Training in Match Conditions

One of the biggest challenges that face coaches at all levels of the game; is getting their players to reproduce what is performed in training within a competitive match.

Coaches strive to deliver challenging and informative coaching sessions for their players and often see great reaction from the players during this time.  When the players enter a match situation, this is often not the case.  Once the players cross the white line, it is down to them to produce.  Is this entirely true? Or are we not preparing our players for the chaos of a football match?

When working with young footballers, it is important to provide them with the platform to practice skills and techniques.  This kind of practice can be unopposed or under limited pressure, but most importantly it must be practiced in a REAL GAME situation.  The age and ability level of the players will determine at which point you can introduce your players to your theme.  If we cannot provide them with this game-like stage to perform, then how can we expect them to ‘turn it on’ during a competitive match?

Small Sided Games

Small sided games are a great way to increase the participation of each player involved, the less players per team, the more touches on the ball for all.  By constructing these kinds of games to suit a theme, the coach can gain a greater number of repetitions of the desired outcome.  This set up will ensure that the players are given the opportunity to repeat a skill or technique within a challenging game-like environment, but at a higher rate than in a normal match.  The benefits to this are huge for the players themselves and for the coach.  Players must be comfortable playing within 360 degrees, analysing space and player positions, practicing first touch direction and pass selection hundreds of times over a short period.  This frenzied involvement can be high intensity and hard work.  It is often good practice to use larger teams and have support players on the outside of the grid or pitch.  These players are in ‘active rest’, still part of the game as support but not at the pace of those in the middle.  When the players switch, those inside gain valuable rest, but remain active; this is another focus of football fitness.

There are various ways to design a session to achieve specific outcomes and paint certain pictures for your team.  This is vital in order for your players and team to develop.  It is also important that a coach remembers that repetition is the basis for all learning, without it all of their sessions would fall down at the first hurdle.  Repetition is what has developed the players to where they are now.  Do not ignore it, but equally do not assume that repetition is one dimensional and ‘boring’.  A coach must create situations for players to repeat decisions, movements and techniques.  By using a small sided game, the coach can cover all areas in one part of their practice; this saves time and gives them multiple outcomes.

Wherever possible, small sided games should be performed with realistic conditions.  The use of appropriate goals or targets is important, if the coaches aims are attacking based, then using a proper goal creates a game situation.  The coach must then prepare the game around the use of this equipment, as it is match conditions.  The area of the game can be flexible and depends on the theme and the desired outcomes.  Play within match laws and award free kicks etc. as this helps the players ‘buy in’ to the game.

Try not to over complicate things.  A game that has many rules or unrealistic scenarios will de-motivate the players and not achieve the outcomes necessary.  Keep the games ‘alive’, a high tempo in these games helps to put pressure on the players to make decisions and execute techniques within real match time frames.  This will help to produce players that are confident playing within a real game.