4 lesson c i f a c o a c h e s c o u r s e c

LESSON 4LESSON 41. Principles of the Game1. Principles of the Game

The football has some basic principles to The football has some basic principles to be trained and taught. These principles be trained and taught. These principles make your team works as an organized make your team works as an organized group to defend and attack. They are:group to defend and attack. They are:Ball possessionBall possessionCompactCompactCreating spaceCreating space

LESSON 41. Principles of the Game

Ball possession The first principle is the ball

possession. The team that keeps the ball most of the time in its possession makes the opponents run and spend more energy; and of course is able to score.


To keep the ball possession the team shall keep moving constantly and passing the ball early.

Basically, two touches are needed: control and pass.


To do a pass right after the control, the player has to know what to do before control the ball. Before the ball comes a “picture” of the field is taken then the control and pass are made.

Too much time is lost if the player controls the ball and after that, needs to look around, makes decision and evaluate the opponents’ actions. The probability to make the wrong decision or make mistake when passing increases and the opponent will get closer.


Dribbling is the last option to keep the ball possession. If the player with the ball needs to beat his opponent and no other option is available he has to pass the ball right after or finish.


Longitudinal and diagonal compact These defending principles are

established to make the defenders work easier or simply, make the space shorter and tighter.


Longitudinal compact


Diagonal compact


The ways to make the field zones tighter is called: compact.

It can be longitudinal or diagonal.


The longitudinal movement is coordinated by the last defender. One of the most important qualities is the leadership. This player, verbally, instructs the team. He makes the calls to the team defends or attacks.

The common commands are: “man to man”, “push”, “step up”, “pick up”, “out” and many other ways to say. It is up to the region, team or predetermined commands combined by the team.


When the team needs to pressure the opponent the leader makes the team moves forward.


If the strategy is to attract the opponents’ team to the offensive half, the defender just step back and keep checking the open spaces.


An important point is to keep the defensive line outside 18 yards box.


The diagonal moving is an action made, basically, by the defenders and midfielders to close the open spaces on the side closer to the ball.


The defenders and midfielders move naturally in that way but some opposite side backs don’t. It’s very important for the coach to teach the players to move right.


These movements are organized actions; very different than the football beginners used to do crowding around the ball.


• Creating Space– Creating space is the action to break the compact

principle; it is an attacking action and is a principle worked in conjunction with the ball possession.

– When a team has the ball, and the first aim is to score (sometime the team could aim to keep the ball possession to save energy, make the time “run” or attract the opponent), the space is necessary in the attacking field. The midfielders, side backs and forwards have to do a coordinated action to open space and create the scoring situation.


• Overlapping, overtaking, rotations (carrousel), penetration, switching position are the most common moves to deceive the defenders and give trouble for the marking.


• Overlapping


• Overtaking


• Rotations (carrousel)


• Penetration


• Switch Position

LESSON 4LESSON 42. Defensive and Offensive Heading2. Defensive and Offensive Heading

Heading is one of the hardest technique to teach because it involves Heading is one of the hardest technique to teach because it involves “fear”.“fear”.

The natural reaction when heading is to close the eyes. Closed eyes cannot The natural reaction when heading is to close the eyes. Closed eyes cannot see the targets and the ball.see the targets and the ball.

The coach has to insist every time for the player to keep the eyes open.The coach has to insist every time for the player to keep the eyes open. When work with children the progressive difficult principle has to be When work with children the progressive difficult principle has to be

respected to break the fear to head the ball.respected to break the fear to head the ball. The player can feel two fears. Fear to head the ball and fear to be hurt by The player can feel two fears. Fear to head the ball and fear to be hurt by

the opponent’s head. The first one cannot hurt but the second is very the opponent’s head. The first one cannot hurt but the second is very dangerous and the coach has to be careful when it happens. Send the dangerous and the coach has to be careful when it happens. Send the player to the doctor to a examination is recommended in most of the player to the doctor to a examination is recommended in most of the cases. Unfortunately some players died after a head to head impact.cases. Unfortunately some players died after a head to head impact.

If the players (both players fighting for the ball) have the eyes open, the If the players (both players fighting for the ball) have the eyes open, the possibility for a head to head impact decreases.possibility for a head to head impact decreases.

The right head’s part to hit the ball is the frontal in the most of situations.The right head’s part to hit the ball is the frontal in the most of situations. The heading can be made jumping, standing or diving.The heading can be made jumping, standing or diving.


The heading can be made jumping.The heading can be made jumping.


The heading can be made standing The heading can be made standing up.up.


The heading can be made diving.The heading can be made diving.


Heading passesHeading passes• This is the way to make the ball reaches This is the way to make the ball reaches

the teammate fast because the control the teammate fast because the control isn’t made.isn’t made.

• Passes the ball heading is difficult and Passes the ball heading is difficult and the trainings in game situation are the trainings in game situation are important to improve this skill.important to improve this skill.


Heading savesHeading saves The saves using the head is very important for The saves using the head is very important for

the defense.the defense. Since the modern tactical systems and strategies Since the modern tactical systems and strategies

make the teams work on the flanks more crosses make the teams work on the flanks more crosses come over the 18yrds. box and dead balls like come over the 18yrds. box and dead balls like free kicks and corner kicks as well .free kicks and corner kicks as well .

There are different ways to save with the head There are different ways to save with the head but the most important thing to consider is where but the most important thing to consider is where the ball should go after defensive heading.the ball should go after defensive heading.

Of course the ball should be sent far from the Of course the ball should be sent far from the goal but in which direction?goal but in which direction?


From where the ball came from.From where the ball came from.


To opposite side.To opposite side.


To award a corner kick.To award a corner kick.


To the front of 18yrds. box.To the front of 18yrds. box.


When the time is given and the When the time is given and the defenders can play safe, the pass to defenders can play safe, the pass to the teammate shall be made.the teammate shall be made.


Heading finishesHeading finishes The head can produce strong The head can produce strong

finishing like a shot.finishing like a shot. The important matter when heading The important matter when heading

is to avoid the high trajectory. To do is to avoid the high trajectory. To do so the player has to try to put the so the player has to try to put the ball down on the ground.ball down on the ground.

LESSON 4LESSON 43. Dribbling3. Dribbling

When a dribble is made, is hard for the When a dribble is made, is hard for the player to see the opponents and player to see the opponents and teammates’ position and this action teammates’ position and this action demands fast movement causing the ball demands fast movement causing the ball control hardest. The player looks for the control hardest. The player looks for the opponent, the ball and the space.opponent, the ball and the space.

LESSON 4LESSON 43. Dribbling3. Dribbling Opponent unbalance principle.Opponent unbalance principle.

It is the way to get advantage and time. An It is the way to get advantage and time. An unbalanced opponent cannot be fast and use unbalanced opponent cannot be fast and use the body to fight for the ball.the body to fight for the ball.

Who has the ball uses the body and legs to Who has the ball uses the body and legs to deceive the opponent.deceive the opponent.


The player uses the dribble to move forward or to The player uses the dribble to move forward or to get time.get time.

The forward dribbling is made to get closer to the The forward dribbling is made to get closer to the opponents goal and most of the time the dribbler opponents goal and most of the time the dribbler has to use the unbalance principle.has to use the unbalance principle.

The backward dribbling is made to move to the The backward dribbling is made to move to the defensive side direction to find more space and time defensive side direction to find more space and time to play; most of the time the dribbler plays the ball to play; most of the time the dribbler plays the ball opposite to the opponent’s direction. It’s much opposite to the opponent’s direction. It’s much easier than forward dribbling.easier than forward dribbling.


Why and WhenWhy and When The football player uses the dribbling The football player uses the dribbling

because there is no other way to pass the because there is no other way to pass the ball and the opponents is coming to fight for ball and the opponents is coming to fight for the possession.the possession.


Why and WhenWhy and When The player uses the dribbling when an The player uses the dribbling when an

offensive action is made and a goal offensive action is made and a goal opportunity is seen.opportunity is seen.


Why and WhenWhy and When The dribbling in the defensive side has to be The dribbling in the defensive side has to be

avoided.avoided.


Why and WhenWhy and When The dribbling can put the player in a good The dribbling can put the player in a good

situation to score or forces the opponents to situation to score or forces the opponents to do a foul but it is the easier way to lose the do a foul but it is the easier way to lose the possession.possession.

4 lesson c i f a c o a c h e s c o u r s e c

Entertainment & Humor

game ball possession

defending principles

basic principles

game overlapping

game penetration

game overtaking

game dribbling

ball needs