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Issue 55, Christmas 2011

Jefta Bresser,

PSV youth academy

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CONTENTS

16 TRAINING SESSIONS

THE EDITOR 5 FROM Merry Christmas ! Winter is slowly creeping around the corner here in Holland, but this

Attacking Phases, Part 3

55th issue gives me a warm feeling as this issue marks the end of our eighth year! An anniversary we celebrate with this Christmas edition of SCI.

28 YOUTH ACADEMY Ricardo Pilingeiro, Developing players

34 YOUTH TRAINING

Reinier Robbemond, AZ youth academy trainer

42 YOUTH COACHING

Diogo Giacomini, A multidisciplinary approach to development

COVERSTORY

48 NEW IN ONLINE

Jefta Bresser, PSV youth academy

SHOP

It is Friday morning at quarter past nine, and it is still very quiet at ‘De Herdgang’ in Eindhoven. The morning sun shines through the surrounding conifers, and there are just a handful of cars that belong to some ‘early birds’ who arrived in the quietness, awaiting training at the PSV facility. One of them is youth trainer Jefta Bresser, who plays a fantastic game of table football with his colleague. “I am always here at eight o’clock,” explains Bresser, “Most of the time for a meeting, or to prepare a training session.”

50 BRAZILIAN CORNER

No. 55 Christmas 2011

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 publishes 10 Issues per year. Chief editor Paul van Veen Beatrixlaan 21, 2811 LZ REEUWIJK THEâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;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 Project Manager Floris Schmitz f.schmitz@sportfacilities.com

Managing Editor and Translations Maaike Denkers maaike@soccercoachinginternational.com Copy Editing Michael Francis Pollin Graphic Design Anton Gouverneur Tania Dimitrova Rumen Krastev studio@sportfacilities.com Editorial Staff Bruno CamarĂŁo, Rogier Cuypers, Maaike Denkers, Hanne Meijers, Michael Francis Pollin, Lars van Soest, Paul van Veen, Jan Zoutman. Copyright All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

ISSN 1571 - 8794

FROM THE EDITOR

Merry Christmas ! Winter is slowly creeping around the corner here in Holland, but this 55th issue gives me a warm feeling as this issue marks the end of our eight year! An anniversary we celebrate with this Christmas edition of SCI. This issue again provides you with a multitude of perspectives and visions in coaching, training and playing (as well as the aforementioned conundrum) in many levels of the beautiful game from all around the World. By presenting to you such a rich and varied spectrum of coaching, SCI will inform you as the coach, so you will be able to learn for yourself and appropriately apply the right methods, styles and resources to suit you, the players and the team. I hope you enjoy this last issue of 2011 and I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year! Yours in Soccer Maaike Denkers - Managing Editor Prettige Kerstdagen en een gelukkig nieuw jaar Glædelig Jul og godt nytår God jul och gott nytt år Feliz Navidad y próspero año nuevo Feliz Natal e próspero ano novo Hyvää joulua ja onnellista uutta vuotta Geseënde Kersfees en ‘n gelukkige nuwe jaar Veselé vánoce a št’astný nový rok Joyeux Noël et bonne année Kala Khristougenna kai Eutukhismeno to Neo Etos Chag Molat Sameach v’Shanah Tovah Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr! Buon Natale e felice anno nuovo Srecan Božic i Srecna Nova Godina I’D Miilad Said ous Sana Saida Gleðileg Jól og Farsaelt Komandi ár! Srekan Bozik I Nova Godina

Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva i s Novim Godom Vesele Vianoce a stastny novy rok Vesele bozicne praznike in srecno novo leto Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan choctav Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto Fröhlichi Wiehnacht et Joyeux Noel Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ur Wesolych Swiat i Szczesliwego Nowego Roku Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun Nollaig Shona Dhuit Nixtieqlek Milied Tajjeb u Sena Tajba God Jul og Godt Nyttår Jovi talshpivdi un Vondzist uto aigasto Selamat Hari Natal Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar Z rizdvom Khrystovym! ta z Novym Rokom ! No. 55 Christmas 2011

COVER STORY

No. 55 Christmas 2011

COVER STORY

JEFTA BRESSER, YOUTH ACADEMY PSV EINDHOVEN: “Football is never a problem...” Jefta Bresser started his football career as a player at the Go Ahead Eagles academy; he then joined De Graafschap academy and eventually the Heracles Almelo. At this last club he was forced to stop his playing career at the age of 21 because of a severe knee injury. He joined the De Graafschap academy as a coach and worked there for eleven years (1993-2004). In 2005 he joined the PSV academy as a part-time coach to the U11s. “Of course the end of my playing career was a shame, but because I had already worked with youth players regularly during my period as a player of De Graafschap, I was in a good position to go into coaching.. I knew that I wanted to become a youth trainer and when Henk ten Cate was my coach at Heracles, he really stimulated me to develop myself in that area. One day he said “Bresser, I enrolled you in a trainer

course; Monday next week is your first day, good luck.” Ten Cate is a great guy, and a fantastic coach, his success as a coach never surprises me.” After two seasons of training the U11s at PSV, Bresser was promoted to the U13s in 2007. He was also going to work (together with Pepijn Lijnders), intensively on the technical development of players throughout the academy. After Lijnders left, Bresser became the technique coordinator and from the start of the current season he also trains the U16s. “With most of the groups I do the technique training sessions myself, mainly from U14 up to the reserves, and in addition I also train the U11s. Willem Wijs, who has been my assistant since 2007, works with the younger groups, U9-U13s.”

No. 55 Christmas 2011

COVER STORY

“Henk ten Cate and Wim van Zeist, technique trainers at De Graafschap, along with Pepijn Lijnders and Ricardo Moniz, who have all inspired me and my football vision. As a beginner youth trainer I had already convinced of the Coerver approach. Wim van Zeist influenced me early on with his refreshing views on the Coerver method. Within his way of working he already used a lot of different types of resistances, and he repeatedly brought players into situations that everybody had to solve in their own way. This may not be very shocking nowadays, but this was more than fifteen years ago.” Vision “If I would have to summarize my vision, I think of five principles: - Technique as the basis - Through the technique the confidence of the player grows and that way he can develop personality (in playing) - Players must constantly be confronted with situations, which they have to solve - The identity of an individual player must be maintained at all times - Creating is determinative; creativity must be stimulated as much as possible and most definitely not cut off.”

No. 55 Christmas 2011

COVER STORY

Street football “One of the reasons why the Coerver exercises are so important in my vision is that street football, like I know it from my own youth, has nearly disappeared. In fact we now teach our players by specific training sessions, a basis which was earlier obtained in a more natural way. Of course the fact that kids play less football on the street has to do with the changed conditions we live in, and with a different kind of mentality that has come out of that. Often there is just less space in the neighbourhoods where a lot of kids live. At PSV we try to stimulate street football with our players. For example we train with the younger youth players on a Wednesday and after the session I then give them some examples of games that they can play on the street or in a schoolyard. We perform those games here on the complex, for instance we play in the parking lot! We give those games as a kind of homework to the players to practice at home. These are mostly small sided games, but also games like ‘knockout’, whereby four or five players can play against each other at the same time. So when you are in possession, you have to beat three or four opponents. When you score you go through to the next round. The others keep playing, until one player that has not scored is left. That player drops out. The players who have made it into the next round get back on the

field and start over again, with one player down. At the end you have two players left who play the final. This game is a very nice game that inspires kids to play at home or at school!” U9-U11 “I know there is criticism on the fact that we at PSV, just like Ajax and Feyenoord, work with U9s and U11s together, as other professional clubs start with the U13s, and I do not really understand that criticism. Of course it occurs that players in this category are travelling forty-five minutes by bus to come train here and obviously I would rather see that time reduced to ten minutes, but that is just not possible. But ultimately it is about the approach of the player as they get off the bus. When I see happy faces; these are the kids I want to coach all the time!” “I understood that the KNVB (Dutch Football Association) wants to create one rule for all regional youth academies. Well, fine, but let us give the clubs like NAC Breda and FC Utrecht the right to work with U9-U11 youth players, like we do, rather than taking them away from us. FC Utrecht may not work with these age categories because they are a business, come on, what kind of strange rule is that? ” (The option is being considered, that starting in 2012 all clubs may train U9-U11s).

No. 55 Christmas 2011

COVER STORY

“IT IS KNOWN FROM BOTH SCIENCE AND EXPERIENCE THAT KIDS IN THE EIGHT TO TWELVE AGES ARE THE MOST RECEPTIVE TO TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT”

No. 55 Christmas 2011

COVER STORY

“Developmentally speaking, I think it is completely logical that it is better for the development of a young talented player to train and play at a professional regional academy. I do not want to cut the amateur clubs in The Netherlands short, but they just cannot provide the professional environment that youth players need. Despite the fact that we, at PSV, have only worked with U9s for six seasons, we are already seeing the effects within that process. For example “from the players who started with us at the U9 level, very few players have dropped out, when you compare it to the group who started with us at the U12 level. Of course, it is still too early to really analyse the results of this process, but so far it is apparent that when a player joins our academy at the U9 level and progresses through to the U13s, they have a huge advantage compared to players who join the academy at U13 level from an amateur club. Besides, the above phenomenon is also very relevant for amateur clubs. This means that what and how you train has an undoubtedly effect on the development of the youth players. It is known from both science and experience that kids in the eight to twelve ages are the most receptive to technical development. That does not only count for players with the most talent, but also for the less talented players. So when

you give, especially youth on whichever level, a lot of input on the technical area, this can really aid their development in a huge way.” Resistance and Conditions “Wiel Coerver once told me: ‘Jefta, it is very nice what you do, but do not forget that you work with the best youth players in The Netherlands and that makes it all a lot easier.’ In a certain way he was right about that. On the other hand, it is about the process and the basic skills which players who come to us mostly have by nature; which are actually just a little part within that process. Overall it is about fully using the technical potential of those talents and helping those players to develop themselves into creative football players. With that I mean creative in their own way within their own qualities; one player will be dominating, the other will be able to beat other players with a certain move they have been able to develop, and another player will have exceptional passing skills.” “In practice this means that we, within the PSV academy, work more quickly towards exercises with resistances and conditions. Meaning we constantly try to use those resistances and conditions to challenge our players and teach them to think about solutions. At PSV we want the player to be able to execute those solutions

No. 55 Christmas 2011

COVER STORY

themselves. But we also do a lot of training without resistances and conditions with the objective to teach young players new moves and techniques. Also, we like them to be able to perfect those techniques as well! Of course a player will not use every

No. 55 Christmas 2011

feint or passing move that we teach them in the match, but that is not what it is about. What is important, is that a player must first experience certain movements before they consciously, or subconsciously, decide to really do something with them.â&#x20AC;?

Meaning “When you, like me, find the development of the creative potential of players important, you must really know and understand the thought behind your work and training methodologies. For example, training sessions are often designed, performed and evaluated, based on a ‘football problem.’ Then I think; what football problem? Football is never a problem? The kids often do not see the problem given to them, but they think more in challenges and possibilities. I think that as a youth coach it is your task to give the players the freedom to perform those challenges and to explore those possibilities.

ORGANISATION

1V1 ZIDANE 1

• 3x/5x changing direction, then pass • After the pass you become a defender • And after that join the queue on the other side

MOVES

At PSV we are always looking for a creative solution and not just a long ball game. We are very demanding when it comes to the individual and the style of play. You can only play dominant football with good positioning, and then only if your players are technically capable of doing this. I think that only then they can develop into creative players. After this they are more likely to become creative players, because the fans are demandingto see that kind of play. Eventually it is about them; without those fans there is no football. I think that can never be forgotten, which sadly happens too often... “

• Cruijff (cut behind the standing leg) • Henry (cut outside footed) • Maradona (cut in front of/under the body) • Deco (overstep) • Zidane (In 2x behind the standing leg)

4 2

3 4

5 6

1 3

No. 55 Christmas 2011

EXERCISES

COVER STORY

ORGANISATION

1V1 +2 CONNECTING

• Connecting from A to B • Being open in the middle and connecting to a point • Runs away from the opponent and becomes open by short sideway steps • Do not pass back to the player who gave the pass

4 ORGANISATION

EXERCISES

ZIDANE MATCH

• Small-sided game to stimulate the 1v1 Zidane (90/180 degree directional change) • A square pitch whereby the goals are positioned in different directions to stimulate ‘difficult situations’ • Score by dribbling into the goals

No. 55 Christmas 2011

TRAINING TACTICS SESSIONS

training sessions

TRAINING SESSIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Attacking phases, part 3 Edited by Michael Francis Pollin

No. 55 54 Christmas November 2011 2011

Anyone who knows anything about football will know that it is one of the only sports in which a team can dominate an entire match and still lose. A team can dominate possession, the number of chances, the number of set plays, and yet fail to win the match. Football, like all invasion sports, can be broken down into â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;phasesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of play, with the team that demonstrates competence in most of these phases theoretically having the better opportunity to emerge victorious. By definition, a phase of play involves at least two lines of a team, such as the defensive and midfield lines, or the midfield and forward lines; very often at least part of all three lines are involved.

Natursports / Shutterstock.com

No. 55 Christmas 2011

training sessions

TRAINING SESSIONS

training sessions

THE ATTACKING PHASES

• • • • • •

Attacking and build-up play Build-up from the back Transitioning to attack Build-up the opponent’s half The moment of transition Counter-Attacking

In this part of training sessions from around the world we will focus on the third of these six phases: Transitioning to attack.

Zone 3: Transitioning to attack The aim of the game of football has not changed since its inception: score goals and prevent the opposition from scoring. Sounds simple, but with today’s athletic ability, technical ability and sophisticated training methods, it is not so simple anymore; or is it? Looking at the game from a different perspective, one can say that football is a game of constant changes of possession. Therefore, one team is always defending and trying to win the ball, while the other wants to move the ball into scoring positions and, of course, score. Unless the team in possession scores, there will always be a change of possession. After the change of possession, both teams will need to transition. For example, the team that No. 55 Christmas 2011

TRAINING SESSIONS

lost the ball now needs to transition from attack to defence, trying to force a turnover in play. So obviously the team that was defending now needs to transition to attack. Once you have transitioned from defence to attack, the objective is to get the ball moving towards the opponentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal as quickly as possible, before the other team has done its job of marking and closing down the options. In this transition, your players also need to react quickly, to predict where space and opposing players will be, anticipate play and make the runs and passes quickly. This requires technical accuracy, passing precision, with physical ability, quick decision-making and problem - solving. Another important aspect to transitioning from defence to attack, is to maintain a good attacking shape. Maintaining shape and balance by quickly transitioning and spreading out into the attacking positions, will help to enable the team to penetrate while keeping possession of the ball. Team shape and transition is always a dilemma for coaches. Everyone understands the benefits of spreading out when in possession. The less technically skilled the players are, the more space they need to maintain possession. But, on the flip side, the more spread-out a team is, the more vulnerable they are to a quick counterattack. As coaches, we should

always understand the limitations of our players and know how to maintain the balance between an attacking shape and cover at the back according to the capabilities of our team. At the youth and developmental levels it is important to teach our players the principles of attack by spreading out. At the senior and professional levels, where results matter, coaches work out a game plan and team shape that takes the playersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; limitations into account, so the team is not exposed on transition. A good attacking shape should have the following features: - Provide depth, width and good support angles - Provide support behind the ball - Create maximum triangulation and many passing options - Provide a variety of long and short passing options - Allow a switch from one side of the field to the other - Staggered arrangement that allow passes to skip lines - Allow the ball to be played from the back to the front using either a long pass, or a combination of short forward passes - In a combination with short drop passes to supporting players - Provide enough players around the ball, allowing to quickly apply pressure when possession is lost - P rovide immediate support following a long pass

In the following section we will provide exercises that will focus on maintaining shape and balance in transition to attack, as well as exercises that will help your players to quickly transition to attack.

No. 55 Christmas 2011

TRAINING SESSIONS

5V5 WITH GOALKEEPERS

ORGANISATION

• Play 5v5 with goalkeepers on a 60x40 metre pitch • The teams play through each other, with one ball per team • All players must stay in their own zones to begin maintaining shape throughout the team • Players progress the ball with a short forward pass combination • Attackers finish on goal • Play should start again from the goalkeeper • Both teams play simultaneously

PROGRESSION

• Develop by allowing players to cross over zones to support each other, but they must be replaced by another player from that zone. For example: 3 moves into the middle zone and 4 must drop back into the defending zone to keep the balance. • Ultimately progress to a 5v5 match

Phase: Transitioning Team function: Attacking Team task: Maintaining shape and balance Objective: Improve transitioning from defence to attack while maintaining shape and balance Pitch size: 60x40 meters Opponent role: same as other team Age: U17-adults

No. 55 Christmas 2011

TRAINING SESSIONS

8V8 WITH GOALKEEPERS Phase: Transitioning

Team function: Attacking

Team task: Maintaining shape and balance Objective: Improve transitioning from defence to attack while maintaining shape and balance

Pitch size: 75x50 meters

Opponent role: same as other team

Age: U17-adults

ORGANISATION

• Play 8v8 with goalkeepers in a 3-2-2 formation • The teams play through each other, with one ball per team • All players must stay in their own zones to begin maintaining shape throughout the team • Players progress the ball with short forward pass combination • Attackers finish on goal • Play starts again from the goalkeeper • Both teams play simultaneously

PROGRESSION

•Develop by allowing players to cross over zones to support each other, but they must be replaced by another player from that zone. • Players can run, pass long and short or pass to a runner from their own zone • For example; 3 moves into the middle zone and 4 must drop back into the defending zone to keep the balance. • But players may also run on the ball. For example: 2 on the ball may run over three zones with the ball, but as he enters a zone a player from that zone must drop back maintaining shape. So if player 2 runs into the middle zone he is replaced in the defensive zone by player 5, when he enters the attacking zone player 8 will drop back to the middle zone. • Players change back to their positions as soon as they can • Ultimately progress to a 8v8 match No. 55 Christmas 2011

TRAINING SESSIONS

5V2

Team function: Attacking Team task: Quickly transitioning from defence to attack Objective: Improve the speed of transitioning by passing to the striker and joining play by the midfielders Pitch size: 2 areas, each 20x20 meters with a space a 20x20 meter space between them

ORGANISATION

Phase: Transitioning

• Play 5v2 in area A • Whenever the space allows it the team of 5 will pass the ball to area B • All 5 players will move to area B • The 2 defender will remain in area A • The 2 attackers who reach area B last will become the defenders • The play continues 5v2

COACHING

• Technique; good passing, passing to correct foot, good receiving and turning, passing with the inside of the foot and keeping the ball low • Vision; runs of the ball, look deep, always know where your striker is, passing at the correct moment • Communication; asking for the ball

Age: U15-adults

No. 55 Christmas 2011

TRAINING SESSIONS

5V3 Phase: Build-up from the back Team function: Attacking Team task: Quickly transitioning from defence to attack Objective: Improve the speed of transitioning by passing to the striker and joining play by the midfielders Pitch size: half a pitch

COACHING

ORGANISATION

Age: U15-adults

• Play 4v3 in a 30x40 area, attacking team (also team to be coached) must find the right moment to pass to the striker in the other area (20x40). After the pass one midfielder from the team in possession will move into the strikers area and will try to finish on goal • The end area will now have 1 defender versus 1 midfielder and 1 striker (1v2) • The striker must ask for the ball at the right moment • The defender can score in the small goal • Every play starts with the attacking team (yellow) • Technique; good passing, passing to correct foot, good receiving and turning. passing with the inside of the foot and keeping the ball low • Vision; striker must be open at all times, look deep, always know where your striker is, passing at the correct moment • Communication; asking for the ball

No. 55 Christmas 2011

TRAINING SESSIONS

4V3 + GOALKEEPER

Team function: Attacking Team task: Quickly transitioning from defence to attack using the flanks Objective: Improve the speed of transitioning across the flank or combination play with upcoming players Pitch size: half a pitch Age: U15-adults

ORGANISATION

Phase: Transitioning

• Play 4v3 on half a pitch • Defensive team will have a goalkeeper • Defender will pass the ball to either flank players, who will either run down the flank or look for a combination with the striker or defender • Final pass into the penalty area must come from a flank player • The defenders can score in the small goal • Every play starts with the attacking team (yellow)

COACHING

• Technique; good passing, passing to correct foot, good receiving and turning, passing with the inside of the foot and keeping the ball low • Vision; striker must be open at all times, look deep, always know where your striker is, passing at the correct moment • Communication; asking for the ball

No. 55 Christmas 2011

TRAINING SESSIONS

6V6 WITH GOALKEEPERS

Pitch size: 50x30m Age: U17-adults

PROGRESSION

Team function: Attacking Team task: Quickly transitioning from defence to attack Objective: Improve the speed of transitioning in an outnumbering situation

ORGANISATION

Phase: Transitioning

• The team in possession will progress to their attacking half and will play with one extra player (6v5) • One player from the defending team will remain on the defensive half • If the defending team wins possession they will progress to their attacking half and the other team will have to leave one player on their defensive half, always creating a 6v5 advantage of the team in possession • Limit the number of passes to get to a shot on goal • Limit the time to get to a shot on goal • The aim of this exercise is to train quick transitions from defence to attack, whereby less time and passes are needed to create a scoring opportunity

No. 55 Christmas 2011

TRAINING SESSIONS

4V3 WITH GOALKEEPERS

1 2 3

Phase: Transitioning Team function: Attacking Team task: Quickly transitioning from defence to attack Objective: Improve the speed of transitioning in an outnumbering situation

ORGANISATION

Pitch size: 50x30m Age: U17-adults

No. 55 Christmas 2011

• Key to this exercise is to coach the transition from losing of possession to gaining possession • Play starts with 4 yellows against 3 blues. Each team with a goalkeeper • When the defending team (blue) gains possession, they will pass the ball to one of the players on the sideline, who will then join the play. • The attacking team will quickly exit and the 3 yellow players on the sidelines will enter. Blue is now in possession playing against 3 yellows, who are defending

TRAINING SESSIONS

6V6 WITH GOALKEEPERS

Phase: Transitioning

Pitch size: 50x30m

• Free game • Aim of the exercise is to assess whether to reorganise or quick transition by going deep after gaining possession

ORGANISATION

Team function: Attacking Team task: Quickly transitioning from defence to attack Objective: Improve the speed of transitioning

Age: U17-adults

No. 55 Christmas 2011

YOUTH ACADEMY

“My intention is to bring to Italy what I learned in Barcelona over the years, very offensive football built on good team play.” The first words of Luis Henrique when he took over the first team at AS Roma made it clear what the former coach of Catalan B team aims for. Beyond the enthusiasm exhibited to directors and also fans and press, the former Spanish international has ignited a very positive perspective in one Brazilian in particular. Ricardo Perlingeiro has been at the Rome club for the last eight years, and now he is the coach of the youth academy; also known as ‘giallorossi.’ Having won several tournaments at youth academy level, the 37 year old ‘carioca’ (from Rio de Janeiro) wants to ratify, rather than triumph, the technical performance which earned praise from local rival clubs. By: Bruno Camarão and Thales Peterson (Universidade do Futebol) Edited by: Michael Francis Pollin

No. 55 54 Christmas November 2011 2011

YOUTH ACADEMY

RICARDO PERLINGEIRO, AS ROMA YOUTH ACADEMY COACH

Developing players “With the frantic desire to win, and with the added anxiety and pressure that this brings, the technical part of football is too often neglected. The skills and motor coordination which form the basis for the tactical aspect are worked at very little,” said Perlingeiro, who coaches under the direction of Bruno Conti, the very skilful midfielder from the 1980’s, who is also a great believer of technical soccer. Both the trainers adamantly agree that today Barcelona is the best soccer reference in the world. In the ‘quarries,’ Luis Henrique had a hand in the development of a methodology that is based on the technique in motion; a situation that is repeated from one category to the next, right up to the first team. “Here in Rome, he wants to implement the same. A principle quality of a coach is motivation, and he has to be able to implement this with confidence. With the aim to play

the 4-3-3 system, we can take advantage of the Barcelona youth academy system by acquiring some of their players.” Born in Rio de Janeiro, but of Italian origin, Perlingeiro always had the dream of playing football in Italy. But because of an accident, he could not continue his career as an athlete and had become a professional soccer player for Fluminense.” “I went to Italy aged 23, when a director of a club invited me to play in semi-professional teams. I saw that I would not reach a level that is reasonable and I started working at soccer schools.” In 1998, the ‘boom’ of indoor soccer had not yet reached Italy yet. Perlingeiro started to organise Roma’s soccer school called, ‘Calcio a 5.’ Later, he moved to regular soccer, when Bruno Conti called him for all his

No. 55 Christmas 2011

YOUTH ACADEMY

“WE ARE PLANNING NEW EXCHANGE PROGRAMS IN OTHER COLONIES IN BRAZIL”

No. 55 54 Christmas November 2011 2011

YOUTH ACADEMY

experience. “He was the one who created the whole youth academy for AS Roma and was the technical director of the first team for three years.” Roma were recently champions of the main junior national tournament. In 2010 Roma also won the Italian youth league, which is highly respected throughout Europe. “Unlike its major rivals that have great financial condition and buy the players already made,’ we have to develop our players in our academy. With this acquisition, Roma became interested in the Brazilians’ way of working, and he has been there for the last eight years with the club. “Today I am one of the few Brazilian coaches working in the youth academies of European clubs. This experience is reflected with the responsibility of coordinating Roma’s summer camps throughout the world. This year I worked with the juniors that were National Champions, and my team was the Regional Champions, against Lazio.” According to Perlingeiro, “it is the coordinator who tells the coaches which team they are going to be in charge of. There is no previous definition, except for the juniors (U20), that is Daniele De Rossi’s father, Alberto Rossi, always with the same age group, they will now be the responsibility of the junior (U20) and juvenil (U17), also to go by

Luis Enrique, who was the head coach for Barcelona’s B team for the last three years, and is now Roma’s head coach. Process for identifying and attracting talent for AS Roma AS Roma has a chief scout, which has professionals spread across all regions of Italy; in addition to the scouts who operate at the international level. There are also affiliated teams, called nuclei (nearly 60 overall), who maintain a relationship with the giallorossi. “Generally, I establish contact with the coordinators of these nuclei, when we nominate the main players to come to our club and they will be monitored,” noted Perlingeiro. In the summer camps, the goal is to bring the methodology developed at Roma’s youth academy to the young players of many other countries. Recently, Caio Werneck, a 10 year old Brazilian player from Juiz de Fora (Minas Gerais) received an invitation and went through a training process in the club, with school and medical assistance. “We are planning new exchange programs in other colonies in Brazil, but this also depends on the political arrangements with the new management of the Rome club, recently bought by Americans,” said Perlingeiro.

No. 55 Christmas 2011

YOUTH ACADEMY

TRAINING METHODS AND PLAYER PROFILE “As a coach, we explain each step of training in detail, with our goal to prepare the player to be professional. The medical staff, as well, are highly instructive on issues relating to rehabilitation and physiotherapy,” said the Brazilian coach. At one level, for example the area of nutrition, there is no need for a specific professional. In Italy, in general, the boy arrives at the club with a very good home experience, generally well fed, emphasizing fruits, carbohydrates, protein and little fat. For Perlingeiro, usually the Brazilian players that go to AS Roma do not have a ‘faultered development,’ but a different culture. The coach spent time with Sao Paulo FC to watch some training, and there up until the age of 14, they do not work on the tactical aspect. In contrast, in Italy, it is common to place emphasis on individual tactical aspects, body position in front of the opponent, in front of the ball, etc, that can be the focus from 10 years old. Then they go to group tactics, and with 15 to 16 year olds, the players already have a great sense of what they should be doing. “The games in these categories already have limited space and a lot of organization,” he summed up.

No. 55 Christmas 2011

YOUTH ACADEMY

LOSS OF IDENTITY - IN BRAZIL AND IN ITALY

Born in 1974, Perlingeiro remembers Italy’s team from back then, very technical, that even had Bruno Conti, called “Marazé” – as a mixture of Maradona and Zico. AS Roma were praised at the end of last season by the directors of Juventus, Inter and Milan for being the only team who really played soccer; quick touches and technical play throughout. Why then, is that identity being lost - a situation that is repeatedly commented about by youth academy coaches in Brazil. Because Conti was a very technical player, he really enjoys this characteristic. The keepers of the youth academy are prohibited from playing long ball games, they must know how to build from the back after a pass is given to them. “The coach is most often seen as a point of reference. It will not be all of them that will become a Totti. Not taking out the positive illusions of the athlete, but you need to guide them through their errors and the corrections. It is up to them, the children, to make the right decisions,” he added.

No. 55 Christmas 2011

YOUTH TRAINING

After his career as a player, in which he played for FC Dordrecht, FC Utrecht, AZ and De Graafschap, Reinier Robbemond started coaching at AZ in Alkmaar two years ago. In the beginning it was not easy, but now the old-timer is getting the hang of it. He summed up his philosophy and approach simplistically: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just had to get back to the basis.â&#x20AC;? Text: Lars van Soest Edited by Michael Francis Pollin

No. 55 Christmas 2011

YOUTH TRAINING

REINIER ROBBEMOND, AZ U13: “Sometimes I am amazed at what these boys already know”

It is half past one on the fields of Sportcomplex ‘t Lood (AZ), and the players of Reinier Robbemond are already playing a game. The training session of the U13s team starts at half past three, but school finished earlier today, so all are there in plenty of time for a punctual start. They are training in small groups. On one side of the field a couple of boys are working on their finishing, while on the other side a group is playing a 2v2. This approach is satisfying to Robbemond and fits exactly within his philosophy. Reinier thinks that young players are mainly responsible for their own development. “A coach can state the objectives and say that the players must improve something, but they must do the rest themselves.”

The AZ Player The youth complex of AZ provides that opportunity. It is set up in such a way that the players are constantly stimulated and motivated on an individual basis. We always know when any youth player of AZ has made a debut for this club or at another professional club. Walking further into the complex you see two huge posters with the text ‘The AZ player always gives a 100% and always wants to train and play well’ and, ‘The AZ player dares to shine and is always trying to improve himself.’ When we reach the upper floor on our way to Robbemond’s office, we see a frame with a photo of the ‘Youth player of the month’. This month, Mees Kaandorp, one of Robbemond’s pupils has been selected,

No. 55 Christmas 2011

YOUTH TRAINING

meeting the aforementioned criteria, giving 100%, daring to shine, play and train well whilst seeking to improve.

High expectations

Eventually it became better and better and Robbemond’s players evidently improved. The election of Kaandorp as youth player the month is again testimony to that.

When Robbemond started at AZ last season, it was all very new to him. He played for AZ in the past, but logically spent more time on the training complex around the old Hout (The old AZ stadium) than at the youth complex. Besides that, being a coach was also a totally new experience for him. “When I started, it did not go the way I expected it to. I started a level that was too difficult for the ability of the students, for example, I tried to make the students perform exercises that you would only normally see in the first team. As a result, I, and the team, were not getting much out of the sessions. I thought: Am I doing something totally wrong or are they hopeless.”

The coach himself says that the success is not thanks to him, but he praises the general working ethos at the academy. “At AZ we work with age-specific objectives, focussing to perfect and hone the skills of which we as trainers think that players of a certain age should possess.”

The new coach started talking to the head of the academy, Aloys Wijnker. Together they figured out the nature of the problem. “The image I had of the U13 youth squad was not good,” says Robbemond. “I did not start correctly with them, as I set the bar too high.

Robbemond has also pasted the individual improvements on the locker room door, again with an idea of motivation and instil the imagery of the goal for players. “This way players know what aspects they have to improve upon, and as this is visible to all they can work on it together. When there is a player that has to improve on defensive aspects, and another player that needs to improve in attacking areas, potentially they can work on that together.”

After the conversation with Aloys, I went back to basics and started with very simple exercises: 1v1, 2v2, for example.

No. 55 Christmas 2011

Besides those objectives Robbemond also talks a lot with his players about other aspects which can be improved. “We talk about how and when they want to work on those aspects, which seems to be going very well. On a day like this, the players are working on those aspects very seriously.

Locker room door

YOUTH TRAINING

“It is like I said before,” Robbemond continues, “the responsibility lies with the players themselves. I can tell them to practice certain things, but they must also be willing to train, to therefore, improve. The players who are training specifically for themselves in their own time, are really making progress, it is obvious they practice hard. That is how you understand the importance to invest time and energy into yourself as a player. Players who do not, will never make it.”

Moments of Success

not think that I had this knowledge at that age! Nowadays, with the use of workshops and video analysis, our youth players are more aware about the game and what they must do on the field. That was different in my time. I remember that as a little Reinier, I was always waiting after my own match hoping I was called to play for the U13s, U14s or U15s. I only went home after all the matches were played. I learned by playing a lot of football on the pitch, but also informally (practising) on the street.”

“The performed work of a student must always be visibly rewarded,” says Robbemond. “When the players spend a lot of time on an aspect and visibly improve, we will always reward them with compliments and positive feedback. This will give them the motivation and confidence to work on the next aspect that needs to be improved. Robbemond gives an example: “It is just like with my own kids. When my daughter cleans up her plate after dinner and I tell her I am proud of her, that way she feels good about her action and will be more likely to repeat it the next night.”

Amazement What amazes Robbemond the most, is the tactical football knowledge his players have. “Sometimes I am really surprised by what they already know. When I look back at my time as a youth player, I do

No. 55 Christmas 2011

YOUTH TRAINING

“THEY MUST LEARN TO RECOGNIZE SITUATIONS IN WHICH THEY CAN USE THIS KNOWLEDG”

No. 55 Christmas 2011

YOUTH TRAINING

Other story “Translating your knowledge onto the field is a different kind of story. Of course that is hard for the players when they are still young and inexperienced. On the pitch all kinds of things are happening around them. Before the students can use their full potential the right moment must occur and they must learn to recognize situations in which they can use this knowledge.” Although Robbemond does think that things are heading in the right direction. “This season during a match against Sparta Rotterdam, a piece of play was performed almost exactly as it was practised in training. This is a great moment for a coach. The players in the dugout also saw it, and at one point it seemed like they were almost screaming: ‘Look coach, here comes another moment like that.’ It is great to be able to watch your players learn to recognise situations similar to this.”

Focussed Robbemond thinks it is good that his substitutes are focussed on the game during a match. “That way they also learn things and they see what is demanded in every position. I know for sure that there are some players, who I can position anywhere on the field and they know the basic roles and responsibilities of every position, being able to carry out that duty. They may not have the

specific qualities for that position, but they perform reasonably well in those positions.” During the matches, Robbemond tries to keep the players in the dugout focussed. He regularly talks with his substitutes. “When something goes wrong for the left back, I ask the substitute, who also regularly plays in that position, what is going wrong and how things can be improved.”

The result is not the most important

“The earlier match that I mentioned against Sparta was, despite the good play of AZ, a defeat. That led to some downlooking faces and even a tear from a number of the players. I told them we should not mourn, and added; ‘how did we play?’ “‘We played well,” said the players. ‘Then why are we mourning?’ We must only mourn if we play poorly, because quintessentially it is about playing well. I would rather have us play well and lose by a small margin, than play poorly and (just) steal the win. The players now understood that, and also that he result is not the most important in youth football.” “The more important we make the result for the players, the more distracted they get. They then are more worried about winning or losing, than about their own actions. Of course there is sometimes pressure and tension, but they must not feel that. They must focus on their game. If they do that, they often play at their best.”

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YOUTH TRAINING

Similar opportunities Robbemond is not always starting with his ‘best players.’ “Everybody must get a the chance to develop themselves, although they have to show the effort to deserve this. Players will learn and develop at different ages and at different rates. Within the technical and tactical aspects of the game I rotate players around a lot. For example, I can position some big, strong players in defence who are very physically able, which means we are very difficult to penetrate. Although when some smaller, but technically more able players join the club they are accommodated in the same way as any other players and rotated,

At the end Robbemond talks once more about the responsibility of players. “In my opinion, my players must learn to see things for themselves. Otherwise I am, so to speak, controlling them and for them to be ‘coach-dependent.’ I did not like that as a player, and so now I can tell them what they must do, but then they are doing it for themselves, as well as for me. By using Q&A, they have to problem-solve and use decision-making, to be more independent.”

No. 55 Christmas 2011

ORGANISATION

• Several areas are made with cones between the halfway line and the edge of the penalty area • One defender in each area • Two players will start with one ball • Setup multiple organisations (dependant on the number of players - no more than 10 players per organisation)

PROGRESSION

2V1

EXERCISES

knowing that they too will grow physically. This system still requires appropriate management to develop the players to their full potential.”

• The pair with the ball will have to combine beating the defenders in each area • When the pair on the ball reaches the penalty area they can finish on goal • Whenever a defender steals the ball the pair must start again

COACHING

• The attackers must find the open spaces • The attackers must pass and run off the ball into the open spaces • The attackers must recognize when to pass and when to dribble • Technical execution must be good (passing, receiving, and dribbling)

PROGRESSION

• The goalkeeper will start with a long pass to the 3 attackers • The 3 attackers will have to combine beating the defenders • When the attackers reach the penalty area they can finish on goal • Whenever the defenders steal the ball they may score on one of the two small goals • The attackers must find the open spaces • The attackers must pass and run off the ball into the open spaces • The attackers must recognize when to pass and when to dribble • Technical execution must be good (passing, receiving, and dribbling)

ORGANISATION

4V4 WITH GOALKEEPERS

• Field dependent on level and age of players • Large goals with goalkeepers on each side

• Play 4v4 on the designated pitch with normal rules

EXERCISES

ORGANISATION

• Area: 40x20m • Two defenders defend the large goal with goalkeeper and may score on the two small goals • Three attackers score on the large goal with goalkeeper

PROGRESSION

3V2

COACHING

YOUTH TRAINING

YOUTH YOUTH COACHING TRAINING

Clube Atlético Mineiro is a Brazilian football club based in Belo Horizonte. It was founded in 1908 and the club competes in the Campeonato Mineiro and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. Atlético Mineiro have been Brazilian champions once, state winners a record breaking 40 times and state cup champions five times; a record they share with cross-town rivals, Cruzeiro. They have also been successful in South America, winning the Copa CONMEBOL twice. The current reality is, however, very different from these successes. The team led by Cuca, who replaced Dorival Junior earlier in 2011, is currently at the bottom of the standings of the Brazilian Championship. The good news for the club is that the academy is doing really well, producing one talent after the other, which is a promising scenario. By: Bruno Camarão and Thales Peterson (Universidade do Futebol) Edited by Michael Francis Pollin

No. 55 Christmas 2011

YOUTH COACHING

DIOGO GIACOMINI, CLUBE ATLÉTICO MINEIRO U17

A multidisciplinary approach to development The U17 team is coached by Diogo Giacomini, who is currently in his fourth consecutive season at the club. The physical educator graduated in the South, with a graduate degree and then a Masters in Sports Coaching from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, among other titles. He also won the Future Champions Tournament twice, and this year’s Rio-Japan Tournament - the State Cup and was also a semifinalist in both the Votorantim Cup, and Londrina Cup. Results aside, the performance of talented young players, such as goalkeeper Uilson and striker Marcos Vinicius, both called by Emerson Avila to the Brazilian national U17 team, as well as the defensive-mid Yago and midfielders Dodo and Lucas Kattah. This is the result of a philosophy that has deep

roots in the club, with the integration of the athletes training department, and the centre of training at Cidade do Galo, exhibiting an exemplary training and game methodology. “Atletico’s academy, systematised for some time, a way to play that progresses from the 4-4-2 (box or diamond) as a standard system, with the possibility of changing to the 4-3-3,” said Giacomini. According to him, the board, and all involved in the technical staff; they believe that this way will develop players with great sense of coverage, defensive intelligence, transition to the offensive game, and to facilitate the development of creative midfielders. This is so important because there is a lack of these types nowadays.

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YOUTH TRAINING

The problem, however, is the next step; that is from his team to the professional. Giacomini said that the “alignment” of how to play with the academy depends heavily on the coach who is in charge of the team at that moment, which ends up being a limitation of this process. “Overall, I believe that there has been a change, slowly but surely in Brazilian soccer. The coaches of youth teams of the big clubs, most of them are educated and

No. 55 Christmas 2011

consistent, with well-defined concepts that can teach in a didactic and efficient way to the players,” he says. At Atletico-MG, the belief is that just a multidisciplinary approach of the development of the player can be successful. “We have a great interaction, not only within the technical staff of the academy, but also with all areas of support (Physiology, Psychology, Nutrition, Physical Therapy, Education, etc.),” says Giacomini.

YOUTH TRAINING

As a coach, he tries to use a lot of the information and knowledge of professionals to outline his project and work. And he believes that in the medium-term, they will develop more into participative athletes that are autonomous and intelligent, because of this process.

Games to facilitate learning the structure of space and communication in action For Giacomini, the ‘situational games,’ also known in the literature as ‘games to develop

intelligence,’ are a great way to develop the athletes’ ability to play, in other words, the athletes’ ability to make correct decisions given the time, space and game situation. The coach does not see a great difficulty in understanding how it is possible to teach and perfect the technique within the context of the game. The development of technique through small-sided games is already well known by coaches and coaching staff in Brazil generally.

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YOUTH TRAINING

“What I see actually is an ‘over usage’ of this type of training by the coaches, perhaps influenced by the modern soccer literature,” says Giacomini. “We cannot forget that the technical training inserted in a tactical context is great for improving decision-making. To improve, however, the technical gesture itself, the analytical training is the best. The two must have space in the planning,” he adds.

Is it possible to speak of regional soccer schools in Brazil?

“Without a doubt. Despite the big clubs that have players from all states of Brazil, it is a very clear influence, not only of culture but also the climate of each location influencing the way the clubs play,” lists Giacomini. According to him, southern clubs tend to play soccer with more intensity, which is harder on the players, more direct to real game play, probably the characteristic of European colonization and milder weather. Already in states where the heat is so intense, it is clear a slower game is evident with possession of the ball. Another example is the apparent ability of players from the Northeast, where most began playing soccer on the beach. “I believe that the development of talent in the big clubs in Brazil, is being done well in

No. 55 Christmas 2011

general. We have at least eight top clubs in the country doing a great job training their athletes. Perhaps the talent ‘detection’ can still be improved, because we are far from ideal,” compares Giacomini. The clubs still believe a lot in their name and their brand, so that the talent comes to them. Due to the loss of space for sports in large cities, a reflection of urbanisation, coupled with the increasing violence in major cities, the motor development opportunities of the children are increasingly limited.

YOUTH TRAINING

With this, the tendency is that the talents emerge more from small cities, with few inhabitants, where often the clubs have not started selecting. “Another thing to mention is that the clubs need a more professional process, which can include different forms of assessing technique, tactics, physicaland psychological aspects; to assess the player more global way,” he says.

Kazakhstan’s youth player at Atletico’s academy

Atletico-MG has an exchange program to receive athletes from other countries who pay the club to train for a certain period with the academy teams. The case of Rauan, born in Kazakhstan, was different. “He drew the attention of our talent detection department because he was the top scorer of the Campeonato Paulista U17 last year for a club that is a partner of Atlético-MG, and he was asked to train with our team,” said Giacomini. When the technical staff realized that he was a striker with interesting features, and a great finisher with both feet, they swooped on him straight away.

Cultural and Training Specifics

Will players who have not fully recovered achieve maximum intensity throughout the workout? Giacomini understands that there are different ways to set up an effective micro-cycle in soccer, and sees this particular of training twice a day in Brazil, as a cultural issue. “We know that one training session a day (1h30 to 2h duration) would be sufficient to achieve the goals of the day. Here, however, players do not always use the time to recover or rest and do not have a professional conscience in relation to nutrition, hydration, s l e e p , the variables that must be controlled to a full recovery,” he says. For that reason, the clubs choose micro-cycles, a few days with two periods of training to more effectively manage all these variables mentioned above. This is the case of Atletico-MG.

In Brazil, it is regular to practice twice a day. This happens both at the academy level (especially U17 and U20), and also the professional teams in the 1st or 2nd division.

No. 55 Christmas 2011

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BRAZILIAN CORNER

Edited by Michael Francis Pollin

Brazil legend Socrates dies FORMER MIDFIELDER PASSES AWAY AT THE AGE OF 57 ing, before being placed in intensive care, after which it was discovered that he had suffered septic shock. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, he was pronounced dead in the early hours of the morning on Sunday December 11, 2011. It was the third time in four months that Socrates, who leaves behind a wife and six sons, had been treated at an intensive care unit since alcohol abuse caused his stomach to haemorrhage in August. He spent 17 days in hospital in September but had been hoping his health would stabilise ahead of a liver transplant. Socrates enjoyed a distinguished playing career and represented Corinthians, Botafogo, Fiorentina, Flamengo and Santos as well as many caps for his beloved Brazil.

S贸crates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira 1954 - 2011 Former Brazil captain and legend Socrates has passed away in a Sao Paulo hospital at the age of 57, after suffering an intestinal infection. Socrates fell ill at dinner and was taken to hospital with a suspected case of food poison-

No. 55 Christmas 2011

A wonderfully gifted and skilful midfielder, Socrates made 60 appearances for his country and scored 22 times, captaining the revered 1982 World Cup team. In 2004, more than a decade after retiring, Socrates made a shock appearance for Northern Counties East Football League side Garforth Town (England), coming on as a substitute against Tadcaster Albion.

Branco becomes new Figueirense boss Jorginho may have guided Figueirense to an unexpected seventh place, but Dunga’s formerAssistant has departed and the Florianópolis side have acted fast to find a replacement, in the form of ex-Middlesborough player Branco. Having retired from a successful playing career in 1998, Branco has taken a slow and considered route into management, first overseeing Brazil’s youth development programme, then spending two years in charge of the youth setup of Rio de Janeiro giants Fluminense. The 1994 World Cup winner will immediately have a tough task on his hands for next season, with the first task to stop the flow of talent exiting the club; a fact that has tarnished the season’s success somewhat. Now 47, Branco will be remembered by many in England for his brief, unsuccessful spell with Middlesborough in 1996, at the same time as his countrymen Juninho, Paulista and Emerson.

SAO MARCOS CLINIC USES THE FORMULA OF RIVAL CLUBS AND ENVISIONS ATHLETES’ REHABILITATION AND ASSISTANCE TO THE NEEDY

BRAZILIAN CORNER

“I am a product of physical therapy.” said Marcos Roberto Silveira Reis, at the official opening conference of the Sao Marcos Clinic. He explained the importance of physiotherapy in the original manner of one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of Brazilian soccer. As a way of compensation for services when playing for Palmeiras with professionals he specialized in physical rehabilitation. “If it was not for physical therapy, I would not have achieved what I did. This is not just me, but applies to players like Ronaldo and other. That’s why the idea of this clinic is precisely the right thing, to help athletes or former athletes who do not have the financial ability and that somehow need treatment as a preventive job or cure certain injuries,” explained Marcos. The idea is to help any sportspersons, including former athletes with financial difficulties and those that would not readily be able to pay for treatment. Sao Marcos Clinic is located in a hotel in the north of São Paulo, and has the support of the sponsor of the player, as a world champion with the Brazilian national team in 2002. “The equipment we have here and the structure was built with the best equipment. All that is most modern in the training centres of Palmeiras and Sao Paulo, for example, is here too,” commented Marcos. “We have in our team of physiotherapists, Jose and Luis Rosan, and one of the technical assistants for Palmeiras, Fernando Miranda who deals with the technical coordination. No. 55 Christmas 2011

BRAZILIAN CORNER

Edited by Michael Francis Pollin

New sports minister pledges ‘great’ World Cup Brazil’s new sports minister, Aldo Rebelo, pledged that the South American country will put on a “Great World Cup.” Addressing corruption scandals and delays surrounding the 2014 World Cup, Rebelo spoke just days after Brazilian media reported that Ricardo Teixeira, the president of the 2014 World Cup organising committee, is preparing to resign. Teixeira, a member of FIFA’s executive committee, is being linked to an investigation involving the ISL, the marketing agency that owned World Cup television rights until its 2001 bankruptcy with debts of around $300 million.Rebelo was named in October to replace Orlando

No. 55 Christmas 2011

Silva, who resigned after being embroiled in his own corruption scandal. Rebelo spoke at the opening ceremony of Soccerex in Rio de Janeiro, a global trade show for the football industry. “It is not only the world of football that is going through tough times but claims of corruption, problems with racism, and also intolerance do not help,” Rebelo told hundreds of delegates at the convention. “These facts are undesirable. These are things that are happening through the whole world.” The minister’s comments touched on problems surrounding Sepp Blatter, the embattled president of FIFA, who has been under

BRAZILIAN CORNER

growing pressure to reform football’s world governing body following a series of scandals. FIFA has promised to publish Swiss court papers in December identifying senior officials who took payment from ISL. British broadcaster, BBC, has named the officials as Teixeira and his former fatherin-law Joao Havelange, the longtime FIFA president, who Blatter succeeded in 1998. Speaking on the sidelines after his address, Rebelo was asked about the tension between FIFA and Teixeira. “This is nothing new, this has always been my opinion,” he said. “The renewal and rotating system in any institution is always a good thing for sport and democracy.” Rebelo also addressed organisational problems in building infrastructure such as airports and stadiums and getting World Cup venues ready on time. FIFA officials have repeatedly said that the preparations are behind schedule. Earlier this month FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke told Brazilian lawmakers, that the pace of work had to be stepped up, quoting, “we are late, we can’t lose a day.” “Rest assured that Brazil will have a great World Cup in 2014,” Rebelo said. “We are also going to have a good World Cup in terms of organisation. The federal government, the state governments and the municipal governments of the 12 host cities are fully engaged in organising this event to meet all the expectations of the world, of our

country, of the athletes, the tourists the organisers and promoters. From Tibet to Patagonia,” he added, “humankind expects Brazil to have a good World Cup.” Tony Martin, chairman of Soccerex, also defended Brazil. “Those that have misgivings about the hotels, transport facilities, stadiums are not meeting five-star criteria, are wrong,” he said, “this marvellous country has a way of doing things in its own relaxed manner, but invariably will deliver on time.” Thierry Weil, FIFA’s marketing director, said the scandals were having little effect on FIFA’s major sponsors and partners. He described sponsorship deals for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup package as “going extremely well.” He said FIFA was talking frequently with sponsors about the reforms promised by Blatter. “Currently we have not any sponsor, or any partner who has thought about stepping out,” Weil said, “they want to be informed and to know about the measures.”

The Brazilian Corner is a contribution from Universidade do Futebol Edited by Michael Francis Pollin

No. 55 Christmas 2011

In response to current growing popularity of social networking, SoccerCoachingInternational has decided launch its own Facebook page. Our Facebook page will be updated regularly, complementing the website, providing our fans with the latest offers, fun games, free articles, exercises and much more! Facebook also serves as an excellent discussion forum for our followers from around the world. To become our Fan on Facebook 'like us' on our website or search for us from your Facebook account.

NEW DVD SERIES! DUTCH SOCCER SCHOOL SERIES (6 DVD SET)

Price:

€109.95

HEROES OF THE FUTURE THE AJAX EDUCATION SERIES

6-MINUTE SOCCER SKILLS (10 DVD SET)

Price:

€ 69 .95

Introducing the 6-Minute Soccer Skills DVD Series from FineSoccer. No wasting time watching a one-hour soccer DVD to learn how to shoot, pass or head a ball. These 10 DVDs get right to the heart of teaching in just 6 minutes.Titles include:Volleys;Chips, Flips and Benders; Striking; Turning; Individual Defense; Heading; Trapping; Passing; Shielding, Shoulder Charges & Slide Tackling and Juggling. Coaches These 10 DVDs are a great teaching tool. Each DVD breaks down the skill step by step and clearly explains the main coaching points of the specific skill. This makes it simple to show and teach your players at practice.

www.soccercoachinginternational.com

6 DVD Set - Examines the world famous AJAX youth soccer training system from the playing style to the training concepts to the developmentally specific educational model. Includes: DVD 1 - The AJAX Playing Style DVD 2 - The AJAX Training Concept DVD 3 - 7 to 12 Year Olds DVD 4 - 12 to 15 Year Olds DVD 5 - 15 to 18 Year Olds DVD 6 - Bonus DVD with player interviews and an overhead look at a first team match

Price:

OUTSTANDING! Includes both ENGLISH and SPANISH audio

No. 50 June/July 2011

€ 89 .95

SoccerCoachingInternational wishes you a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and successful

2012!