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Coaching a Team to Defend as a Team in a Small Sided Game

I am often asked how coaches can effectively coach a team. Many coaches can put on practices and drills to improve players’ techniques and skills, but coaching a team to work together to achieve a specific team objective can be difficult and intimidating for many coaches. In this blog, we look at the topic of coaching a team to defend effectively as a team. In this example, we look at a UEFA B practical curriculum topic and play an 8 v 8 game. The principles and structure of defending shown here are equally applicable to coaching 4 v 4 games through to 11 v 11 games.

Sowing the Seeds – Footballs’ Social Network

In a recent FA survey children were asked what they felt was the most enjoyable thing about playing football... 'Meeting with and making new friends' topped the list by a mile. Far ahead of winning, scoring, league tables, medals and trophies, all identified as adult preoccupations. With the media hype that surrounds the game, the ridiculous salaries and tabloid antics of some high profile players it’s easy to forget the wide ranging and long term social benefits that football brings. It develops the socialisation of children and communities and like all sports football brings together people from different social and cultural backgrounds.