First Principles

It's all about Space.

Start with this view of the game :

At an individual level the game is about manipulating time and space to improve the position of the ball.

What does this mean?  

It means that, as a player, you are always aiming to achieve one or more of the following things.

Moving the ball forward :

When playing :

  1. Can you move the ball further up the pitch.
  2. Can you move the ball to a player who is further forward than you.
  3. If you can't move the ball forward (pass or run) then can you play to someone who can.
    1. This means maybe playing sideways, or even backwards, before going forward. (E.G. Switching uses both of these options).

Moving the ball to space.

When playing :

  1. Can you move the ball to an area of space (and away from pressure).
  2. Can you move the ball to a player who has more space than you.
  3. Can you move the ball to a player who has a 'better' space than you.
  4. If you can't move the ball to a player who has a 'better' space than you, then you should keep the ball until you can.
    • 'Better' space means where there is less pressure, or a space higher up the pitch, or closer to the goal.

If you can move the ball forward, and into a better space or a better position then the chances are that it is a very promising moment in the game.

 

 

How does this affect the following core skills?

That is : First Touch : Ball Moving : Passing.

 

It affects then all the same. Core skills are all a function of the same process.

  • How do they use space to improve the position of the ball?
  • Does your first touch play into a problem or solve a problem?
  • Does your running with the ball run into a problem or solve a problem?
  • Does your pass create a problem or does your pass solve a problem?

 

First principles are therefore about developing a high degree of individual football intelligence

which is combined with 'an excellent touch in all 'on the ball' technical areas'.

 

How to study this process.

 

Watch 5 minutes of any pro game (there is one below) and do the following:

1. Just before a player receives the ball, pause the video and try to guess :

  • Where their first touch will go?
  • How many touches they will have if they run/move with the ball, and where they will move the ball to?
  • Where will their release/pass will go?
  • What will  the players 'off the ball' do, so that they play their part in helping improve the position of the ball.

And the big question to answer is :

Whilst 'on the ball' did they improve the position of the ball?

 

 

 

The above focuses mainly on 'on the ball' technique :

But 'Off the ball' technique is also a massive part of ' the first principle of technique'.

 

Great players find the best spaces.

 

'Off the ball' technique is also a massive part of ' the first principle of technique'.

This is looked at, in detail, later in this resource.

 

The better your first principles, the more intelligently you will be able to play.

Teams with players who have good first principles will more likely play a more intelligent and attractive style.

(Think Man City 2021 under Pep G).

 

Yes teams can win (especially at a youth level) without their players having good 'first principles'

but this 'win' will be based on physicality more than technique and intelligence

and the 'win' is more likely to be 'ugly' in some way.

 

It won't be the beautiful game.

 

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