By Rehan Mirza, UEFA B licence and Coach, Centre of Excellence, Notts County FC.
Small Sided Games provide the coach with a varied understanding on the performance of his/her players. After a few weeks of indifferent comments being made from various sources on the Football Pakistan website, I thought it would be right put up a good practice by Paul Smalley, ex-regional director (Midlands) at the football association, UK.
I have been given the understanding that players within the game in Pakistan may play a formation that doesn’t suit the need of the players. For instance, playing a player in a strikers role knowing he couldn’t score a goal. Therefore, the execution of Small Sided Game practices are essential in developing the all round player.
The following practices and criteria will provide the coach with a better understanding of how his/her players can adapt and learn from small sided games.
Below are practices which show the comparison between the Small sided game used in the coaching situation to that of a more match related one. Both are essential for the development and understanding for players, but also how the coach can establish progression in the players.
Small Sided Game
• Players are arranged in a team formation
• The “Tactical Jigsaw” model is used where players unopposed react to the movements of the ball and each other
• The “Tactical Jigsaw” shows players their positional responsibilities in relation to each other in given situations.
• Tuition is given on a pre-arranged theme
• Tuition should be calm, concise, descriptive, but only relating to the theme/topic
• Positive encouragement is given at all times
The Competitive Small Sided Game
• Players are arranged in a team formation which helps their tactical development
• Have a set theme that you are going to teach in the game (defending, attacking, counter attacking, defending in the final 3rd etc)
• Keep the themes/topics simple
• Can the transition from the coaching environment be made into the game?
• Be concise with the players; what the topic is and why it will be taught
• Simple but small items of information should be given to players prior, during and at the end of the game
• Support/back up information for the players during the game that they understand
• The use of tactics boards are a great tool. If not, demonstrate on a sheet paper.
The following practice is an example of the next stage from the Tactical Jigsaw Model, and then some adaptations using the Small Sided Game:
Practice 1
Organisation
• Area size 8 v 8 (80yds x 60yds)
• Scaled down version of the pitch
• Formation for the Practice: 3 Defenders 2 Midfield Player and 2 Strikers for both teams
• Goalkeeper in each Goal
• Practice starts with both of the Goalkeepers
• Two footballs in operation
• Objective of the Practice is for both of the teams unopposed to work the ball forward
• As the ball moves around players follow the ball and adopt new positions
Key Teaching Points
• Team positions why and where
• Individual creation of space and movement
• Simple phases of movement in relation to each other and the ball
• Movement of the ball and the players
• Movement to adopt new positions
Alternative Arrangements
• Area size 6 v 6 (60yds x 40yds)
• Formation for the Practice: 2 Defenders 1 Midfield Player and 2 Strikers for both teams
• Area size 7 v 7 (65yds x 55yds)
Formation for the Practice
2 Defenders 2 Midfield Players and 2 Strikers for both teams
• Area size 9v9 (85yds x 65yds)
• Formation for the Practice: 3 Defenders, 3 Midfield Players and 2 Strikers for both teams
Practice 2
Adaptations Organisation
• Area size 8 v 8 (80yds x 60yds)
• Formation for the Practice: 3 Defenders, 2 Midfield Players and 2 Strikers for both teams
• Target players (T) at each end
• Must play the ball forward into the target players
• Target Players are on a maximum of two touches
• Target players can cross or pass the ball to their team mates
• Players once they receive the ball back from the target players can only finish first time
Key Teaching Points
• Individual creation of space and movement
• Play the ball forward early with purpose and quality
• Movement to support the Target Players
Practice 3
Organisation
• Area size 8 v 8 (85yds x 70yds)
• Formation for the Practice: 3 Defenders, 2 Midfield Players and 2 Strikers for both teams
• Marked channel Area
• Two players representing both teams play in the channel area unopposed
• The ball must go to the front players before it then can go wide
• Channel players can cross the ball or play the ball infield
Key Teaching Points
• Individual creation of space and movement
• Play the ball forward early with purpose and quality
• Movement to support the wide players
Do not forget, these practices are your practices. As a coach when you choose a topic for your practice, make sure you search for pictures relating to the topic. Do not be afraid to walk around the pitch even, if it makes a better sense of searching for topic related issues. I have always used this method when noticing something I probably wouldn’t have observed on the touch line.
It even helps to write 4 or 5 topic related issue’s (e.g. full back defending against a wide player) on paper and apply coaching principles related to those issue’s when they arise. Whatever the case, there will always be a picture relating to the topic that will take place.
I will re-iterate that I have only put these sessions up for the benefit of the coaches in Pakistan. If they are complex, then please make comment and I will explain it as best as. I believe that a player should be preparing themselves for the team game and NOT for themselves as individuals. There is only so much you can perfect on the basics (kicking, passing, running) with the ball. The end product will always have to be game related. There is no better way of preparing for the game other than having opposed situations.