Bernat Mosquera is another UEFA soccer coach and coach educator from Spain and I've been reading his content for a couple of years now.
Again - and as Twitter forces you to be - it is single focused but also actionable.
Now that we're 4 coaches into this 8-part series, you should have started to notice similarities in their approach on and off the ground.
POSITIONAL ADVANTAGE
Isn’t just about standing in a spot on the pitch, it’s about occupying a space that either allows you to receive the ball under favourable conditions or helps teammates by increasing their space/time with the ball...1 x Positioning that forces your direct defender to choose between watching the ball or you, by occupying their blind spot vertically or horizontally...2 x If the ball carrier is under pressure then position yourself in the blind spot of the 1st defender, allowing your team to break the press more easily...3 x Not just receive the ball but also planning to penetrate behind the defense, typical for strikers who position themselves to exploit the space behind the backline, while forcing defenders into a dilemma – the ball or the player...4 x Be strategic for benefiting your teammates not just you, where a player can pin defenders/create openings to exploit by threatening to invade the space behind
PLAYER NUMBERS/TRAINING
Even x 1v1/social affective...+1 x Dribble to attract/number advantage...+2 x Pass to the free/positional advantage
JUNIOR COACHING
Different ages = different objectives...Under 7 x individual exploration/personal interaction + nurture individual skills/creativity + positive support/guidance focusing on skill development/enjoyment + 1v1’s/multiple directions/environments promoting creativity...Under 10 x a better understanding of soccer/improved cognitive ability/transition from individual to collaborative play/teamwork + technical skills within a teammates interaction, encourage players to think strategically/consider the game’s key references + balance development of individual skills/creativity with tactical purpose + 1v1 – 3v3, multiple directions but also small sided games with 4 – 5 players...Under 13 x deeper cognitive capacity to understand soccer/capable of abstract thought/complex decision making/increased ability to analyse the game/anticipate plays + improve strategic thinking/advanced game principles/transfer individual concepts learned in the previous stage to the team + encourage critical thinking/foster independence/challenge players to think ahead + 4-6-8 players/real game scenarios/small sided games/positional games
POSITIONS v ROLES
Instead of focusing on positions like half back and rover, coach young players based on their functional roles like defensive receiver, forward pressure player etc...Could use none or neither term but look at each player and see what they like to do, what they do often and what they could add
CORRECTING MISTAKES
Often coaches critique player technical actions without considering the game cycle...What a player does before receiving the ball greatly impacts their actions...The focus should be on where to move/how to receive v how to execute the technical action where it usually is...Receiver x find a space then the time to move into it...Ball Carrier x identify advantages and exploit them...It’s crucial to understand that a player’s perception of space/time is the key to improving their decision making but are we helping them create/manage space/time better?...Perception enables players to uncover various game options based on a situation but perception goals vary with each scenario...Perception is key when receiving the ball, while the ball travels to us and during possession...When receiving, if you can perceive spaces and understand their advantages, they can make better decisions about where/how to move while creating more space for a successful ball reception by optimising their timing/direction/place...When the ball is travelling to the player they must assess the immediate space around them to adjust their reception which leads to more options granting them more space/time...When in possession, perception should focus on identifying/exploiting advantages and only after this analysis should the player execute the action...Execution is the final step, not the 1st step...Coach correction/feedback should also guide players in recognising key game references...Helping players understand how the ball, teammates and opposition interact/influence space/time can help them discover new opportunities to exploit...Technical execution is often a consequence of good perception/decision making
HIGH PRESS
Is all in the timing and relies on recognising which spaces teammates are blocking and adjusting your positioning based on the pressure they apply to the ball carrier
STARTING POINTS
Matters when designing training activities to achieving our objectives and they must align with the specific relationship we aim to develop
FINAL 3rd (FORWARD 50)
Hide your intentions...Your movements determine if you’re seen or not...Staying relaxed/invisible can deceive defenders allowing you to exploit spaces at the perfect moment
FORWARDS
Defenders rely on reference points such as players, spaces or both so create the advantage and movement forces them to constantly adapt and makes it harder for them to decide who/what to protect
FOUNDATIONS
Win 1v1’s...Positional superiority...Master 1st touch...Beat opponents with your teammates (have them in support and then use them)...Execute all of the above in motion
DEFENSE
Be compact/close the middle but that don’t always help players fully understand what’s around them or how to defend them...Half-Half x position yourself between attackers so you can either press forward or track back and defend, influencing the ball carrier’s decision making and defending 2 players at once...Player to Cover – when in half-half, defend the most dangerous player more and force ball to less dangerous space/player
IMPROVING PERCEPTION
1 x Who is marking you and where are they + if you move intelligently you can create more time...2 x Judge pressure by space/behaviour x how far are they, are they coming at me, are they corralling me, a corralling player 3m away v a pressing player 5m away...3 x Blind spots matter so who’s behind/around you that you can’t physically see + can teammates help verbally...4 x Help the ball carrier read you x use body shape to show intent/gestures showing where you want it as many passes become available when you make your move visible...5 x Perceive before you’re relevant + if you’re not involved then can you be involved in the next 1 – 2 plays and then how
OUT OF POSSESSION
Read the pressure on the ball carrier x if high pressure then move closer/if low then get length...Stay diagonal to the ball carrier as that way you also engage the defender as they know you’re there which they really don’t if you’re behind them totally out of their sight...Know your teammates passing profile x kicking leg, long/short kick, adapt your movement to suit their comfort zone not yours...Move against the defenders flow x if they’re focused on the ball then attack their blind spot, if they’re sprinting towards you then change direction...Use your body to communicate so you don’t have to be verbal x a quick point, a sudden sprint, a shift in posture to help the ball carrier read your intention, be not just available but readable
COACHING
1 topic/week doesn’t allow for any repetition/remembering/learning...It can’t be all easy/no growth or all hard/burn out so raise challenge/scale it back as needed...Create tasks from your reality, not the pro’s, then solve them on the pitch...Rotate game moments (build up, defending, finishing, duels) and layer individual principles...2 – 3 principles only x 4 – 6 weeks to build clarity, repetition and identity...Phase 1 x build identity, forward mentality, active defending, transition awareness = intensity, urgency, reactions...Phase 2 x build up skill under pressure, bravery on the ball, technique at speed, off ball movement = decision making, control, rhythm...Phase 3 x build game winners, balance individual/team, courage/competitive edge = leadership, final 3rd impact...Apply each principle via training activities, video analysis, KPI’s
GAME ROLES
Attackers x possessor, near receiver, intermediate receiver, far away receiver...Defenders x press defender, near defender, covering defender, intermediate defender, far away defender
GAME SITUATIONS
1v1 possession v pressing player...2v2/1v1 near teammates/how to create 2v1 – can possession players play directly, are they on the same line or at different heights...1v1 on ball, 2v2 on/near ball, 3v3 on/near/intermediate to ball, 4v4 on/near/intermediate/far away from ball
DEFENSIVE LOOP
Isn’t about chasing all the time but reading cues and then deciding the intention that gives the team that greatest advantage...Every moment has its best intention...Guide/press opposition to least dangerous side/area and/or take away their time/space...Avoid progression x cut off central areas...Delay attack x press and/or drop back to provide recovery time for teammates...Defend the goal – prioritise central areas/players
DEFENSIVE TRIGGERS
Know when to press...Body orientation/facing away from their goals...High loopy pass...Fumble...Defending is about reading cues/knowing when we have the advantage to act...Triggers are the key to deciding whether to press the ball or protect space
DEFENSE
Isn’t about following a plan/player but a continuous cycle of decisions based on the ball, teammates and oppo...Players must be deciding while defending...Defensive Loop = Pressing the ball x defend the possession (tackle/pressure) – Decision – Perceive while pressing – Approach to def (tackle/pressure) + Marking the attacker x decision – Perceive while ball is travelling to attacker – Adjust body orientation – Perceive the situation – Adjust location – Decision – Perceive the new space (teammates/opposition) and back to the start
SPECIFIC TRAINING ACTIVITY DESIGN PRINICPLES
Individual principle – put pressure on the ball + individual sub-principle – reduce ball carrier’s space/time by pressing at high speed and block passing options using cover shadow...Press the ball + force play to 1 side and maintain high pressure on skinny side...Defend 1v1 near the box + drop and delay w/ a lateral body orientation forcing the ball carrier outside and press and use your arms to unbalance...Pass or dribble + pass or dribble with intention to create an advantage for a teammate and pass when a teammate has space/time to control fwd...Creating advantage through dribble + create space for the free ball carrier by occupying the defenders blind spot and dribble to commit/pin a defender and create a 2v1...Final pass/dribble to commit + play the final pass when the close defender and the attacker has the space to exploit and dribble it far from the defender and their focus is on the teammate...Create options to receive + occupy defenders blind spot and position in a space that supports the ball carrier...Create advantage through passing + creating passing options for the ball carrier and pass to advance in the game when possible...Final 3rd movements + move horizontally/vertically to exploit the defenders blind spot and start the run when you make eye contact with the ball carrier...Cover the pressing player + mark between the attacker and the goal and closest teammate then step closer to support...Compact the team + block central areas and deny inside passes/receptions and prioritise protecting space in behind over space in front...Defend the overload 1v2 + don't be drawn to the ball but prioritise marking the final attacker and drop back while cutting the passing lane to turn the 1v2 into a 1v1
DEFENSE
A team must defend with clear objectives/intentions...Reduce the space to make defending easier by guiding them towards the area/s that we want...Defending is not reacting, it’s directing
PRE-GAME MODEL
See if players grasp the game itself by asking if they can decide when to pass v run with ball, move closer v stretch, attack fast v slow and press ball v protect space
LINKING WEEKLY SESSIONS
Keep the same game-phase topic across 3 sessions…Start with the full context x who has the ball, where is the ball (build up zone, in front of backline, defensive 3rd) and how is the opposition acting (pressing or protecting space)…Once you determine those then lock in the weekly scenario and design each session around that exact context…Individual x work the technical action then add the tactical intention + collective x scale to groups of 3 – 4 and then up to team flow (8+) + finishing x finish the weeks context – 1 topic 3 layers but not 3 random themes…As coach shift your focus from possessor to receiver to the pressing player to the covering defender so the whole picture comes into view for the players…Add the negative-transition principle x most attacks end in a loss of possession so players must recognise/act…Finish in the context you started x beating high press then use a small sided game/large sided game that reflects that very phase – same scenario, game real end
TIGHT SPACES
In a game you’ll have lots and low pressure on you when in possession but if you only train in tight spaces/high pressure then every decision will be a rushed one…We must teach to have them realise when to hold or when to pass, when to go fast and when to go slow
INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT
Tactics/collective behaviour is great but it’s all developed in 1v1 – 3v3 situations…1v1 x ball carrier v defender…2v2 x near teammates and how can you create a 2v1…3v3 x near/immediate teammates and can the ball carrier play directly and are players on the same line at different heights…4v4 x intermediate players
DEFENSE
Don't dictate defense through formations but through finding defensive advantage via triggers
ATTACKING CYCLE
Part 1 is the possession player and it starts with game interaction (press/dribble/finish) – Decision - Perceive while in poss...Part 2 is the next receiving player so 1st touch (control/pass) - Decision – Perceive while ball is arriving – Adjust body orientation – Decision – Perceive the situation – Adjust location – Decision – Perceive the new space (teammates/opposition) and start again
DEFENSIVE CYCLE
Part 1 is pressing the ball so defend the possession (tackle/apply pressure) – Decision – Perceiving while pressing...Part 2 is approaching to defend 1st touch (tackle/pressure) to marking the attacker - Decision – Perceive while ball is travelling to your attacker – Adjust body orientation – Perceive the situation – Adjust location – Decision – Perceive the new space (teammates/opposition) and start again
FULL GROUND STRUCTURE
Roles in the game x attacker 1/2/3/4 + defender 1/2/3/4 x on the ball, support, near the ball, away from the ball…4 circles of play x 1v1/2v2/3v3/4v4
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