not sure?) I feel sorry for any kid that may happen to turn on the TV and catch the Fox Football Phone In, a show presented by two Englishman, Steve Cohen and Nick Geber. I am 100% positive that these two gentlemen would never be allowed anywhere near a show over in Europe to comment on football. Both sit and give there strong opinions on the game and

neither of them have ever kicked a ball in there lives, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve never really watched one, judging by what they come out with. And yet, the following day, people who don’t know any better hear what they say and regurgitate the same old nonsense in their own footballing circles. It’s dangerously contagious. Nick Webster is a regular, and it seems whenever you get comfortable to watch a game, he’s right there, like clock work, telling us what is happening, what needs to be done, why this manager is doing things the wrong way and this player is not doing what he supposed to be doing and on and on. Mr Webster, another Englishman whom I don’t think would get anywhere near a football show in his homeland, is the Head Boy’s Soccer Coach of Windward High School (the height of his football experience). Now, there is nothing wrong with this at all, I’m sure he’s great guy and he does a fantastic job with the kids. But, please, he has the power to affect the whole of the USA every time we turn on the TV to watch a game of football. Is this the best there is? A high school coach? And what type of standards are being set?

pundits. People that have performed at the very highest level of that sport and have been successful. They’ve been there and done it. They have weight, experience and value in there opinion. The highest footballing achievement of the former pundits I’ve mentioned, is what, a Youth Tournament, or a high school championship maybe, at best. Is that good enough? Is that good enough to be presenting and commenting on soccer, to this country? Why don’t we have real experts on TV? So we look at soccer in America, and for the life of me, I cannot find anyone who has been there and done it at the very highest level. The best I could offer, at a real stretch, is Alexi Lalas, whom I think we can all flat out agree is not one of those. Christopher Sullivan played 52 league games in a ten year playing career for clubs most of us have never heard of, yet commentates weekly on most games, talking like he was Maradona! Keith Costigan played in the United Soccer Leagues, second tier of American soccer, with the highlight of his career being a trial with the LA Galaxy, yet Mr Costigan is at the forefront of punditry on TV. I could go on and on. Is this good enough?

Been There and Done It

And Where’s the Character?

When you look at other sports, let’s say Tennis or Rugby for example; they always seem to have top ex professionals as

They all seem so afraid to say it exactly how it is, and exactly what is going on. It becomes quite obvious when you start

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listening to these guys and you soon notice, not just that they are incompetent when it comes to there subject, but what friends they have in the game. There’s no way they’ll say anything against them, whether players, coaches, clubs or whoever. Shouldn’t we see pundits who know what they are talking about, that have experience? And not those who are afraid to say what’s needed, because they might upset someone, or they may bump into them at a party or a game the following night.

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These are the chosen ones that are the face of soccer in this country and are educating everyone about the game in its youthful development at such a grand level. Now for me, Brian Clough is one of my heroes and there’s no way any of the names above should even have the right to be in the same article as this legend, but I have to say this. What he did as a manager was out of this world. Now there’s your experience. And as a football pundit, he was phenomenal. He said it how it was. He saw things the way real football supporters saw

them. People could relate. And he had personality. You learned about the game when he spoke. You learned about life when he spoke. He was honest. Clough was a one off; but we’re not even getting anywhere close with where we are now. In fact, we’re moving in the opposite direction.

Imposters in The Game….

response I got from the majority of people I spoke to surrounding the game – based purely on the fact that I had an English accent and therefore I ‘knew what I was talking about’. It was, and is, amazing. Scarily amazing and yes, I have to say it…unbelievably ignorant! This naivety has almost caused an epidemic in the game out here.

When I first came to America, I was amazed at how, and I don’t want to say ignorant, but it’s the only word I can find to describe it; maybe uninformed, or lacking in knowledge is easier to stomach; but this was the

Thankfully, Americans are more educated and are wising up to it now, but what I saw and still see is people on TV, coaches in clubs, working there way into nice little,

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cushy set ups, based upon the fact that they are from a different country and speak in a way that most Americans, blurt out ‘oh he’s from England, or Holland or Brazil, so he must know what he’s talking about.’ It is a disgrace that so many are draining the money out of the game, taking from uninformed, none-the wiser, bosses, parents and clubs. I know if you’re a coach and your reading this, your either one of those and this makes you feel very uncomfortable right now, or you know many of these people taking from the game and it has to frustrate you too. This is getting away from the subject, only very slightly and it’s a whole separate problem that, if I get started I may get myself into trouble, but the country seems to be blinded by it. Whether on TV or on the training ground, just because you are from a country like England, doesn’t mean that you know more about the game than people in this country, but unfortunately, that is how it is right now.

don’t yet have a list of statistics under my managerial record or big trophies and medals, but I can assure you - very soon I will! But, the most important thing is, I care enough about football to want to voice a concern that I feel so very strongly about. I’m passionate about the game and on top of that I know what I’m talking about. If I had a child growing up in America, and he loved the game the way I did as a kid, I would be very concerned about what he was hearing whenever he turned the TV on to watch a game football. I’d also be concerned with the qualifications and experience of the people doing the educating out on the field. And that’s not good for the future of this sport in America. If only we could see a little further down the line, I wonder what direction this blinkeredgoing about our own business-type attitude, could take us in the years to come.

Too many people in the game, too many imposters, do nothing but take from it. And if we are in the game for the right reasons we have a responsibility to say something. So, what gives me the right to say all this? I’m certainly no expert when it comes to TV punditry. Why don’t I just leave the US if I feel this way? Well, because I care about the game. I am a young professional football manager making my way in the game. I

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Celso Roth demands better communication from his players One of the shortcomings of Sport Club Internacional is that there is very little communication amongst the players. This was the assessment made by Celso Roth, the coach hired by the club to replace Jorge Fossati, whose contract was recently terminated. Roth believes that with a consolidated dialogue his team becomes more organized on the field, which is a reason he has been

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focusing on this issue during tactical training sessions. "When the players do not talk, you cannot be certain that they understand their role. And in my coaching methodology this is a key area. Each one of them must know the space they have to occupy and the space the other players are occupying. This brings about communication, a positive guidance among them.â&#x20AC;?

Brazilien Corner

Botafogo selects youth players for an international tournament In cooperation with a company that is specialized in sports, cultural and academic exchange programs; 2SV Sports, the Botafogo U19 team is taking part in an overseas tournament. Twenty players will be selected to play in international football tournament which will be held in Memphis, USA. They will be accommodated in host families, with food and transportation expenses covered by the tournament organization. The first two games of the Brazilian team will be against the universities of Memphis and Kentucky. After that they will participate in a tournament called Copa Memphis. The Brazilian players also have the opportunity to win a sportsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; scholarship for one of the Universities in the United States. Players will be observed by American coaches and scouts throughout the competition.

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Brazilian Confederation foresees changes due to the early exit from World Cup 2010 Unhappy with the Brazilian national campaign in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the President of the CBF (Brazilian football Confederation), Ricardo Teixeira, said that the future national team coach will have to make some major changes in the squad and select more youth players.

Teixeira announced the resignation of Carlos Dunga, who coached the team over the past four seasons, just days after 2-1 defeat against the Netherlands, in the quarterfinals of the tournament. The profile

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of the new coach is already in place, the new coach will have to work with youth players. "I saw a FIFA's list with the ages of the players who participated in this past World Cup. Germany has nine players younger than 23 years old. Argentina has seven, Ghana eleven and Spain six. Brazil only had one,â&#x20AC;? said Teixeira in an interview on channel STV. "We have to prepare ourselves for World Cup 2014. This means we have to make some major changes within the team. One of the prerequisites to make the team is that a player must currently be between the age of 18 to 20 years old. The new coach may choose one or two more experienced players, but the rest of the squad must be younger. There is no other way to do it. We will have to proceed in this way ", said Teixeira, who has been the administrative president of CBF for the last two decades.

Brazilien Corner

Atlético-PR switches systems of play 63

In recent seasons, Atletico-PR has grown accustomed to work in a system with three defenders, two half wingers with freedom to attack, three midfielders in the middle and two forwards, a 3-5-2. However, a new coach leads to a new era and Paulo César Carpegiani will only resort to this previous system of play when necessary. Carpegiani, who coached the Paraguay national team during the 1998 World Cup and won the Liberators Championship with Flamengo, has switched to a 4-4-2 for the team from Paraná. Carpegiani was hired in June and indicated some reinforcements. He ensures that he already knows the group quite well and knows in what position he can use any one of the players. Improvisations are made only as a last resort. "The group is much more confident, motivated, and eager to win. I like this: a competitive team that can play. "said the coach.

The Brazilian corner, a contribution from Universidade do Futebol www.universidadedofutebol.com.br

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