4v4 Skills League. Introduction

Transcription

1

2 4v4 Skills League Introduction Our vision behind the 4v4 Skills League is to promote individualism, decision-making and selfexpression among players whilst still providing consistent, quality competition without the pressures of long-distance travelling, running-up/high scores and league tables. The 4v4 Skills League has been created to offer teams who are passionate about developing U7 & U8 boys & girls in Travel soccer to become skillful in possession and resilient out of possession. Our league promotes different game formats to offer a variety of learning opportunities for the players to develop their skills and out-play their opponent 1v1. The game-formats we use are built on over 10+ years coaching experience alongside empirical research (Jones, 2015; Future Game, 2010, Williams, Yates & Ford, 2007; Fenoglio, 2005, 2003; Williams & Hodges, 2005) including guidelines recommended by United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The most relevant references are studies by Fenoglio (2005, 2003) based on 4v4 model at Manchester United FC Academy that is still used today. Due to the player journey in US Soccer from 4v4 (U7/U8) to 7v7 (U9/U10) where off-sides starts at U9 including the introduction of the Built-Out Line, we have purposely tried to scaffold the learning journey of our U8 players from 4v4 (no GK), to 5v5 (includes GK) and 6v6 (includes GK) to meet the needs of the players. Advantages Why 4v4 at U7s/U8s? Increased touches on the ball Increased 1v1, 1v2, 1v3 opportunities More opportunities to dribble & score More shots on goal and more goals scored More interceptions More individual involvement & enjoyment Why 5v5 & 6v6 at U8 later? Preparing the players to play with a GK and the play against a GK By introducing a GK it changes the complexity of the game when to score / when to stop goals Prepares them for 7v7 as it s only one less player Offers players the opportunity to develop their understanding on time & space limitations

3 Game Formats U7 Game Formats At U7 there are three different game formats in which matches can take place. This decision is up to the HOME TEAM, not the away. The different formats are shown below: 1. Normal pitch set up (4v4 - no Goalkeeper) 2. Four goal game set up (4v4 -no Goalkeeper with two attacking & defending -goals) 3. End-Zone Game set up (4v4 no Goal/GK to score stop ball foot-on in the end-zone)

4 U8 Game Formats At U8 the players begin only with 4v4 format normal game with goals as below in image 1. As the season changes from the Fall Season, to the Winter we will play 5v5 (4v4 + GK) and eventually 6v6 in the Spring. 4v4 U8 Match Day Set Up 5v5 U8 Match Day Set Up 6v6 U8 Match Day Set

5 Match Rules & Regulations No set referee s - There will be no designated referee s for matches, instead the coaches will manage the game and officiate whilst encouraging the players to play and learn, which is following USSF new guidelines. Fly Substitutions (Anytime substitutions) Size of Ball 3 Pitch Dimensions: U7: 30x20 minimum 35x25 Maximum 4v4 (Yards) Pitch Dimensions U8: 30x20 (4v4) / 40x35 (5v5) / 60x40 (6v6) (Yards) U7 four quarters 8 minutes each. 4x8. (Up to 5 Minutes Breaks In between each quarter) U8 15 minute thirds. 15x3. (Up to 5 Minutes Breaks In Between each third) Restarts (4v4) When the ball goes out of play via the sidelines, whoever touched the ball last forfeits possession, resulting in the other team having the ball and like a normal throw-in, instead the player has to pass-in or dribble-in. If the ball goes out of play via the Goal Line (End Line), then it is a restart irrespective of who touched the ball last, with the team who is defending the goal having possession. A player on this team must pass the ball out to restart the game, and the first pass is free. If intercepted, it s an indirect free-kick to the same team. Repeat same process when goals are scored (the Team defending the goal scored on, restarts the game with a pass into a teammate). Restarts (5v5 & 6v6) normal game rules regarding goals scored, free-kicks, corners, kick-offs, throw-ins, goal-kicks, penalties. NO Offside rule (only U9 applies). Referees included. Built-out line introduced at 5v5/6v6 in line with 7v7 U9 to help prepare the players. 4v4 Fouls = Indirect Free kick. 4v4 = No Corners Change sides after each quarter or third. Coaching - Minimal instruction encouraged from the coaches. (Helping to develop decision making & problem solving) Players must be true birth-year of 2010 or 2009 in order for eligibility to play. Designated Listed suitable home field for 4v4, 5v5, 6v6 grass or artificial, needs to encourage the ball to roll smoothly. Optional Game report, to fill in and send into the League Executives for feedback, please contact our League Executives (Gerard Jones & John Bentley) for a copy.

6 Scheduling & Season dates. Season Dates: The season officially starts on August 27th and finishes November 6th for the Fall season. All teams must play every team once in a season. Teams are welcome to play as many games as they can schedule. Please schedule your own games with other teams, once confirmed and scheduled, only the designated person from each Club can update the Google Document which is live. Please access the online Google Document: HuETPvpW3l6hxk/edit?ts=5793d676#gid= to input your schedules. If you are unable to get hold of the designated Team Contact, please contact the ESFC League Executives (Gérard Jones jones@eastfc.org or John Bentley bentley@eastfc.org ) to solve the matter. League Contacts - League Administrator (Dylan Howell) - League Executives (Gerard Jones & John Bentley) Name Role Cell Gerard Jones League Executive jones@eastfc.org (586) John Bentley League Executive bentley@eastfc.org (586) Dylan Howell League Administrator dylanhowell79@gmai l.com (443)

7 References Fenoglio (2003). The Manchester United 4v4 Pilot Scheme for U9s: Part 2 - The Analysis. The FA Coaches Association Journal Magazine Insight, 5(4), pp Fenoglio, R. (2005). A 4 v 4 Pilot Scheme for U9 Academy Football Players. A Research Report-In-house publication. Manchester Metropolitan University. Jones, G. (2015). Let s Talk Soccer: Using Game-calls to Develop Communication & Decision Making in Football. (Chapter 3, pp. 8-19). Bennion Kearny. The Future Game. (2010). The Football Association s Technical Guide to Young Player Development. The Football Association: London. US Soccer Developing Players to their best ability: Player Development Initiatives Presentation. accessed on 20 March 2016 Williams, A. M. and Hodges, N. J. (2005). Practice, instruction and skill acquisition: Challenging tradition. Journal of Sports Sciences, 23, pp Williams, A.M., Yates, I., & Ford, P.R. (2007). Structuring practice for effective learning: Are we failing our current generation of aspiring young players? In-sight: The Football Association Coaches Association Coaches Magazine, Spring, pp Additional Recommended Reading Cartwright, John (2008). Football for the Brave. M Press (Media) Ltd. Ericsson, K. A. (2003). The development of elite performance and deliberate practice: An update from the perspective of the expert performance approach. In J. Starkes & K. A. Ericsson (Eds.), Expert performance in sport: Recent advances in research on sport expertise (pp ). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Hill-Haas, S., Dawson, B., Impellizzeri, F. M. and Coutts, A. J. (2011). Physiology of Small- Sided-Games Training in Football. Sports Medicine, 41 (3), pp Hill-Haas, S., Roswell, G., Coutts, A. J. and Dawson, B. (2008). "The reproducibility of physiological responses and performance profiles of youth soccer players in small sided games." International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 3, pp Roca, A., Williams, A.M. and Ford, P.R. (2012). Developmental activities and the acquisition of superior anticipation and decision making in soccer players. J Sports Sci, 30(15), pp