Transition from 7v7 to 9v9 to 11v11

June 2014
Transition from 7v7 to
9v9 to 11v11
Jamie Godbold – RCDM (5-11)
Keith Webb – RCDM (12+)
At St. Neots Town FC, Hunts FA
Transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
Some outcomes for this session
• Consider some of the factors which contribute or help to
support the transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
• Highlight the challenges & discuss some solutions (there is
no secret answer!!)
• Examine the role of the coach
• Identify what the players need
• Have a look at some practical work (Just a snapshot)
Transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
Key challenges for the future
 To devise a modern and child-based approach to youth football in England.
 To develop formats of football that allow children to play in structures that give
them the best opportunity to reach their potential and stay within football.
 To develop pitch guidelines that are driven by what is best for the child and
their technical development whilst being conscious of realistic delivery
implications.
 To offer a variety of approaches to dealing with the ‘relative age effect’ that
age-banding for competition brings.
Transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
Common discussion points around the country
 “Win at all costs” philosophy v “Development” philosophy in coaches and
teams - equal playing time for children.
 Effect of “non-competitive leagues” on Under 7’s and Under 8’s and
extension to older age groups.
 Positive impact of Respect barriers and implementation of ethos at local
level.
 9 v 9 football as a playing option for U11-U14.
 Mixed football up to U13.
 Summer football and indoor football.
Transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
With the person sitting next to you, quickly discuss the following;
1) What are the obvious differences between Mini Soccer, 9v9
& 11v11?
2) What challenges are the players and you (the coach) faced
with during this transition from Mini Soccer to 9v9 & then
11v11?
Transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
Some of the things you might have discussed…..
Pitches
Goal sizes
Duration of games
Laws of the game
Numbers in the team
Numbers in the squad
Players playing in positions
New formations
Larger area
Technical understanding
Tactical understanding
Physical difference
Transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
Pitch sizes
Awareness and recognition that younger children should be playing
smaller formats of the game than currently.
The transition from 7v7 to 11v11 is a massive jump that proves difficult
for some children and adults.
Children at U11 playing 11v11 can play on the same size pitch as a 26year old professional player!
The size of the pitch has implications for children in many ways
including who gets picked to play and the type of football that is played.
Age
Format
League Rules
Tournament Competition
Pitch Size
7
5v5
Development League
Regulated by CFA
30x20 to 40x30
8
5v5
Development League
Regulated by CFA
30x20 to 40x30
9
7v7
Development League
Regulated by CFA
50x30 to 60x40
10
7v7
Development League
Regulated by CFA
50x30 to 60x40
11
9v9
Development League
Regulated by CFA
70x40 to 80x50
12
9v9
Performance League
Open Access
70x40 to 80x50
13
9v9
Performance League
Open Access
70x40 to 80x50
14
11 v 11
Performance League
Open Access
90x50 to 110x70
15
11 v 11
Performance League
Open Access
90x50 to 110x70
16
11 v 11
Performance League
Open Access
90x50 to 110x70
Transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
As the players progress through the
stages, they will experience:
• Position specific (first time)
• Decreasing opportunities to have the
ball
• More decisions
• Greater external pressures from – Who?
Transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
Something for you to consider?
• How do we change as coaches?
- A new philosophy
• Does the game change dramatically for the players?
• Do we change our focus from Technical to Physical?
- Get it to the fastest or biggest
• Rules of the game
- The dreaded offside
• Different formations?
- Related to players or outcome
Transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
With the person sitting next to you, quickly discuss
& then agree on 3 different formations for;
1) Mini Soccer
2) 9v9
3) 11v11
What have you come up with?
Coach Tasks
•
Pick a position from the list below:
 2/3 – Full Backs
 7/11 – Wide Players
 4 – Central Midfield
 10 – Attacking Midfield/Striker
 5/6 – Central Defender
•
Linking to the 4 corners, what qualities would you like them to have as a 14 year
old
•
How does the practice allow for the player to practise the list of qualities that you
have made?
•
What interventions are being used?
Transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
What are your responsibilities as the coach?
• To develop a knowledge of the game
- What are the ‘Principles of Play’?
• Provide the players with the opportunity to acquire & develop
- ‘Football specific memory’ : Game Related Practice
- ‘Game specific memory’ : Invasion game skills related to
time, space, etc
Transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
So what are the right ingredients for your players?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Establish a positive Learning Environment:
Provide opportunity to practice and experiment
Ensure the players feel safe and secure
Make it challenging
Be inclusive
Allow sessions to be FUN and enjoyable
Use varied styles of teaching/coaching
Communicate at the appropriate level
Allow players to learn from mistakes
Manage the difference
Above all - Treat them as children!
Transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
Considerations when planning your coaching sessions;
• Keeping shapes – not positions
• Practicing Attacking & Defending with the same, more or less
players
• Divide the pitch into thirds or quarters
• Divide the pitch into columns or rows
• Play Attack v Defence – developing the team as a social unit
• Include Counter attacking where possible
Transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
Evidence from overseas
Can’t get too hung up on what other countries are doing but
need to be aware.
Any recommendations and developments need to fit with
the DNA and culture of English football.
Question
England
Holland
Germany
At what age does your
5 years
Association formally
begin/recommend coaching
children?
No official age,
usually around
5 years
U7
In your country what age do 11 years
children begin playing full
11-aside competitive
matches?
11 years
Mostly U15
But in some regions U13 or
U11
12 -14 years
60 minute
matches
U 14
What age does the
Association recommend
playing 11 aside?
Researching
9 v 9 for U12 and
then begin 11 v 11
at U13
U 15
12 -14 years
U 14
In your country what age do U9
players begin playing for
trophies & medals?
Recommend U12,
but admit this is
not the case.
National Competitions U15
Regionally 9/10 years old
U 12 & 13
What age does the
Association recommend
playing for trophies &
medals?
U 12
U 11 but in some regions
they play earlier
U 12 & 13
U 11
U 11 however this
has been met with
opposition.
Italy
France
U 7 (40 + hours)
Please can you tell what numbers your Association recommends for the following age groups?
6 – 8 year olds
4 v 4 & 5 v 5 where
facilities exist
4v4
7 v 7 but smaller allowed
5 aside
5 v 5 (U7-U9)
8 -10 year olds
7v7
7v7
7v7
7 aside
7 v 7 (U10-U11)
10 – 12 year olds
11 v 11 (but starting
to promote 9v9)
7 v 7 (9 v 9)
7 v 7, 9 v 9
9 aside
9 v 9 (U12-U13)
12 – 14 year olds
11 v 11
11 v 11
11 v 11 but 9 v 9, 7 v 7
allowed
11 aside (30
11 v 11 (U14 +)
mins each way)
Transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
“Practices designed to represent competitive
demands will lead to transfer of skills between
practice and performance environments”
Brunswick 1956
“If you practice away from the context of the game
you will do it differently when you play the game”
Renshaw 2008
“Children report games are more stimulating than
drills’’
Rikard & Banville 2006
“The learner/player has to be an active participant in
their own learning”
Rink 2008
Session 1 - Thirds
Notes:
Session 2 - Channels
Notes:
2 teams:
2-3-1
3-2-1
Session 3 - Halves
Notes:
Transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
Try to include the following in your practical
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Some clear Aims and Objectives
Safe
Secure
Challenges – 4 Corner Model
- Try to avoid static practices, lines, queuing
Multiple outcomes
Choices and decisions
Ownership
Trust
Make it 90% the players 10% Coach
Source: Paul Holder, 2006
Transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
What do the players want you to do ?
Encouragement
No Criticism
Come and watch games
Talk to you after the game
Talk about GOOD things
Don’t put you off
What should I focus on next week
Ask us what we did well
Enjoy the match
Support
ASK about the game
Talk about what you could do better next time
Keep calm
Give good advice
How did I do well?
Rate us on how well we did
Stay quiet
Transition from Mini Soccer – 9v9 – 11v11
“The learner/player has to be an
active participant in their own learning”
Rink 2008
Ten years of coaching without
reflection is simply one year of
coaching repeated ten times.”
(Gilbert and Trudel 2001)
“praise your players….Inspire and motivate
your players using praise. Ten years from now
it won’t matter what your record was. Will
your players ‘love’ or ‘hate’ you?”
(Dyer 2004)
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit”