Football: A Basic Breakdown

In order to successfully coach, you must know the game of football. Although some people may try to over dramatise it, the bottom line is that it is not complicated but very simple. That’s the beauty of it, it can be played anywhere, anytime and with anyone, all you need is a ball.

Some coaches may frown upon such an article, saying ‘I know football’, ‘I don’t need to be told’, and maybe they are right, but until they understand and appreciate the building blocks how can they possibly ever dress it up as they want.

Simply put, football is:

• An invasion sport 
• Played within a set time frame
• Between two opposing teams
• Who compete to score the most goals
• Team with most goals, at the end of the time frame, wins.

So,

• When one team has the ball, the other wants it; while the team in possession will look to score.
• A successful team employs two strategies, attack and defence.
• Therefore these factors should be the basis of each session.
• Control and manipulate the ball – technique 
• In an opposed situation – skill
• Incorporating team mates and through the manner instructed – tactics
• To achieve the final overall goal – strategy
• Therefore this is the order in which the players are educated.

See football is simple.