Special Topics Diploma – 9v9

United Soccer Coaches Staff Instructor

David Newbery

About United Soccer Coaches

• Formerly NSCAA• Membership: 30,000+ Coaching.• Education: Award Diplomas (grassroots

to Premier)• Events: Annual Convention.• Awards: Coach and Player.

Overview of the Session

19v9 – The

Game

2Key

Development Concepts &

Expectations

4Coaching Activities

3Formations,

Shape & Methods

5Recap,

Comments & Questions

Player Development Continuum

Small Sided Games Chart

What do we know about 9v9?• Superliga adopts: Fall ’17• 11 and under and 12 and under.• Follows 4v4, 7v7 and proceeds 11v11.• US Soccer recommended roster size: no more than 16.• All players play at least 50%.• No heading U11 – Heading allowed U12.• Offside rule follows FIFA rules – moves from the breakout line

to halfway.• Field: 70-80 yards (length), 45-55 yards (width)• Goals should be no larger than 7feet (height) x 21 feet (width)

- 6.5 feet (height) x 18.5 feet (width) goal is recommended.• Size 4 ball.• Unlimited subs.• 2x30min halves.

Transition from 7v7?

What should be our coaching focus with 8-9-10 year old players?

• Reinforce our 4v4 objectives.• Creating space individually –

receiving the ball.• Passing combinations between 2

and 3 players.• Basic goalkeeping.• Get wide get high – attacking

principles.• Pressure and Cover – working in

pairs to defend.• Recovery to balance the defense.• Movement off the ball to create

space – no standing after passing.

Transition to 9v9?• What should be our coaching focus with 10-11-12 year old players?

• Reinforce our 7v7 objectives.• Creating space and expand the passing range from 180° to

270°+.• Functional training – focus on 2-3 positions.• Passing combinations between 2 and 3 players through lines.• Specialist goalkeeper training.• Attacking – possession vs counter attack.• Attacking – modify speed of play.• Defending – Shape and balance.• High, delayed and low pressure defending.• Movement patterns, schemes – attacking and defending.• Communication with teammates.

ATTACKING AND DEFENDING PRINCIPLES – In pairs

1.What are the 5 principles of attack?

2.What are the 5 principles of defense?

ATTACK1.Penetration.2.Width.3.Support.4.Mobility.5.Creativity.

DEFENSE1.Pressure.2.Cover3.Balance.4.Compactness.5.Control and

restraint.

Numbering: 11v11 Formation

• #1 Goalkeeper.• #2 (right) and #3 (left) Fullbacks.• #4 and #5 Central Defenders.

• #6 and #8 Central Midfield.• #7 (right) and #11 (left) Midfield.• #9 and #10 Center Forward.

Possible 9v9 formations: 1-2-3-3

Possible 9v9 formations: 1-2-4-2

Possible 9v9 formations: 1-3-4-1

Possible 9v9 formations: 1-4-3-1

FORMATIONS – Groups of 3-4What is your preferred format to:1. Create attacking width.2. Establish attacking depth.3. Set up a counter attack.4. Develop a compact defense.5. Win the ball back in high positions.6. Teach the fundamentals of small

group defending – pressure, cover and balance.

Planning Formations and Shape

Activity What methods can you employ in a training session to:1. Encourage the attacking team to

keep possession?2. Switch the field of play – move the

ball across field?3. Build play from the back?4. Attack with width?5. Increase the speed of play?6. Play with low or delayed defensive

pressure?

Activity

1. Encourage the attacking team to keep possession?• Add a touch restriction - minimum of 2 touches• Add a pass restriction – at least one pass must be

made backward before attempting to score.• Add a pass restriction – 3 passes before

proceeding into opponents half.• Add new attackers with a backward/sideways pass

to a teammate waiting to enter the field.• A goal scored after 4 passing combinations is

worth double.• 3 zones – must build through all 3 zones and

create an attacking overload.

Activity 2. Switch the field of play – move the ball

across field?• Require the ball to cross a midpoint before

a team can score.• Set up a wide gate on both sides – the ball

must pass through either goal.• Goals are set up wide - encouraging

width.• Add a defenders only unopposed zone at

both ends – to encourage a backwards pass – often a catalyst for switching play.

• Add a condition requiring the opponent to have all defenders on the same side as the ball.

• Add a wide zone for attackers only.

Activity 3. Build play from the back?

• Add a defenders only unopposed zone at both ends.

• For game conditions allow only one attacker to enter defenders end zone.

• Require one of the defenders to touch the ball after the keeper has possession.

• Reduce the number of opponents.• Coach insists all restarts from the

keeper to increase repetitions.

Activity

4. Attack with width?• Add wide gates.• Goal from crosses are worth double.• Add a wide channel.• Allow attackers to start in wide

channels and defenders to enter once the ball is played in.

• Set up one team with a formation promoting width.

Activity

5. Increase the speed of play?• Restrict the number of touches for the

attacking team – 2-3.• Start with numbers-up in favor of the

attacking team and add defenders gradually.

• Reduce the size of the area – greater need to play quickly before pressure is applied.

Activity

6. Play with low or delayed defensive pressure?• Add a line of confrontation that defenders must

retreat to before applying pressure.• All up-all back condition – all defenders must be in

own half or goal against is worth double.

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS