TALENT
REFINED
Movement on and off the ball
Describes the ability to provide space for a creative player to dribble or pass into and the well timed through ball.
As simple as it sounds, there is a lot more to the first part of our Philosophy. It is not merely a players movement on or off the ball, but a team's movement as a unit (either in posession, or fighting to regain possesion) that creates a winning team.
More than "Total Football"
Total Football is a term coined to describe the system of play that both the Dutch giants, Ajax; and the Netherlands National Team used with clinical effect back in the early 1900's. In recent years, Barcelona and the Spanish National Team have refined and tweaked that concept with great success. This is where we find our roots.
Role and Responsibility
Clearly defining a player's responsibility during training, helps the athlete understand his role as an essential part of your team.
The most soundly functioning team does not revolve around a star player as is seen with Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal). Success comes to teams whose players are all willing to commit 100% to his individual role.
Tactical Flexibility
Many coaches miss out on an incredible opportunity to exploit their opponent's weaknesses. To say simply that "We play a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3", limits the potential of your team.
Many of the most successful teams have developed a style of play which involves not only a formation in attack, to exploit the opponent's defensive frailties; but also a formation in defense, to counter any offensive strengths. The biggest trick is getting your athletes to understand the true value of this transition.