Level #1 : (Youngest TST players - beginners) : 5/6/7 year olds : 2v2 Level
Virtually no technique is taught (all technique (except the T-shape for control and passing) is hidden in games. It is all game based and very general in regards to core skills. The techncial goals are to see if players can :
- Run with the ball? Use scarecrow/zombie games to teach :
- Keep the ball close
- Keep the head up [ to see zombies / scarecrows/space etc]
- When under pressure move to space.
- Use the game to add in turns / drags / inside touches / outside touches
- Pass with an open foot?
- Control the ball with an open foot?
- Deal with 'face-on' and 'side on' pressure?
- Understand the basics of the game (defend to win possession, score when in possession?
- Pass to players in space or in a good position in a 2v1 or a 2v2?
This is the very youngest players at TST (hour long session).
Plus : Developing the ability to
hop on one foot while interacting with the ballon the other
would be a great base for the next level.
Level #2 : Hopping FFS Ball Masery : DBV and DBU development
(U8/U9 players : who are good enough to do more specific footwork training)
Simple footwork is taught with the aim of developing some fundamental touch techniques as well as the ability to move the ball around the feet in simple ways :
Right foot Only : Left foot only : Inside Only : Outside only: Bottom of the foot Only : Turns (no specific patterns).
- A drag back into anyone of the above could also be done.
- Drag back into a fundamental touch can be done as a simple ball mastery exercises.
- Cones are used sometimes to create time and space constraints.
- Drag back into a fundamental touch can be done using zig zag cones.
- Intensity can be a thing (use races to make it more fun and challenging).
- Head up can be a thing.
- Add control and passing (as part of the race) into the exercise [If the footwork is simple and the conework is not too advanced there's no reason why intensity / head up / passing / control can't be added).
This would be the 'younger / less advanced ' players in the 90 minute session.
This what I would do :
- Work on one FFPs at a time (don't make it complicated)
- Introduce these key fundamentals (click on this link). All players need to be realy comfortable with these 2 patterns.
- Drag back into an Outside touch
- Drag back into an Inside touch
- Drag back into an Inside - Outside [Inisde step Outside : Inside switch Outside]
- Develop Turns (click on this link)
- Continue to develop the ability to open the foot for passing and control as aprt of the footowrk exercises.
Level #3 : Teach 4 main 2 touch FFPs :
(Players who know IswO : IsO and so can do a few more FFPs)
Introduce basic FFPs as ball mastery exercises [ IswO : IsO : OsI : II : IsI : OsO : SfVi : Swfo : DBFB : DT : CyT : IT : OT]. (Go over FFPs if these have no meaning to you) :
- Basic FAPs can also covered (check out the FAP link if you need to).
- Intensity is a thing.
- Head up is a thing.
- Pass and control is a thing at this level.
I would go hard on these patterns ( 2 touch patterns) at this level :
- Key FFPs to work on at this level
- Inside switch Outside : Inside step Outside : Inside inside (Iniesta) : Outside step Inside.
- Outside step Outside.
- inside step inside.
- It is ok to combine the above with drags as this should also cover Drab Back Vs :
- Turns are also really important to add in.(Should be in every session somewhere).
- Work on one FFPs at a time (don't make it complicated). A drga back plus a FFP is ok.
- Cone work is used as a development tool - offer a constraint on timeand space. (How you set up cones is up to you).
- Continue to develop the ability to open the foot for passing and control.
Level #4-6 : (Players with good footwork, but it just needs to be quicker : This is the older group.)
- Introduce, practice and test the full range of FFPs
- 8 DBVs : A whole buncchof turns : 4 main 2 touch FFPS : Array of 1 touch FFPs : Add in Fakes into a FFP.
- Can be one cone (DBU) or lines of cones (straight or zigzag easy or zig zag hard etc) or can be a more complicated cone work which is not a conventual straight line etc.. What you can do depends on your imagination and the players level.
- Combine FFPs to make footwork interesting, challenging and game relevant.
- Intensity, fast feet, agility (maybe) , head up, receive and pass, should also be a part of the footwork.
- Lots of freedom in this session to make the session as fun, interesting, challenging as possible.
- Improvisation of FFPs that develop into 1v1 moves could also be introduced.
L4 : Might still be single FFPs at a time
L5. Multiple FFPs are covered in one exercise.
L6. Should be really challeneging in every way. Multiple FFPs are covered in one exercise. Pass: First touch : Movement to open a passing line : Checking and scanning : are always added. Intensity is a thing. Improvisation of FFPs that develop into 1v1 moves is a thing.
Level #7 : Oldest players
L7 : FFPs should now be instinctive. It is now all about playing more complicated decision based exercises.
- All further footwork is developed in games or at home.
- The Games played should force efficient, effective and intelligent footwork. (Without this, the games should not work). That is poor techncique is exposed in the game.
- Players in this group should be doing extras at home to improve footwork.
Hopefully all players in a group are at a similar level.
Players who are too advanced for the group (at a higher footwork level and game intelligence level) need to move up a group.
- In general Young players stay at Level 1 until they mature enough to handle a 90 minute sessions and isolated footwork practice. There are exceptions who just get it - they move up very quickly.
- If players who are at L2 assume they know nothing: Work through level 2 first (at the start of the term say). Introduce L3 & then L4 as the term develops and when you think they are ready. This progression could easily occur within one term. Take a step back when necessary or even mix it up and move between levels. By the end of the term all players (in all groups except at L1 and maybe L2) should know what FFPs are, and should be able to do them as ball mastery exercises ( IswO : IsO : OsI : II : IsI : OsO : SfVi : Swfo : DBFB : DT : CyT : IT : OT).
- Note: Players do not need to move groups as they progress in levels unless they are absolutely killing the footwork and killing the 3v3s.
- Note: Players should not spend too long at L2 and L3. EG Ball mastery has a window of benefit which players should move quickly into and out of.
- L4 to L5 : This is where most players should be and this level can cover a wide age range. Note:
- Note : Engagement, fun, and interest comes before technique. Your priority is always to engage and motivate the kids (through games & positive communication) before you worry about teaching technique. Kids won't love what they do unless they can see that you are loving what you do.
- L6 : This is when players can kill the FFPs in isolation and so now it is about get a fully game functional experience out of the footwork.
- L7 : Footwork should be instinctively integrated into the decsion making process.
All players in your group should be at the same level. if a player is at a different level it is time for them to move.
