Playing football requires higher leves of understanding different concepts and verticals, from time and space, to opposition formations, areas to explore, different moments, etc. Everything matters when playing, every single detail matters and duels are there to start the journey of winning a match.

However, to get this levels of expertise requires a long time to achieve and a greater knowledge of the Game. 

And, the great majority of football players don’t have the capacity to fully understand it, even of professional stages, and within any team the knowledge of the game is diverse and disproportional. This creates gaps, and consequently, dysfunctional behaviors that normally end with the end of the possession of the ball (when in possession of the ball) or danger situations to our own goal and potential goals conceded (when defending).

Therefore, in order to better understand the Game – in simple terms – we must understand the Game in the recognized moments, which will then help to develop accurate Training Sessions. For instance, literature will present 4 (or 5) Moments when playing Football: Offensive, Defensive, Offensive Transition, Defensive Transition and (some) will include the Set Pieces.

Although I intend to agree with these, the way I develop my Game Model is based on questions.

Let’s take the Offensive Moments as an example, and I would ask:

• Where do I have the ball ?
• How many players I want there to play ?
• How many defenders will be there ?
• Which space am I intending to penetrate ?
• At which pace should be ball be moving ?
• How can I create space for players to receive the ball closer to goal in good conditions to move forward, or score ?
• How many players do I need ?
• If I lose the ball, am I covered and defensively secured ?

Please take some time to consider all the questions stated here, and probably there would be many more to be correctly fit for this section.

You may even think that some might be more strategic to the game ahead that Tactical relevant when developing a Game Model, and you may be right.

What I intend is to guide you through my journey and, hopefully, help you in discovering yours.

The thinking mechanism when understanding Football is a must and you must always end with the most negative thinking about it – what if nothing worked accordingly?

Just take this example here stated, as it determines how I want my team to play, in which area and which space to conquer, how many players I believe would be necessary to achieve success at that specific moment. However, because Football is (still) played by humans, and we make mistakes a way of living (!) You must include the transactional play in the equation at all time. Mistakes will always occur, for sure, and you will want to be protected when that comes.

All Managers in the world, it doesn’t matter how good you are, if your players don’t understand what you are looking for or what you want, it makes no sense.

Pep Guardiola

In consequence, the process starts again and you must ask how exactly transitions will happen in your team and how you want them to react to loss or gain of possession. Make dozens of questions, answer them all and practice based on specific spaces and areas of intervention.

Start small, target specific areas and general behaviors to have space for a detailed approach in the future, simplify your message as players need simple and specific messages.

Remember that the player doesn’t (and most likely won’t) understand the Game as a Coach does, and that’s a good thing! That means they will be attached to your idea if it makes sense and creates successful results. Most importantly, they will construct their idea based on your message, your ideas, your Methogology.

And this is a hell of a responsibility!

Take your time to prepare, and do your best when the opportunity comes!

And, if needed, adapt.

As Pep Guardiola sets it, “if players don’t understand what you are looking for or what you want, it makes no sense”.

The Game Model is simply a constant scratch of our thinking.

Get yours ready to answer all questions you and your players may have!
Your confidence goes up, and you’re more complete than before.

See you next time!