THE PHILOSOPHY OF

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
AT THE BELGIAN FA

Bob Browaeys
01.03.10, 18:00 - 18:30

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

 Development Vision of the Belgian FA

• Development vision of the Coach Education School

is the reference
– has been developed, taught and adapted for 8 years
– has been tested in pratice during training sessions at the topsport
school and in the national youth teams
• Adjustment of the playing systems since the season
2003-2004
– 5-5, 8-8 and 11-11 instead of 5-5, 7-7, 9-9 and 11-11
– based upon scientific research (KUL)
• Spreading of the vision towards all Belgian FA projects
and Belgian clubs
• The final product has a wide bearing surface: consultation
and feedback of clubs, youth coaches, teachers, ...

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

Development Vision of the Belgian FA

4. Actor = PLAYER
3. Method = GAME and intermediate forms
2. Programme = LEARNING PLAN
1. Philosophy = ZONE

Youth adult

Player football player

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

Development Vision of the
Belgian FA

1.
The FUN-
FUN-aspect

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

FUN = learning while playing !

As a tribute to the once so popular street

football

To offer many ‘fun’ moments of learning during
the education

From playing pleasure to training pleasure and
competition pleasure

The pleasure to play and the pleasure

to learn = to play football!

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

 FUN = learning while playing !

Fun for everyone: from 5 year old to professional
player

Even adults come to the training session to play a
game

Fun for every player, the less talented included!

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

 FUN = learning while playing !

EACH PLAYER
 plays football almost all the time

 touches the ball frequently

 gets many scoring occasions

 can play freely

 is encouraged by his coach

 is supported by the parents

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010
FUN = learning while playing !

We lost, we won,
either we have fun !
UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010
DEVELOPMENT
VISION OF THE
BELGIAN FA

2.
The EDUCATION
aspect

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

 EDUCATION = learning step by step
EXPLORATION
= to get used to the ball
(5 – 7 years)
INDIVIDUAL development based
upon (7 – 17 years):
Basic skills and tactics
= BASICS

Functioning in team
= TEAM TACTICS

COMPLETION = Integration in adult

football (from 17 years on)
UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010
DEVELOPMENT
VISION OF THE
BELGIAN FA

3. ZONE
PHILOSOPHY

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

 FOOTBALL IN ZONE AS
DEVELOPMENT PHILOSOPHY

Zone Individual marking !

A playing concept and not a playing system!
system!
Principles in loss of the ball (B-
(B- and in possession of the ball (B+ )!

 Principles of zone are applied while playing 11 vs 11 from

which the team tactics will be derived.
 The learning plan contains team tactics which are learned
in 5-5, 8-8 and 11-11 (next chapter)

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

ZONE PHILOSOPHY: WHY ?

To improve

 the reading of game situations

 the process of “decision making”
 the courage to take initiatives
 the collective game (defense and attack)
 the ability to communicate
 the ability to concentrate

ZONE WITH YOUTH FOOTBALL PLAYERS

=
Putting brains in the muscles !
UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010
DEVELOPMENT
VISION OF THE
BELGIAN FA

4.
THE LEARNING PLAN

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

THE MODEL OF DEVELOPMENT IN FOOTBALL

• To learn is:
– a continuous process: objectives of development via.... via.... to (= lines
of development)
– cumulative: the acquired skills represent the basis for the skills yet to be
learned

• The model of development in football:

– based upon the development model in « ball sports »
– 4 phases of development : fluent transition of one phase into the other
– the football age is the clue: big individual differences are possible in
each development area (f.e. physical inferiority in relation to mental
lead, taking into acount the biological age)
– The youth instructor chooses learning objectives and contents based
upon the level in the model of development

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

 THE DEVELOPMENT MODEL IN FOOTBALL

Technical and tactical objectives within the learning plan

TEAMTACTICS
Perfection

BASICS

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21j
me and the ball (phase 1 : 2-2)
collective game “nearby” (phase 2: 5-5)
collective game “2° degree” (phase 3: 8-8)
collective game “far away” (phase 4: 11-11)
Game dimensions / phases of development
UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010
THE MODEL OF DEVELOPMENT IN FOOTBALL

Mental objectives within the learning plan

Use of mental skills in competition

Use of mental skills in training sessions

Teaching of 1. Motivation
2. Self controll and self discipline
mental basic 3. Concentration
Vervolmaking
4. Self confidence
skills 5. Inter-personal and team relations
6. Lifestyle

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21j
me and the ball (phase 1 : 2-2)
collective game “nearby” (phase 2: 5-5)
collective game “2° degree” (phase 3: 8-8)
collective game “far away” (phase 4: 11-11)
Game dimensions / phases of development
UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010
THE DEVELOPMENT MODEL IN FOOTBALL

Physical objectives within the learning plan (taking into account the
biological age)
Endurance

Flexibility

Speed
Specific Power
General Power
Specific coordination
General Coordination

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21j
me and the ball (phase 1 : 2-2)
collective game “nearby” (phase 2: 5-5)
collective game “2° degree” (phase 3: 8-8)
collective game “far away” (phase 4: 11-11)
Game dimensions / phases of development
UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010
THE DEVELOPMENT MODEL IN FOOTBALL

2 v 2 : duel (20m to 12m)

DUEL

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 THE DEVELOPMENT MODEL IN FOOTBALL

5 v 5 : single diamond (35m to 25m)

SINGLE
DIAMOND

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THE DEVELOPMENT MODEL IN FOOTBALL

8 v 8 : double diamond (60m to 40m)

DOUBLE DIAMOND

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 THE DEVELOPMENT MODEL IN FOOTBALL

11 v 11 : 1-
1-4-3-3 (100m to 60m)

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 BASICS : definition

The whole of technical and tactical skills

(BASIC COMPETENCES) needed by a player
to function well within a 11 vs 11,
irrespective of the playing system and
playing concept

7-13 years = GOLDEN AGE

Ideal age for development of psycho-motor
function ability

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

TEAM TACTICS : definition

The whole of actions to function as well as

possible as an individual player within a
team, irrespective of the system and concept
of play, and making use of the basics, the
physical and mental skills

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

 Description of different aspects
according to the development model
1+K/1+K 2/2 U6 ball acquaintance
Football as a dribbling and
(5y to 7y) U7 opposition games shooting game

4+K/4+K 5/5 U8 application 2/2

Football as a short passing game
(7y to 9y) U9 evolution towards without off-side rule
game nearby

7+K/7+K 8/8 U10 application 2/2 +

5/5
Football as a halflong passing
(9y to 11y) U11 evolution to game without off-side rule
medium long play
10+K/10+K 11/11 U12- application 2/2,
(11y to 17y) (1) U13 5/5 and 8/8

Football as a long passing game

U14- evolution to game with off-side rule
U15 far away

11/11 U16- to perfect

(2) U17
UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010
 Description of different aspects
according to the development model

To learn is a
11-11
cumulative process
PHYSICAL
BASICS 8-8

5-5
2-2

TEAM TACTICS MENTAL

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

 Description of different aspects
according to the development model
• Setting out the basics and team tactics for each
development level
• Setting out the training session topics on a physical level
• Setting out the characteristics on a mental level
BASICS TEAM TACTICS PHYSICAL MENTAL

2-2
5-7 years

5-5
7-9 years

8-8
9-11 years

11-11 (1)
11-13 years
13-15 years

11-11(2)
15-17 years
UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010
DEVELOPMENT
VISION OF THE
BELGIAN FA
5.
GAME and
INTERMEDIATE
forms

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

 THE LAW OF THE TRANSFER

?
“An acquired skill in the application of certain
activities (training session) can only be
transferred into a new condition (the match)
when there exists a maximum of resemblances
between the two situations”

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

BUILT-UP OF A TRAINING SESSION
INTERMEDIATE FORMS

MA M MA
A T C
T
W T C O
C
A C H O
H
R H F L
F
M F O I
O
I O RM N
RM
N R G
G 1 M 3
U D
P 2 O
W
N

t
Variation of match forms and intermediate forms
1 session can include different training units
UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010
 METHODICS

c PROGRESSIVE METHOD
o
m
p
l
e
x
i
t
y

4/4
3/3
3/2
2/1

time
In the beginning: most simple match form (f.e. 2 against 1), afterwards
evolution to more complexe forms and ending with the most complexe
match form (f.e. 4 against 4).
UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010
 METHODICS

c hourglass method
o
m
p
l
e
x
i
t
y

4/4 4/4
3/3 3/3
3/2

time
During the recognition phase: starting with the end form, and afterwards evoluating
toward the most simple match form needed to solve a problem. Afterwards, more
complexe forms are progessively introduced and at the end the same match form is
used as at the beginning.
UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010
DEVELOPMENT
VISION OF THE
BELGIAN FA
6.
FOCUS ON THE
PLAYER

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

FOCUS ON THE PLAYER

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

 Strong learning environment

Definition

• Inspiring and stimulating learning

environment
• Interaction youth instructor and player
• Match focused tasks and game situations
• Player is given the opportunity to
solve the game problems himself
• Learning environment is respon-
sible for learning results

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

 FOCUS ON THE PLAYER
 Let him - make his own decisions
- experience (own experience)

 Support him, be patient and give him confidence

 Help him - to make the right decisions

- to find a solution
- with a positive coaching

Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day …

Teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime !

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010
FOCUS ON THE PLAYER
 training like adults, encouraging an outspoken
'championship' behaviour
 Not to give everyone the same amount of
playing opportunity
 To impose guidelines from the beginning to the
end, without authorising the player to intervene
 To continuously reproach a less talented player
 To substitute a youth player when he has done
something wrong on the field
 To prevent a youth player to make a decision by
continuously shouting what he should do

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010

DEVELOPMENT VISION BELGIAN FA

More games More fun

And more brains !

UEFA STUDY GROUP MARCH 2010