LEAM RANGERS U13s Team Tactics – Players & Parents Workshop

1. LEAM RANGERS U13sTeam Tactics – Players & Parents Workshop

2. General Questions Players and Parents were asked to come up with questions they have generally about the team. This is a summary of those questions... -- Do coaches have same direction and tactics? Yes, Andy and I both firmly believe in the style and system we are looking to play. Style – total football approach and dominating the ball, whilst working hard collectively to regain the ball when out of possession. System – after changes to the squad during the season, Andy and I have decided that a GK-3-5-2 formation will hopefully have most success. Although the system may change, the style of football we ask the players to play will not as we think this will have the best long term benefits. -- Too much passing...could we be more direct? Playing direct balls that ‘miss players out’ is not what we are looking to achieve. All our players like to have the ball at their feet so we will look to build play and share the ball as much as we can, keeping in mind we need to move the ball forwards to score goals. In this way, we will look to dominate possession of the ball with the theory that...if we have the ball we have control of the game. It is not expected that the players will fully grasp this or even be technically good enough at this age to effectively do this. However, by starting now it is hoped that in the future they will and the team will be more successful for it.

3. General Questions • -- Why are we conceding too many goals? • We have lost our defender that brought pace to the back line, without this we have been caught out on a few occasions. We will be looking to bring pace back into the defensive line to avoid this happening. This should allow us to be more solid at the back so that defenders can get tighter knowing that space in behind is covered. We have also been poor recently on set pieces which we will be looking at in training over the next few weeks. • -- Why have we changed system / tactics so often? • We have tried out a lot of different systems and tactics to try and give the players different approaches to playing the game and taking on different responsibilities. Although this may have had some benefits both Andy and myself feel it may also have had some negative ones...players being confused about the roles and responsibilities being asked of them. With this in mind, Andy and I have come to decision that over next few weeks we will stick with one system so we have consistency and allows the players to appreciate their roles in more detail. This will hopefully be more beneficial for both the players and the coaches. • -- Why are there sometimes conflicting messages from coaches when playing? • This links in to the question above, in that, due to the varying tactics and systems we have used even the coaches have been confused as to what the players should be doing...whereby one coach contradicts the other. Again, by focussing efforts on one system these conflicting messages will hopefully be avoided. Please remember, when the players go onto the pitch they asked to make decisions themselves...any advice given before, during or after the matches is aimed at helping the players, nothing else. • Some of these questions were reworded, rephrased and in some cases two or three questions combined into one.

4. GK-3-5-2 Questions Players and Parents were asked to come up with questions they have specifically with the GK-3-5-2 system... -- Wing backs don’t know their role – when to go forward and when to go back? Wing backs are a vital part of GK-3-5-2 as they must try to be involved in every part of the game...defence, midfield and attack. Although they are down as one of the ‘midfield 5’ they can quite easily be thought of / used as defenders to create a GK-5-3-2. It is up to them within the game to make decisions about when to go forward and when to go back...based upon what pictures they see happening in the game. In our GK-3-5-2 we have asked that if we attack down one side and the WB is advanced up the pitch that the Holding Midfielder or the Centre Backs look to cover the space left by them. Also that that the opposite WB might tuck infield to keep the balance of the team. In this way, it will stop teams counter attacking the space we have left. -- Why three in defence – does this leave too many spaces? We feel that some extra pace is needed in the back line so that (a) we do not get caught out in behind our back line using the centre-most defender as a sweeper and (b) it gives confidence to the back line to push up...knowing that we have an extra defender (with pace) to cover the space in behind. As pointed out above, depending on how we use the WBs we can look to play a 5 man defence which would give extra cover and form more of a defensive block. --How do we support the strikers so we can score more goals? It is expected in any system we play that the midfield should get forward to support the strikers so they do not get isolated. The main players that would look to do this in GK-3-5-2 would be the two Central Midfielders and the two Wing Backs. In this way they can be supported both wide and centrally. If we ask the players to be extra brave, they will even look to run beyond the strikers rather than just supporting them. With a 3 man defence and a Holding Midfielder there should be enough defensive security to allow them to do this without getting caught out on the counter attack.

5. GK-3-5-2 Questions -- Why have we changed from GK-4-4-2? There are three reasons for this: (1) looking at the squad and players we have at the present moment and what we are likely to have for the rest of the season Andy and I feel that this system will best suit our play (2) the system is flexible in its nature and allows for mobility on the pitch. BUT this requires the players to have a good appreciation of where each other are (3) it is something different! Learning different systems may give you better positional awareness so that if reverted back to a standard GK-4-4-2 appreciation of shape may be improved. -- What is role of Holding Midfielder in and out of possession? IN POSSESSION – to offer sideways or backwards option behind the ball if we attack wide. In this way the Holding Midfielder becomes key in switching play. To also pick up players / cover space left by an advanced Wing back so to stop the counter attack. OUT OF POSSESSION – to act as a shield to cover key spaces between the defensive line and midfield line. In this way, the HM should be looking to prevent balls into strikers feet and intercept such passes. To also pick up and mark any opposition midfielders that have been ‘passed on’ by Central Midfielders . -- How can Midfield help defence out more? It is hoped that by playing a GK-3-5-2 with Wing Backs and Holding Midfielder that there should be more than enough players to help defend. As stated earlier the WBs can be employed more as defenders by tucking them infield and deeper. The HM is used as a defensive shield to cut off key spaces. But remember it is not only the defence who needs to defend. Our style of play is to ATTACK FROM THE BACK, DEFEND FROM THE FRONT so that everyone is involved in defending. Also, we don’t just start defending when we lose the ball, we start defending when we have the ball.

6. What We Tried to Look At For each of the three areas, players were split into four groups to discuss different areas and feedback their ideas. The following slides are what they came up with...

7. TEAMGK-4-4-2 Strengths -- Players are used to it and know their roles -- Offers good compact shape which makes teams solid -- Good structure and balance Weaknesses -- Midfield can get outplayed if caught out of position -- Everyone plays it so can be predictable

8. TEAMGK-4-1-2-3 (GK-4-3-3) Strengths -- Plenty of players behind the ball (4 defenders plus holding midfielder) -- When attacking have a lot of options when full backs push on and gives width -- 3 strikers causes problems for defenders both in and out of possession Weaknesses -- Midfield can be too narrow if full backs don’t push forward -- If wide strikers don’t track full backs and help midfield can be outnumbered – exploited wide spaces

9. TEAMGK-3-4-3 Strengths -- More strikers to create chances and score goals -- More support going forwards -- Depends how you play front 3 – wide or tight Weaknesses --Could leave defence exposed depending how Midfield help out

10. TEAMGK-3-5-2 Strengths -- Allows for good attacking and good passing options Weaknesses -- Wing back role is difficult and requires good positional sense and lots of stamina -- Can get caught out in wide areas -- Players don’t know their roles as is a new system

11. UNITS Defence IN Possession -- Push up more and maintain high line to keep pressure on opposition OUT of Possession -- Don’t let players turn -- Mark your player -- Shut players down

12. UNITSWing Backs In Possession -- To join in attack to support central midfielders -- Opposite wing back to tuck in and join in game Out of Possession -- To defend and help the three central defenders out

13. UNITSMidfielders In Possession -- Support wing backs when they have the ball wide -- Hold position in central areas to allow others (WBs to push forwards) -- Support forwards by making forward runs Out of Possession -- Close down as soon as we lose the ball -- Cover players to keep play in front of us – drop deep -- Look out for other MFs making forward runs...track or pass on.

14. UNITSAttackers In Possession -- Score goals! -- Bring other players (MFs and WBs) into the game -- Link up and combine to work as a pair -- Don’t stay in one position, be clever with movement -- Stay central to allow other players to use wide areas Out of Possession -- Close opposition defence down -- Split defence – full back and centre halves -- To drop and help midfield if needed

15. Individuals Individuals We only got a chance to look at a few individual positional points during the workshop. We will look to pick these up and talk about others over the forthcoming weeks. It may also be beneficial to have another workshop just to talk about this specifically.

16. To all those that attended, hope you found it enjoyable and helpful! THANKS