If we did, perhaps, the next step would be to let it evolve into 3v3 before going into 5v5, wouldn’t it?

Dribbling Football: How a child-centred approach led Belgian youth football from 11v11 to 2v2.

Friday, 23 June 2017

by Kris van der Haegen

One size doesn’t fit all: not in training sessions, not in matches, and not in the personal profile of coaches. To solve this problem, three years ago the Belgian football association made a brave decision to change to a much more tailor-made approach. In short, it means that we now adapt to who is in front of us, not the other way around!

For more than 10 years we have broken down the 11 v 11 game into smaller formats: 8v8 and 5v5 to start with, and more recently, in 2014, we created even a smaller football format introducing 2v2 games at U6-U7 age.

At the very beginning, a lot of parents didn’t appreciate the innovation because they were still evaluating the project from the point of view of the adult athlete. They didn’t quite like that we changed the regular format of their favourite team sport. So, we had to explain them that we were just focusing on the individual child of 5-6 years old who has just started playing football.

At that age, the only skills that they are ready to develop are dribbling and scoring (shooting) skills. This fits with the psychological and mental capability profile of these young children, who let’s face it, are rather egocentric. They aren’t able to deal with complex decision making required to know when to dribble and when and whom to pass?

This high level of complexity of the full form of the game doesn’t fit with the cognitive capacities of U5-U6 and even some U7 players.

Some parents were really angry and told me that we were crazy at the FA when I presented them the new format in January during the winter break: “Football is a team sport…!” they cried angrily. But, only a few months later, one of these ‘angry’ parents sent me a text message (sms) : “Kris, now I understand the change, my son scored 4 goals today. Last year he didn’t score one in the whole season….”. This father had finally taken off his adult glasses and looked at the game with through the eyes of a child that comes to football just to enjoy it and to, yes, SCORE GOALS!!

The point is, before we start developing in the kids the notion of football as a passing game, we must focus on the development of skills that suit where they are mentally and cognitively, like keeping the ball, running with the ball and scoring.

By thinking about what 5 and 6 year-olds are like, we created a new kind of football: Dribbling Football, play on mini pitches and with an adapted goal format. It looks a lot more like the street football we played back in the day where we could freely express ourselves without a coach and even without a referee. Just playing like we wanted to play… 100% FUN!

Below is a diagram of the format for Dribbling Football

And here is a clip of what it looks like in action:

It reminds me so much of the countless hours we spent playing outside, playing football in the garden or the parking lot, just by playing on your own or with your brother, sister or the next-door neighbour.

It sounds a bit sad, but in a way, what we are doing now is organise and replicate the street football of old in the club environment. No competition, but just football festivals where everybody wins and enjoys football!

It’s not all hunky-dory though. At U7 level, the playing format switches to 5v5 football, and we can see that for some of them, perhaps those less experienced that just started to play or who need more time to get the right skills, the 5v5 format is way too complex. But the regulations at the moment force them play in that format.

My question is: Why shouldn’t we be more flexible and adapt the playing format to the growth and developmental needs of the players?

If we did, perhaps, the next step would be to let it evolve into 3v3 before going into 5v5, wouldn’t it?

So let’s make this intermediate step next season and really adapt our football to the players not the other way around. Let’s demonstrate that we are there to develop the individual player, and that this is the norm!  Children are not miniature adults! They are really who they are: just young children with their own characteristics, needs and wants.

You can follow Kris @KrisVDHaegen

Author:

Kris van der Haegen

Kris van der Haegen is Director of Coach Education for the Royal Belgian Football Association. A former high school teacher who speaks countless languages, and a member of the UEFA Jira Panel, Kris has been one of the main architects of the elevation of Belgian football to unheard-of levels of quality in recent years. Kris enjoys talking about how to make football better, specially for children and young people, yet he has also extensive experience coaching at the top level. he is currently an assistant coach with the Belgian Women's National Team. 

Homework

https://thecoachingmanual.com/Content/6283702277505024




Very good article by the coaching manual, from my experience of coaching you cant just turn up at training once a week and expect to master the ball, be good at passing ,keep ups etc etc, this comes from what the child does in his /her spare time . From a coaches perspective we can easily spot those who have practiced in their spare time and those who haven't, for me the foundation phase 5-11 is crucial, it is called the foundation phase for a reason !  Those who have older siblings will benefit massively having to compete against them . Playing futsal will help, in my opinion  its the tight space , your first touch has to be good , passing precise but most importantly the weather never affects play , the games can be conditioned within the session , IE , playing out from the back, shooting , counter attacking ,defending 1 vs 1,s etc etc . Key points in the article below , main article at the bottom.

As a product of Generation X, I sometimes wonder if I look back at my own childhood through rose-tinted spectacles. Did we really enjoy that much freedom and were summers so much longer then? Unfortunately, research suggests I'm not. A study by JCB in 2013 found that children in the modern era are spending (on average) 10 hours per week less outdoors. It's a genuine problem.

Practice makes perfect

The main thing these unstructured games gave us was practice; hours and hours of it. The beating heart of these games is what the Football Association would now call the social corner. That is, groups of friends, schoolmates and team mates across different age groups who just wanted to play. The games went on and on, perhaps starting with 5-a-side, growing to 15 or 16-a-side and dwindling eventually to a couple of mates taking free kicks at each other until they heard the unmistakable tones of mum calling them home for tea-time.

https://thecoachingmanual.com/Content/6283702277505024

The England DNA Foundation Phase

A cultural change is needed.

There have already been hundreds if not thousands of games cancelled this season because of pitches that are unsuitable to play on. This situation occurs every year around the same time and yet, other than some forward thinking individuals and progressive leagues, we muddle aimlessly on moaning and cursing never seriously looking to change it. I ask the question, why?

 “We have to toughen the players up”

“They have to play on grass in the cold when they are older” 

“it will make men/women of them” 

These are some of the usual responses we hear when asked why an alternative has not been considered. 

With this in mind let me offer the following information:

“We have to toughen the players up” 

Futsal is played in a smaller space, to lines and at a faster speed. This means there are more physical contacts, more 1v1 confrontations and more opportunities to develop techniques, skills and movements that are perfectly appropriate for players of this age. 

This environment will toughen players up and get them used to contact. We do need resilient and resourceful players (and Futsal will challenge the players to get better at this) but we are also crying out for skilful, technical players who make great decisions in the game. 

Toughness alone will not win the World Cup, sorry. Futsal is a game that will challenge the players in all the areas we are deemed to be lacking in; technique, decision making, tactical awareness to name but a few.

“They have to play on grass in the cold when they are older” 

Yes, the players do but the significant part of this response is the bit that says; when they are older!! Young children are not as tolerant to fluctuations in temperature as adults so they are affected more by these extremes. 

When they grow and mature playing outside in the cold will be very appropriate but once again we are forgetting that our children are NOT mini adults. Everyone nods and agrees when this is said but the actions of many coaches do not support this. 

Take the players indoors so that the focus can be upon technique, movement and decision making and not keeping warm.

“It will make men/women of them”

The process of childhood is to allow time and space for the gradual transition from being a child, and all that entails, into a mature and well-balanced adult. There is no need to “make men” of our children. It goes against the natural order of things and may mean that vital learning and development is missed out. 

We always seem to be in a rush to get the players doing what comes NEXT. Why not maximise the development that is possible NOW. Missing weeks and months of the season due to cancellations and poor pitches is not maximising development time.

The England DNA and developing players who are confident in possession.

You must know by now that developing the individual ability of each player is an absolute priority in the Foundation Phase. 

Futsal will help in a number of ways. The smooth, flat surface that increases the speed of the ball will provide different challenges to the players, as will the heavier weighted ball. These different constraints will help refine the skills and techniques of the players. The environment indoors allows for concentrated practice if new ideas are being introduced and the wind, rain and cold cannot affect levels of concentration or the pace of practice if the coach needs to take a little extra time explaining things to the players. 

There will be times when the players are outside in the cold so now players have had a variety of experiences and this is what is needed. Inside allows time for focussed practice and games in a smaller space, to different rules and on a fast, smooth surface. 

Outside, if cold, provides lots of high tempo activity and games on a different surface (grass or 3G) and the players need both.

In this section of Hive there are a number of video clips that will add more information and detail so that you can consider a Futsal alternative for the benefit of your young players. 

I know this has been a bit negative so far but I am very encouraged by the many coaches, teams and leagues that have already established a Futsal winter break into the football calendar. This is growing every year, shows real foresight and must be applauded.

DNA Futsal Take home message

The England DNA in the Foundation Phase is committed to sending out very clear and consistent messages regarding the development of a different kind of England player. The game of Futsal has to become a natural part of our players development and the way their seasons are structured when young. The benefits to development, in line with the DNA, of going indoors and playing Futsal far outweigh the cold and wet experiences our young players might get (if the game is actually on outdoors) in winter. Our players cannot lose months and months of development. Quite rightly they will lose focus and motivation. Futsal is the perfect option for the DNA and to keep the development of our players on full throttle all year round.