FITC Academy Philosophy

IN POSSESSION

OUTLINE

We expect all of our players (which includes GK’s) to be confident and comfortable with the ball in their possession. Any player who isn’t will not fit into our style of play.

Expect all of our teams to play to a high tempo and to dominate and dictate possession. All individual performances must be high in energy and technically efficient. We encourage players to express themselves and play with no fear of making mistakes.

Spatial awareness within our players is an essential necessity. If there is space in front of the player we want the players to exploit it and drive with the ball. Draw people in to create an overload and/or break the line. When there is no space, we look to pass and move. We want firm passes and constant sharp movements.

Always look to play forward but in the event where we can’t we will keep possession and be happy, patient and comfortable to play back to a new option or viewpoint that may be able to then play forward. We will not force the ball forward if it is not likely to be retained, or create an attacking opportunity.

In possession we are structured and positional minded until the final third. When reaching the final third, players become free to go and do what they like. We encourage roaming and like inter changing positions.

Look to stretch teams through our movement. We want to open gaps between their units, split their screens and turn their defenders around to face their own goal.

We look to play out from the back. This doesn’t mean we always go short. This means all our players are in position to play short and that they are willing to receive (opposed or unopposed) and show the confidence to play. Sometimes a player further forward may be a better option and this may have been made possible by the defenders showing willing to receive short.

Our Goalkeepers must have a high start position and be as comfortable on the ball and in possession as the outfield players.

FOCUS THROUGH THE AGE GROUPS

U7-U9

U10-U12

U13+

TACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS

COUNTER ATTACKING

Counter-attacking is one of the most effective methods of creating goal scoring opportunities in open play.

Dribbling, running with the ball, incisive passing and effective support play are key aspects of counter-attacking. Counter-attacking aims to exploit space, eliminate opponents and create goal scoring opportunities.

FITC Academy goalkeepers play a crucial role in initiating counter-attacks and will be challenged to exploit attacking opportunities using a variety of distribution techniques to deliver the ball effectively over varying distances. Quick free-kicks and throw-ins are other ways of creating counter-attacking opportunities.

RETAINING THE BALL

FITC Academy teams aim to dominate possession with the aim of creating opportunities to penetrate the opposition and create goal scoring chances. Ball retention allows teams to manage the momentum of a game, requiring a patient and controlled approach. A combination of intelligent passing, dribbling, and support play all contribute to effective ball retention. Again FITC Academy goalkeepers will play a key role in this phase of play, fulfilling the role of the 11th outfield player and adopting effective positions to support the play.

PROGRESSING AND PENETRATING

FITC Academy teams aim to penetrate the opposition by moving the ball intelligently between and beyond opponents to create goal scoring opportunities. Progressive and penetrative play is an effective method for opening up compact defences and eliminating opposition players from the game. Through accurate, intelligent and creative play the ball can be moved between and beyond the opposition to create goal scoring opportunities. Accurate and deceptive forward passing, skillful dribbling and running with the ball combined with effective support play and movement are crucial to effective penetrative play.

As with everything we do, FITC Academy goalkeepers will contribute to penetrative play by using a range of effective distribution techniques.

CREATING AND SCORING

Progressing play to the creating and scoring phase is the aim of all other aspects of the playing philosophy.

Clinical and creative individual and combination play is encouraged in the creation and execution of goal scoring opportunities. A variety of finishing skills, including unorthodox goal scoring techniques are encouraged.

SECURITY

During all aspects of the in-possession philosophy, defensive security should be considered. Awareness of defensive security ensures the team remains organised at all times and can react effectively when the ball is lost. All players contribute to ensuring defensive security, in particular the goalkeeper through effective positioning, organisation and communication.

OUT OF POSSESSION

OUTLINE

We expect our players to work extremely hard out of possession and work collectively within their units, to regain possession. Once we win the ball back, the aim is to keep it to create an attack. We defend with the intent to play.

Look to make the opponents play predictable so we can press and set traps across the pitch and win the ball back. We defend narrow, compact and in numbers.

Press high and defend from the front; we take our defensive shape off the initial presser. This player is key to our defensive shape in all areas.

Our Goalkeepers to organise the position of the defenders and dictate the angles of the defenders block.  Our GK’s must be leaders and give constant and accurate communication.

FOCUS THROUGH THE AGE GROUPS

U7-U9

U10-U12

U13+

TACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS

PRESSING

Pressing involves pressurising the opposition in a strategic and controlled manner with the aim of regaining possession. Quickly pressing the opposition after losing possession prevents the opposition initiating their own attacks and is the preferred method of regaining the ball if there are opportunities to do so.

Pressing is triggered by the nearest defending player attempting to regain possession. Support from surrounding teammates is necessary to ensure attempts to press are not done in isolation. Maintaining a compact team shape behind the ball is crucial to effective pressing.

There are three main strategies for pressing the ball: high press (pressing the ball as high up the pitch as possible), mid-press (from the attacking mid-third area) and low-press (from half-way line).

The goalkeeper supports pressing by adopting an appropriate start position and communicating effectively with individuals, units and the team.

DELAYING, DENYING AND DICTATING

If effective pressure cannot be applied, FITC Academy teams will attempt to delay, deny and dictate opposition attacks. This involves denying space, dictating the direction and speed of play and preventing the opposition from using their preferred attacking method. By delaying, denying and dictating the movement of the opposition, a compact defensive shape can be achieved and attacking opportunities reduced.

Channeling the direction of opposition attacks into areas of defensive strength helps to control the momentum and speed of attacks and helps lead to the regaining of possession. All effective defending techniques (1v1 defending, zonal marking, man-to-man marking, screening, blocking, tracking and recovering, intercepting) contribute to success in this phase of defending.

EMERGENCY DEFENDING AND GOAL PROTECTION

Emergency defending is a method of protecting the goal when it is at its most vulnerable and when all other defensive options have failed. Goalkeeping is the main method of goal protection with FITC Academy goalkeepers expected to demonstrate a wide range of effective goalkeeping skills and desire to defend the goal. Emergency defending skills for outfield players include blocking and intercepting shots, crosses and forward passes, defending one versus one, reacting to rebounds and making clearances.
Emergency defending also includes aspects of the other areas of effective defending including: recovering to an organised defensive shape, dictating the direction of opposition attacks and pressing, marking and tracking opponents.

TRANSITION

OUTLINE

Recognising the state of the game and responding with instinctive, intelligent and positive decisions is the start point for effective transitional play. Once the player in possession (or the player closest to the ball in defensive transition) makes a decision, the supporting units and the rest of the team must support the initial movement for transition to be effective. The goalkeeper plays a key role in transition by exploiting opportunities to begin attacking moves as well as positioning, organising and communicating effectively during defensive transition.

FOCUS THROUGH THE AGE GROUPS

U7-U9

U10-U12

U13+

The below diagram is taken from the FA’s philosophy and is NOT a design made by FITC. However we have added it to our philosophy as we think it’s clear to understand and uses the same methodology that we use at FITC Academy.