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Late in 2007 the Football Federation Australia (FFA) launched its National Football Development Plan aimed at 'Making Australia a World Leader in the World Game'. After an extensive review of football development both in Australia and overseas, the FFA released the plan for a whole of sport approach to provide greater support to the grass roots community and eliminate the gaps that exist in the development of our elite men and women footballers.
The new plan was created through extensive consultation and research and draws on existing programs and systems, together with a suite of new initiatives. It highlights the two distinct but interconnecting areas of football development:
:: Game Development - Aimed at developing the infrastructure and programs around the broad base of the sport that supports the grass roots at the community level.
:: Talented Player Development – Aimed at providing a clear pathway and specialised development for the most talented of Australian footballers.
The objectives of the plan are:
:: Improve the overall technical standard of Australian player base
:: Design and oversee delivery of the best participation experience in Australian sport
:: Identify, attract and retain more and better athletes particularly in the 12-16 age group
:: Convert participants to life-long fans of the Australian game
:: Increase the number of accredited coaches and referees
:: Ensure facilities keep pace with demand
Highlights of the National Football Development Plan include:
:: All junior players will begin their football experience playing small-sided games
:: A National skills testing program
:: The introduction of a national youth league with all A-League clubs (except Wellington) involved plus the Australian Institute of Sport
:: The establishment of a National Women’s League
:: Comprehensive review of referee development
:: Regular coaching conferences utilising the best credentialed coaches from around the world including a major coaching conference around the FIFA Congress in May 2008
:: Targeted coaching courses for elite coaches
:: Customer Relationship Management System project
The Small-Sided Game
Commencing in 2008, FFA in conjunction with Member Federations, Zones Associations and Clubs will commence rolling out Small-Sided Games (SSG). This rollout will be staged, commencing with the younger age groups, and moving through the ages from 2009 and beyond.
The SSG is all about having players spend more time on the ball, and more touches in each game, more 1v1's each game, and more shots at goal each game. It involves much smaller teams (with more players as age group rises).
The SSG is played with fewer players competing on a smaller sized field. These are fun games that encourage players to have more contact with the ball because fewer players are playing in a smaller playing area. All ages can play “Small Sided Games”, but it has a definite developmental impact on younger football players.
Why make the change?
It makes the game of football a better experience for the children. More touches on the ball, more opportunities to make decisions, more actual play. Players will perform more energetic workouts due to playing both attacking and defensive roles. While learning both offence and Defence, a player will become all rounded and will understand more readily the roles and importance of team-mates.
The idea of small-sided games for young players is not new. US Youth Football has been a proponent of small-sided games since the 1980s. Small sided games are endorsed by the USA, England, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, Germany, France, and Korea national coaching committees, and now form an important part of Australia's National Football Development Plan.
Some interesting statistics below highlight some of the differences as experienced by the players.
:- Players touch the ball 5 times more often in 4v4 than in 11v11, and 50% more in 7v7 than 11v11
:- Players attempt 1v1's 3 times more often in 4v4 than 11v11, and 2 times more in 7v7 than in 11v11
:- Goals scored on avereage every 1.5mins in 4v4 and 3.6mins in 7v7
:- Ball is out of play 8% in 4v4 match, 14% in 7v7, both much less than in 11v11
More Information
The SSG Handbook describes the SSG in detail, while the Parents Information Sheet provides a more concise introduction, along with a Promotional Poster.
The issue of small-sided games and goalkeepers is addressed in this article - SSG & Goalkeepers by Rob Baan, National Technical Director, Football Federation Australia.
Football Federation Australia will run a national media campaign through 2008 explaining the implementation and benefits of the SSG and provide an over arching education process for parents to compliment the work already completed in this area.
Change is often challenging, and the Small Sided Game will significantly change the early years of junior development, and forms an important part of a National approach to player development.