FIFA 11+

Warming up is the a cornerstone of proper preparation for training and games.  Like eating breakfast, a warmup is a preparatory activity to get the player ready for the mental and technical rigors of performance and also to reduce the risk of injury..

We will implement the FIFA 11+ Warmup in stages throughout the year.  This warmup is designated as a complete warmup program aimed at reducing injuries. The warmup consists of 3 parts and will be conducted twice a week throughout the course of the season. The FIFA 11+ consists of 15 exercises divided into three separate components.:

1. Running Exercises (8min)
2. Strength, plyometric and balance exercises (10min)
3. Running Exercises (2 min)

Below you will see a few basic factoids taken straight from the source the FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre (Acronym: F-MARC):

• The FIFA 11+ injury prevention programme is a helpful method to train certain muscles stabilising joints and train your balance to make you less susceptible to loss of balance and falls.
• In a scientific study with almost 2,000 female youth players, teams performing “11+” at least twice a week had 30-50 per cent fewer injured players than teams who warmed up as usual. The greater care you take to correctly perform each exercise, the greater the effect.

Watch the video below for the Part 1 Running Only Portion of the FIFA 11+ Warmup

Watch this video for a more indepth look at the all parts of the FIFA 11+ Warmup

Defensive Movements (Intro)

In the video below you will see a short clip of basic defensive movements from the entire team shape.

As we talked about briefly we will be using this terminology to determine defensive orientation: Strong Side and Weak Side (strong side referring to where the ball is and weak side which is farther away from the ball)

Walking through the video you will see these key things

First – Is the Initial shape of our 1-4-3-3

Second  – Is we have expanded into initial attacked starting positions (Maximize Space High and Wide and Maximum options around the ball)

Third – Is the loss of possession and players closing space around the ball

Fourth – If you notice the entire team shifting and moving closer around the ball (weak side players tuck in and goalkeeper stays engaged around the ball)

Fifth – Depending on where the ball is is where the concentration of players is focused (Left Side more players, Center Channel more players, Right Side more players)

**Disclaimer** In the video you see no opponents.   So this is merely to show you as a player moving and closing “space” around the ball.  There will need to be awareness of opponent in spaces in front of and behind you.

 

 

The Rondo

This will be a foundation to many, many, many of the training sessions.  “The Rondo” posts we will dissect the basic setup of the various rondos we will be implementing (from the simple 5v2 to positional rondos which will promote various learning objective specific to the language of the game).

To start lets take a look at the basic presentation of a 5v2 rondo and the types of passes that we run across in a rondo and are equally important to reference in our style of play. 

First Line Pass

• Based on the options within play (Right, Left, Center) the first line pass is to a teammate on right or left side of you that is in front of the opposition.

Second Line Pass

• Based on position of the opponent and where the teammate is positioning this pass goes around defenders

Third Line Pass

• This pass goes between the two defenders, splitting them to the highest player in the grid.  Option we look to create and setup.  (See Future Rondo Post)

 

Homework #1

Remember review Homework #0 before engaging in the next post.

Now that we have watched a few videos on proper technique lets see how much we have learned.  Click on the link and test you knowledge on Short Passing basics

Next it is time for you to take your skills to the street.  Look at the the demo below.  All of these activities are very simple to prep for all you need is your ball and a wall.  Go out and

Distribution and the Goalkeeper

Now let us talk about general goalkeeper distribution with our feet.  Both previous post gave us a good general idea of playing out of the back.  Playing with your feet can be off a goal kick, from a pass back, or a weak effort from the opposing team.  First lets look at what the distribution pattern of the of the top goalkeeper’s with his feet in Michel Vorm of Swansea City from inside his box.

Build out play (General Principles)

In this post we will outline the basic setup and starting shape for our build out play.  Also included is a video which will highlight areas that have been laid out in training and in this post.

Starting Positions

GK – Place the ball in the central area anywhere in the 6 yard box.  Once the ball is played it is important for the GK to move strong side to offer as an option to maintain possession (and either switch play or play to a higher player or keep the ball in same space)

Centerbacks – The reference will always be the space that the opponent allows.  If we can take a higher starting position then that is the best option.  If the opponent is pressing higher than we will take a different and lower staring position around the box.

Outsidebacks- Initial starting positions high and wide.  Creating space while offering as an option in gaps for an outlet pass if CB are not an option or if played to CB or to a central player can that starting position offer the next best supporting option or the space to now move and support into (could be centrally or could be down the line)

Central Players-  Provide initial depth with higher starting positions.  Clearing space allows for central players to access what will be best option of support.  Stay higher or one or two players dropping in to help in the build out or through a rotation space is created for a player

Front 3 – By stretching the opposition as far we possibly can this provides us with depth and space for our teammates to work in as well as provide an option that gets us closer to the goal.  Wide players can either stretch the space to the touchline or more narrow and centrally with the center forward.

Videos

You will see a visual explanation of the build out setup and at the end I’ve added a clip of Barcelona’s build out and you will notice how the center backs have split and how high starting positions were of the outside-backs and the midfield players.

After watching the videos comment below on what you think the keys to success are for a successful goal kick?  What are a few of things we have done at training that might help you be more successful?  And of course are there any other questions that you have about goal kicks and your distribution?

 

For the goalkeepers check out the post on (Distribution and Goalkeeping #3) via the link.

Build out play and the Goalkeeper

Being the goalkeeper is no different than being a field player.  Of course your main objective is to deny balls into the goal (defense) as you get to use your hands to do that, but you are also asked to participate in the attack (offense).  As our team style is possession orientated the goalkeeper can play a pivotal role in maximizing our teams ability to maintain possession.  Instead of a 10v10 on the field the goalkeeper gives us a numbers advantage (11v10) while in possession of the ball.

Homework #0 Introduction

This is just an introduction to going out and working on your game.  The techniques below will give you a brief overview.

So go out start getting some touches and use the videos below to get a head start.