Football Football

I have had a great time over the last year working with Nigel Hargreaves the founder of Football Football and the former Head of Strategic Development at the FA. I have never met anyone with as much passion for getting the job done, he is very much a doer which will mean that the Football Football project will be a success.

We have had a number of different programmes all based on fun and games for 5-12 year old's. A particular favourite of mine was a 7 week programme which was based each week on a different country, Brazil, Spain, Holland etc - all games based on the philosophy and coaching of these countries. In gave the children a fabulous insight into how children from around the world learn the game. I really enjoy writing the programme and the various age specific games.

The Football Football programme is a new and innovative football participation programme for young people aged from 5 to 12. It launched on 8^th May 2010, initially in 6 pilot locations and then on Saturday 12^th June in around 28 purpose built football centres in the UK aimed at getting thousands more children aged between 5 and 12 playing football.

Football Football is a celebration of the children’s game, where every child plays for every second.

The greatest game on earth is given back to the children through fun based small sided games which give the players many more touches of the ball and more involvement in the games, while developing them technically, tactically and socially.

What you won’t find at Football Football are leagues, points, substitutes and some of the adult elements that have meant that many children just don’t get a chance to play or are always waiting on the sideline.

Football Football will reach thousands of children country wide, in inner cities and large towns where chances are often limited, e.g. participation in London is 50% lower than the national average. The programme, developed in partnership with The FA, helps address the 1.1m children who would like to join a team and the 2.4m children who want to improve their football skills.[1]

Football Football seeks to give children a life time love of the game by providing them with a full on football experience which takes the positive values of the games played by children in the streets, parks and playgrounds of past generations, but in a safe, fun environment with FA qualified coaches, a maximum of 10 players per coach and first class facilities.

Football Football provides children with an opportunity to play football their way and the excitement and the indescribable feeling that comes with it. They are fully engaged for the full sixty minutes and will benefit both physically and mentally from the experience

Football Football is the children’s own club where they can play, meet new friends, and learn new skills

The programme is being developed by Nigel Hargreaves, former Head of Strategic Development at The FA from 2001 to 2009, and Paul Cooper, Founder of the ‘Give us back our Game’ campaign

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[1]The Football Association’s National Game Strategy 2008-2012

Games

Some games that may be of interest?

The Sneijder Game

Wesley Sneijder grew up in Utrecht’s notorious Ondiep. Even when he was at Ajax he stayed up as late as midnight to play on the streets
They played cage football. A concrete pitch measuring about 10x5m surrounded by meshed metal fencing.

“It made you quick and toughened you up Ajax even encouraged it as it helped with technique and balance."

This game replicates the conditions Sneijder faced, so use a pitch just 10x5m and play 3v3.
Use small goals so the players need to use better technique to get closer
So with little space you need to act and think quickly.
“At midnight I’d still be on the street playing football. It was crazy there were fights, the police came every day but you had to survive” Wesley Sneijder

The Transition Game

“Everybody says that set plays win most games, but I think it is more about transitions.” Jose Mourinho

Set up is as for a normal game.
Format 4v4 – 6v6

When a player scores he takes the ball from the goal and attacks the goal his team were defending.
This means everything changes and the attackers are in the defenders positions and defenders are in attackers positions.
Players have to react quickly and be aware of the change.
This highlights the whole transition process and should be like a light switch in players minds – concentration and react immediately.
Tip – have plenty of balls in the goal or by the side to allow a quick transition.

The Communication Game

Communication on the football pitch is very important, (as it is in the rest of your life) and it comes in a number of guises – verbal, gestures and body language.
Before you play the game, ask your players what they need to tell each other on the football pitch.

Asking – “Pete’s ball”, “Billy wants”.
Warnings – “Man on!”
Encouragement – “Well done Roger”, “Keep going team”
Additional information – “Turn”, “You have time”
The game
Play a normal game and then after a few minutes adapt the game by having no talking or calling at all.
You can progress this by making it even more difficult to communicate by not having bibs and banning pointing, nodding etc.
Go back to a normal game and at the end ask the players which was easier to play in and why. Also ask if communication skills are important on the football field and in other settings – home, school, friends etc. – and if we can communicate in ways other than verbally.

“Communication works for those who work at it” John Powell