England DNA at the Foundation Phase – Age Phase Priorities
Richard Shuffleton – FA Skills Coach Team Leader (County Durham, Northumberland & North Riding)
Love The Ball, Love The Game: Age Phase Priorities
What do you already know?
Love The Ball, Love The Game: Age Phase Priorities
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Foundation Phase (5-11) | Youth Development Phase (12-16) | Professional Development Phase (17-21)
The priorities outlined are a set of guiding principles for coaches to focus on in each of the age phases.
In-Possession:
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Stay on the ball, master the ball
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Excite with the ball and seek creative solutions
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Connect and Combine creatively with others
Out of Possession:
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Positive and enthusiastic defending
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Intelligent defending
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Master a variety of defensive techniques and roles
Transition:
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Instinctive decision making
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Positive and intelligent attacking reactions
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Positive and intelligent defensive reactions
Consistent headlines throughout the age phases, with additional descriptive detail for each age phase.
England DNA at the Foundation Phase - In Possession Priorities
Stay on the ball, master the ball.
Develop a mastery of the ball and the confidence to try new things.
Excite with the ball and seek creative solutions.
Be exciting and positive in possession, playing with individuality and with elements of disguise and surprise.
Connect and combine creatively with others.
Combine creatively and intelligently with others to create and score goals.
England DNA at the Foundation Phase – Out of Possession Priorities
Positive and enthusiastic defending
Enjoy winning the ball back, be difficult to beat when 1v1 and look to start attacks when you get the ball.
Intelligent defending
Be positive and confident in your positioning and ability to win the ball. Be alert when the opposition have possession.
Master a variety of defensive techniques and roles
Enjoy defending in a variety of roles (as the first defender, cover or support) and develop a variety of techniques to
regain possession.
England DNA at the Foundation Phase – Transition Priorities
Instinctive decision making.
React quickly and positively when the ball is won or lost and have a range of individual options and actions.
Positive and intelligent attacking reactions.
Have a positive attitude when possession is regained, travelling quickly with and without the ball. Take every
opportunity to attack, create and score goals.
Positive and intelligent defensive reactions.
Try to win the ball back quickly and prevent opponents from starting attacks. Be proactive when the ball is lost and
have confidence in your ability to defend.
The Importance of SSGs in Supporting the Delivery of the Foundation Phase Playing Priorities
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The England DNA (Coaching Fundamentals) places a real importance on the delivery of SSGs and/or game related practices to
support the playing priorities across the age phases.
In the Foundation Phase players need to be exposed to playing in a range of SSGs such as 4v4s, 2v2s, 4v2s, Futsal etc. This will
challenge the players decision making; task them with solving a range of problems; whilst gaining the opportunity to freely
apply their individuality in a range of roles, dealing with varying time, space and pressure.
In the Foundation Phase, whilst a great deal of emphasis is placed on in-possession, by working in a range of carefully crafted
SSGs and game related practices, players will be exposed to both out of possession and transitions.
By engaging in a range of SSGs, players also start to discuss, learn and apply different tactics and strategies.
The FA BootRoom: A study by Rick Fenoglio implemented at Manchester United’s Academy compared 8v8 matches against
4v4. The results showed:
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An increase of 35% in the number of passes
An increase of 260% in the number of shooting attempts
An increase of 500% in the number of goals scored.
An increase of 225% in the number of 1v1 encounters
An increase of 280% in the number of dribbling moves (inc skills & tricks)
England DNA at the Foundation Phase – Age Phase Priorities
DNA Coaching Fundamentals
England DNA at the Foundation Phase
In-Possession Priorities
How does this look in practice?
England DNA at the Foundation Phase - In-Possession Priorities
Game 1
Key/toolkit
15 yards
20 yards
Attacker/team 1
Defender/team 2
Team 3
Team 4
Goalkeeper 1
Goalkeeper 2
Server
Ball
Goal
Mini goal
Cone
Pitch set up twice
Mannequin
Player movement
Ball movement
Zoned area
Zone line
Highlighted Zone
Insert
Pitch notes
England DNA at the Foundation Phase - In-Possession Priorities
Game 2
Key/toolkit
15 yards
20 yards
Attacker/team 1
Defender/team 2
Team 3
Team 4
Goalkeeper 1
Goalkeeper 2
Server
Ball
Goal
Mini goal
Cone
Pitch set up twice
Mannequin
Player movement
Ball movement
Zoned area
Zone line
Highlighted Zone
Insert
Pitch notes
England DNA at the Foundation Phase - In-Possession Priorities
Game 3
Key/toolkit
15 yards
20 yards
Attacker/team 1
Defender/team 2
Team 3
Team 4
Goalkeeper 1
Goalkeeper 2
Server
Ball
Goal
Mini goal
Cone
Pitch set up twice
Mannequin
Player movement
Ball movement
Zoned area
Zone line
Highlighted Zone
Insert
Pitch notes
England DNA at the Foundation Phase - In-Possession Priorities
Session Notes
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Game 1:
Two mini pitches are organised, measuring 15x20 yards. An end zone is marked at either end, with a goal placed just behind each end zone.
Players are initially organised into two games of Tag Rugby, playing 3v3, 4v4, or 4v3 (dependent upon numbers).
Players must run the ball into the end zone to score a point for their team. Double points are awarded if they can throw the ball into the goal, therefore encouraging the players
to attack the tighter central areas – miss and get nothing.
Players can either travel with the ball in their hands (encouraged to do so), or pass forwards/sideways (no backwards passes/runs allowed).
Initially the opposition team are trying to tag the ball, therefore the player in possession is aiming to travel whilst protecting the ball. If the ball is tagged, the other team take
possession of the ball. Progress to tagging the player – no tag backs allowed, therefore team mates need to react on the transition.
Support players are encouraged to move in front of the ball, to provide forward passing options.
A second ball can be introduced. One ball continues as above, however, the second ball can’t be passed.
Game 2:
Staying on the same pitches, players are organised into games of 3v3 or 4v4. Goalkeepers can now be incorporated as appropriate.
A directional game takes place, whereby attacking players must enter the end zone by dribbling/RWB before taking shooting opportunities.
When in possession, players are encouraged to be positive and drive forwards, beating defenders as necessary.
As the session progresses, one team member is nominated as the ‘secret play maker’. Should players combine with the play maker and then go onto score, their team will be
awarded five goals. Rotate the play makers as appropriate.
A range of challenges will be presented to the players throughout the session.
Bonus Balls:
Three balls are organised behind each goal. When requested, all players from one of the teams quickly collects a ball each and attacks their opponents goal, creating three
games of 1v1 (players can be paired together). The bonus ball game will last 60 seconds, or until all balls have been scored, or removed from play. Should a player score, be
countered against, or their ball goes out of play, these players join one of the other games, thereby creating two games of 2v1, or a 1v1 & 2v2…… Once the bonus ball game is
completed, players will move back into their games of 3v3/4v4.
Game 3:
The players continue in their SSGs (free play for the last 5-10 minutes), however, the teams are challenged to try to win both games (red v blues on both pitches, with both
reds/blues trying to win both games). As such, players can swap pitches at any time to help them achieve this. By doing so, a range of overloads/underloads will be created on
each pitch.
England DNA at the Foundation Phase – In-Possession Priorities
Player Challenges (linked to In-Possession Priorities)
Beating opponents 1v1:
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Try to be exciting and positive in possession, aiming to beat your direct opponent 1v1.
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Try to recognise when to go alone and when to play into your team mate.
Try to surprise your opponent with the unexpected (this could be a sudden change of speed/direction).
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Try to draw your opponent in, before quickly and intelligently beating them 1v1.
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Try to stay on the ball, always looking to retain possession.
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Combining with team mates (player in possession):
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Try to combine creatively and intelligently with your team mate to create goal scoring opportunities.
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Try to recognise when to play into your team mate and when to go alone.
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Try to draw your opponent in before combining with your team mate.
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Try to combine with your team mate in a way that will allow you to progress the play.
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Try to move beyond your immediate opponent as soon as you play into your team mate.
Combining with team mates (support player):
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Try to combine creatively and intelligently with your team mate to create goal scoring opportunities.
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Try to move into a position that will allow you to support the player in possession.
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Try to decide when to combine with your team mate/s and when to drive forwards with the ball.
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Try to move the ball quickly, where possible playing off one touch.
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Try to provide your team mate with a pass that will allow them to drive forwards with the ball.
England DNA at the Foundation Phase - In-Possession Priorities
FA Four Corner Considerations
Technical/Tactical:
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Attacking principles
Personalising technical development
Mastery of the ball under varying degrees of
pressure – edge of comfort zone.
Technical execution to beat opponents 1v1
Technical execution to creatively and
intelligently combine with team mates.
Decision making linked to when to go alone
and when to combine.
Exciting and positive play
Disguise and surprise
Reacting to triggers and cues.
Psychological:
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Ownership and choice
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Decision making and problem solving
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Experimentation and exploration.
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Confidence to try new things – risk taking
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Embracing Challenge
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Desire to improve and succeed
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Learnability
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Creativity
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Imagination
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The 5 Cs – mental skills on the pitch
Physical:
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Challenging physical capabilities, with and
without the ball.
Awareness of own position in relation to
space, team mates and opponents.
Changes of speed – acceleration and
deceleration.
Changes of direction and application of
disguise.
Agility – reacting to opponents actions.
Changes in stride length, dependent upon
space/pressure.
Dynamic balance.
Social:
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Cooperation and collaboration
Leadership
Behaviour
Sharing ideas
Attitudes and dispositions
Analysing and evaluating own and others
performance.
Inviting feedback from others
Competing against self and others
Fun and enjoyment
Fairness and respect
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