Presentation on how to systematically introduce the 8v8 at under 11 to develop positional play and game intelligence.

1. 8V8 AT UNDER 11
Strategy towards teaching tactical intelligence using the 8v8

4. Having a Strategy
■ A Strategy allows for continuation of work
and for a smooth transition from one age
category to another
■ A parties involved should be aware and
agree upon this strategy (Technical Director,
Head Coach, Coaches, Physical Trainers,
etc…)
Our Journey with a direction
One common aim

6. Yearly Plan
■ Eight Blocks building progressively upon each other
■ Four training sessions each block; i.e. a total number ofThirtyTwo (32) training sessions dedicated
towards developing the 8v8
■ Use of Jerome Bruner’s spiral curriculum model
■ Thus we haveTwo main Sets of Four blocks each
■ Blocks are based on theTeam Functions
– When in possession of the ball (Build-up and Scoring)
– When opponents are in possession (Prevent the build-up and prevent scoring)
■ We have our principles of play (game model based on the club philosophy)
■ From these principles, aims and outcomes are established for each block
■ Only ONE aim in a block (Players are still 10 years of age)
■ Different sessions/exercises with the same aim and outcomes

7. Training Blocks
Set A
Build-Up
Scoring
Prevent Build-
Up
Prevent
Scoring
Season
Set B
Build-Up
Scoring
Prevent Build-
Up
Prevent
Scoring
Revisit previous learning, explore
and extend on it. Starting from
simple learning experiences to
more complex ones. The player is
exposed to new problem-solving
tasks created by the coach in
training thus enhancing his/her
current tactical intelligence.
B
L
O
C
K
S

8. The Spiral Curriculum
Foundations
Block 1 – BasicTactics based on
any of the FourTeam Functions
Block 2 – Revisit and Progress
on Block 1
Team Function

9. Yearly Plan
Block 1 Build-Up Secure possession to play deep
Block 2 Scoring Finishing at goal
Block 3 Preventing the Build-Up Make play predictable and eliminating opponents’ depth
Block 4 Prevent Scoring Deny opponents space to finish at goal
Block 5 Build-Up Constructive build-up
Block 6 Scoring Attacking with overloads
Block 7 Preventing the Build-Up Win the ball high up the pitch
Block 8 Prevent Scoring Defend from the flank

10. Yearly Plan
Block 1 October
Block 2 November
Block 3 December
Block 4 January
Block 5 February
Block 6 March
Block 7 April
Block 8 May

11. TypicalTrainingWeek
Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Match
Warm-Up + Coordination Warm-Up + Coordination Warm-Up + Speed/Agility
Saturday/Sunday
Game 1 – 1v1 Game 1 – 3v3/4v4 Game 1 – 8v8
Practice 1 – IndividualTechnique Practice 1 – AppliedTechnique Practice 1 –Tact on Game 1
Game 2 – 2v2 Game 2 – 5v5/6v6 Game 2 – 8v8 (Prog on Game 1)
Practice 2 – IndividualTechnique Practice 2 – AppliedTechnique Practice 2 –Tact on Game 2
Game 3 – 3v3/4v4 Game 3 – 8v8 Game 3 – 8v8
Session 3 totally dedicated towardsTactical Intelligence using the 8v8

12. TypicalTrainingWeek
Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Match
Warm-Up + Coordination Warm-Up + Coordination Warm-Up + Speed/Agility
Saturday/Sunday
Game 1 – 1v1 Game 1 – 3v3/4v4 Game 1 – 8v8
Practice 1 – IndividualTechnique Practice 1 – AppliedTechnique Practice 1 –Tact on Game 1
Game 2 – 2v2 Game 2 – 5v5/6v6 Game 2 – 8v8 (Prog on Game 1)
Practice 2 – IndividualTechnique Practice 2 – AppliedTechnique Practice 2 –Tact on Game 2
Game 3 – 3v3/4v4 Game 3 – 8v8 Game 3 – 8v8
Build-Up

13. Planning and Monitoring
Week Individual
Sessions
Small Group
Sessions
8v8
Session
Match
1 1 2 3 1
2 4 5 6 2
3 7 8 9 3
4 10 11 12 4
5 13 14 15 5
Where are we now?
Where do we want to be?
Any adjustments to the Plan???

15. Established Aims and Outcomes
Block 1 Block 5
Team Function: Build-Up Build-Up
Aim: Secure possession to play deep Constructive build-up
TeamOutcomes: 1. Offensive tactical shape (width and depth)
2. First option to play deep
3. Movement without the ball to get
open/create space
4. Retain team balance
1. Offensive tactical shape (width and depth)
2. 1, 6, 5 and 4 create a rhombus
3. First option to play deep
4. Movement without the ball and positional rotations
to get open/create space
5. Quick circulation of the ball and switching the point
of attack
6. Retain team balance
Individual
Outcomes:
1. Stance
2. Quality and direction of passes
3. Use of tactical dribbling – dribble to
commit defender so to free teammate
from marking
1. Stance
2. Passing/receiving using both feet
3. Counter movement to get free of marking
4. Tactical dribbling

16. Established Aims and Outcomes
Block 2 Block 6
Team Function: Scoring Scoring
Aim: Finishing at goal Attacking with overloads
TeamOutcomes: 1. Passing angles
2. Width in attack (surround penalty area)
3. Support and cover behind the ball
4. Quick circulation of the ball
5. Attitude to finish at goal
6. Immediate pressing upon losing possession
1. Width in attack (surround penalty area)
2. Attitude to finish at goal
3. Overload penalty area to provide options
4. Deep runs from midfield
5. Passing combinations to go through defences –
wall-passes
6. Immediate pressing upon losing possession
Individual
Outcomes:
1. Stance to receive and finish quickly
2. Accuracy before power
1. Disguise in 1v1
2. Changes of speed and direction with and without
the ball
3. Attacking the ball
4. Accuracy before power
5. Stance to receive and finish quickly

17. Established Aims and Outcomes
Block 3 Block 7
Team Function: Preventing the Build-up Preventing the Build-up
Aim: Make play predictable and eliminating opponents’
depth
Win the ball high up the pitch
TeamOutcomes: 1. First defender applies pressure on the ball
2. Angle of approach to force play away from
dangerous zones
3. Compactness and angles of coverage
4. Overload ball zone
1. Compactness and angles of coverage
2. First defender dictates play
3. Overload ball zone
4. Marking of potential receivers
5. Win the ball and counter
Individual
Outcomes:
1. Marking of space and opponent 1. Marking of space and opponent
2. Frontal marking – cut off potential receivers

18. Established Aims and Outcomes
Block 4 Block 8
Team Function: Prevent Scoring Prevent Scoring
Aim: Deny opponents space to finish at goal Defend in numerical disadvantage
TeamOutcomes: 1. Immediate pressure on the ball
2. Force play away from goal
3. Overload ball area
4. Cut off passing options
1. Pressure on the ball
2. Force play away from the middle
3. Overload ball area
4. Tight marking inside the penalty area close to our
goal
Individual
Outcomes:
1. Body shape (stance)
2. Attitude to win the ball (aggressiveness)
3. Tackling (timing)
4. Marking/Covering space
1. Body shape (stance)
2. Attitude to win the ball (aggressiveness)
3. Tackling (timing)
4. Marking/Covering space
5. Frontal marking to cut off passing lanes
6. Anticipating passes

20. Training ReferenceGuide for 8v8
■ Game
– Should always be an 8v8 Positional Game or as close as possible
– No interruptions except during recovery with one or a maximum of two outcomes recap
– Re-enforce outcomes during training (coach calls outcomes)
■ Practice
– Use of positional rondos as a first option or a cut-down version of the 8v8
– Could be done with comodini
– Attacking/defending in different numbers and situations

22. ■ TeamTask: Secure Possession to play deep
■ Methods ofTraining: Positional Play (Game) and Rondos (Practice)
■ Area: From 40m x 25m to 50m x 30m
Relevant practices:
4v0, 4v1, 3v1, 5v2, 6v2,
3v3+3 withTransition,
4v4+2, etc.

23. Game 8v8+2
Variations:
Easier: Play 7v4 in favour of the reds
Harder:
1. Play without neutral players
2. No neutral players but one player
may move up one sector to attack
3. Play 7v5 in favour of the reds but
blues may move anywhere

24. Game 8v6 with Gates
Progressions:
1. Play 6v6/8v8 with one or two
neutral players
2. Play 6v6/8v8 with no neutral
players

25. Practice
Positional Rondo – 2v2+3 Using
Width

26. Practice
Positional Rondo – 2v2+2 Using
Depth

27. ■ TeamTask:Constructive build-up
■ Methods ofTraining: PositionalGame (Game) and Rondos (Practice)
■ Area: From 40m x 25m to 50m x 30m
Relevant practices:
Small-Sided Possession
Games – 3v3+2, 3v3+2
flank players, 4v4+2,
etc.

28. Game Seek Depth

29. Practice Positional Rondo – 3v3+3

30. PracticeVariation
Can be progressed to a game by adding a
goal where the blues can score if they win
the ball

31. Build-up into the FinalThird

33. ■ TeamTask: Finishing at goal
■ Methods ofTraining: PositionalGame/Practice with Consequence
(moments of transition)
■ Area: From 25m x 35m to 35m x 40m
Relevant practices:
Shooting 1v0, 2v0, 3v0,
2v1, 3v1, 3v2, etc.

34. Game 3v3+2 Neutral Flank Players
Variations:
Easier: Play with a neutral 4
Harder:
1. Reduce area of play to 25m x 20m
2. Play without neutral flank players

35. ■ TeamTask:Attacking with overloads
■ Methods ofTraining: PositionalGame with Consequence
(moments of transition)
■ Area: From 25m x 35m to 35m x 40m
Relevant practices:
Finishing 1v1, 2v2, 3v1,
3v2, 3v3, with
recovering defenders,
etc.

36. Attacking 5v2Practice
Decision to either pass
(whom?) or dribble (where
and how?)

37. Attacking 5v4 with Recovering
Defenders
Practice

38. Game Create Overloads to Score
Variations:
Easier:
• No zones and Red team plays with an extra
two players; example 8v6 (2 and 3 with reds)
Harder:
• Play with numerical equality in each zone
(example: 2v2 in each zone) but a player of
the team in possession is allowed to enter the
opponents’ zone to create a 3v2

40. ■ TeamTask:Winning possession high up the field
■ Methods ofTraining: Small Sided Games (Game) – Rondos (Practice)
■ Area: From 40m x 25m to 50m x 30m
Relevant practices:
Defending 1v1, 2v2 and
3v3.

41. Game
Winning the ball and
scoring in front of this
line = 3 points
Together we Press!
Variations:
Easier:
1. Pressing team with numerical advantage
2. Narrow the area
Harder:
1. Pressing team with numerical disadvantage
2. Pressing team defends another two mini
goals

42. Practice Positional Rondos – 3v3+4
Variations:
Easier: Play without a 2 and a 3
Harder:
1. Blue team scores by passing to
target neutral
2. Play with normal goals and neutral
players (moments of transition)

44. ■ TeamTask: Deny opponents space to finish at goal
■ Methods ofTraining: Small Sided Games (Game) – Rondos (Practice)
■ Area: From 30m x 40m to 35m x 40m
Relevant practices:
1v1, 1v2, 2v2, 2v3, 3v4,
3v3 and 4v4

45. Game Protect our Land!
Variations:
Easier:
1. Every time the red team wins the ball
out of the penalty area = 1 point
Harder:
1. Red team plays in numerical
disadvantage

46. Game Protect our Bases!
Variations:
Easier:
1. Reduce the bases (mini goals) to 3 or
two
Harder:
1. Red team plays in numerical
disadvantage
2. Red team have to win the ball within an
established time limit

47. Practice Group Defending Rondo 4v4+4