LONG TERM PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
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Long Term Player Development

The recent FA review under the direction of Sir Trevor Brooking recommended the

integration of all football in an effort to introduce a logical player development and

coach education pathway for all.

Subsequently, The FA has modified its coach education programme in order to embrace a
wider player development focus within the current framework. This approach supports the
principles of the recently proposed Sport England “Long Term Athlete Development” (LTAD)
programme.
Following consultation, The FA has introduced the title:

 Long Term ‘Player’ Development'

  Moving forward

This initiative is in line with the ongoing coach education review for the coach, teacher and
parent and will integrate LTPD into existing FA courses. The support for player and coach
development pathways includes technical, physical, psychological and social development.
Given the diversity of participation in football, The FA has decided to adopt an 8 stage model
of Long Term Player Development as shown here. This example describes an age
appropriate development pathway over time. The recommendations for the younger age
groups being aligned to the schools key stages wherever possible;

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Stages 1-2: 5 to 11 year old primary school ages (small sided games played)

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Stages 3-4: 11 to 16 year old secondary school ages (11 v 11 games played)

• Understand the basic importance of carbohydrates, proteins and fat and their required levels.

• Ensure your energy (food) intake approximately equals your energy output. Never miss breakfast it is the most important meal of the day.

• No single food contains all the nutrients we need for a healthy diet so try to eat a wide range of foods each day.

• Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

• Starchy foods such as bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and cereals should be the main part of meals and snacks.

• Meat and fish are good sources of protein, vitamins and minerals.

• Milk is also a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals as it is an excellent source of calcium which is particularly important for bones especially during growth.

• Eat small portions and regularly, not one or two big meals a day. Not eating for long periods is not beneficial.

Developmental Areas in Football

Due to the demands of modern day football there are many important factors that effect performance. Elite players posses most of the attributes to sustain a career at the top. Lower league players who may not have as many attributes, this is the distinction between the divisions.

It may be fair to say that first division players may have the essential skills and fitness but not the mental toughness to perform at the elite level. Youth players however should focus on all aspect of the game over a wide spread of training.

A lot of the main areas for youth players can be practiced or developed outside football ie, running, stretching, swimming and a good diet.

(Below is a diagram showing the main areas for all players to develop in order to develop thier all round game) Setting up your soccer practice
A well-prepared football or soccer practice is conducted with a progressively perplexing flow. Rather than mixing soccer drills at random, a training session must be targeted towards a specific part of the game like finishing or passing. The best way to conduct a soccer practice is by starting with simple technical exercises and building up to group tactical situations. The latter much closer resemble the real game of soccer, thus providing a bridge or a translation from practice to match performance.

The following are proven drills specialized in the different aspects of the game. It must be noted that when coaching very young kids (younger than 12) it is best to have a soccer practice based on technical development, rather than concentrating on one particular aspect like passing or shooting. Therefore, if you are coaching young kids, consider the youth soccer drills section.

SHOOTING SESSIONS

Drill 1: Simple Shooting Drill

Description: This is a good drill to start off a shooting practice. The "finisher" passes the ball over to a distributor who sets it up for a finish. The ball must be struck outside of the penalty box. Explanation: In the beginning of the drill, the player taking the shot must be required to control the ball before finishing. When the players get comfortable enough, make it a requirement to finish with a single touch. This provides a smooth progression from technical execution to performance demands.

Task: finish from outside the box Purpose: technique, composureComplexity: simple

Drill 2: Counter 3v2 with a Wing

Description: The attackers begin in line, at three different points: on the wing, 20 yards inward and in the middle of the pitch. Two enemy fullbacks are initially located at the edge and corner of the penalty box. The ball starts from the player in the center. He gives it to the left enemy defender who immediately lays it to the outside attacker. From that point, the fullbacks begin attempt to clear the ball to the opposite half of the pitch. The attackers are required to score using not more than three consecutive touches per single player.

Task: for the attackers - finish using less than three touches per player; for the defenders - to clear the ball Purpose: composure, direct attacksComplexity: medium

 PASSING SESSION

Drill 1: Pass and Move Drill

Description: There are three lines of players behind three cones, arranged in a triangle. The player in the front of each line passes the ball over to the next. As he completes his pass, he moves over to the back of the line that is opposite to the direction of his pass. Explanation: This drill incorporates many fundamental aspects of passing. First of all, all passes are made in a triangle, which is the basis of all ball movement. Secondly, the players are forced to move right after releasing the ball. This enforces the dynamic concept "pass and move."

Task: keep the ball moving from cone to cone; after a pass from Line 1 to Line 2, the player passing must go to back of the opposite Line 3 and so on Purpose: technique, rhythmComplexity: simple

Drill 2: Combination Passing

Task: to advance with the ball while preserving width Purpose: maintaining attacking shape, passing to spaceComplexity: simple to medium

Description: Three evenly spaced players advance the ball forward through combinations of dribbling and passing. There are many variations of this soccer drill. As shown in this particular diagram, the ball is always dribbled to the middle and passed to the outside. An important fact to notice is that when running past a player dribbling with the ball (Steps 3 to 5) you must always run behind him (Step 5 occurs after 4.) Explanation: Combination plays are great for young players because they teach many fundamental principles of attacking. Preserving width, for example, is important because it challenges and pulls out the enemy defense.

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Stages 5-6: 16 to 20 year old school leaver age groups

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Stage 7: 20+ the mature player example

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Stage 8: Retention, for any participant who is retained within football
Building flexibility around the model accommodates the diverse needs of all players and
upport staff, whilst the central model offers the foundation for the varied strands of
participants. (for example; gender issues, schools, counties, communities, professional
clubs, disability teams, futsal, free play, etc.)

 

Nutrition advice - training brief

Food is the bodies' fuel, and the better the quality fuel you put in the better the performance you will get from the body, day in, day out. It is basically common sense, the food consumed not only gives energy but it also assists growth and repair of injuries and maintains general body function.

Simple nutritional tips: