Awareness One Touch Theme Developmental Training: Incorporating Movement Off the Ball

This article is the intro to Wayne’s eBook 16: Soccer Awareness “One Touch” Training Developing its Relationship with Movement Off the Ball. This 103 page eBook explores one touch training and movement off the ball and includes 90 pages of drills that you can do with your team. Get the full book.

One Touch Training: Teaches the player WHEN to play one touch; and when NOT to play one touch. We are teaching players to have a ONE TOUCH MENTALITY. A One touch mentality teaches players to recognize the best options; and therefore make the best DECISIONS; BEFORE and in ADVANCE of receiving the ball.                                            

Movement OFF the ball: This mentality conditions the mind of players OFF the ball to position and move to help the player who is receiving the ball. This means we want players to always; at every moment; THINK:  “I only have One touch”; therefore this will force players to always do what I call the “LOOK and THINK” before they receive the ball to see several options and pick out their best option, which may actually be to DRIBBLE!!

When you use these training sessions consistently you will see the development of that relationship between having a ONE TOUCH mentality and Movement OFF the ball.
So in a nutshell:

• LOOK (before receiving the ball);

• MOVE (find space off the ball based on positioning of teammates and opponents):

• THINK (what is my best option?):

• EXECUTE (the Decision; or the SKILL Factor).

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Introduction:

Players are generally all very good at playing using many touches; that is; dribbles, turns and running with the ball, that is more technical training / playing.  

But often not so good at one touch quick thinking and quick decision making training, that is more skill training / playing.

Hence why we must increasingly do this training with them.

For the ONE TOUCH AWARENESS training game with three teams that I want everyone to do each training session for 10 minutes; to ensure we improve the players quick thinking and decision making, as well as their awareness of how to get free OFF THE BALL, here are some more ideas with the same theme so you do not have to do the same game every training session.

This will also ensure the players do not get bored with the repetition of it all.

Really try to have the players play one touch but depending on their developmental level perhaps start with two touches for them to gain early success and to increase their confidence.

But, As Soon As You Can; Play One Touch Only

Please ensure you do this every session as it is imperative we work on this theme with them.

Coaches choose which session they use each training session please, there are many choices to go at for you.

Shown below are many variations of the theme but the simplest theme to use is focusing on:

“ONE TOUCH PASSING AND MOVING OFF THE BALL”

Many may struggle with this but in time and with patience and practice you will be amazed how much improvement comes in quick decision making using this game. As each player only has one touch to pass the ball this should improve players movement off the ball to support due to this as they know the player receiving needs immediate help and as many options as possible. The two aspects of play go hand in hand, one touch play and movement off the ball.

Players in 90 minutes touch the ball themselves, depending on their position, perhaps 3 to 6 minutes, so what do they do in the other 84 to 87 minutes? 

They must understand how best to move OFF THE BALL in that time span to help their teammates. 

Hence why the focus and teaching of Movement OFF the ball is so vital and important in the greater scheme of things in the game.

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Related:

eBook 16: Soccer Awareness “One Touch” Training: Developing its Relationship with Movement Off the Ball

Continuums of Development Evaluation Form

Soccer Awareness: Basic Principles of Development (One Touch Play)

Three Types of Soccer Players: It's All About Awareness

For the most part, players can be separated into three categories.

1. Those who don’t know what’s happening in a game;
2. Those who know what’s happening as it’s happening.
3. Those who know what is going to happen next

The players who fit in the first category, really don’t know what is happening during the game and instead, when the ball comes to them they just kick it away because they don’t know what else to do.

The players who fit into the second category are paying attention to what is happening and are always reacting to whatever is happening at that moment.

The players who fit into the third category are the ones who will ultimately be successful.  

They not only know what is happening at any given time but they are thinking about what the possibilities are next and instead of constantly reacting to a situation; they are being proactive and are dictating what is going to happen next, therefore working in Anticipation.

If you want to be successful as a soccer player, you want to be in this third group but the obvious question is how do you learn how to do this?

First you want to become a student of the game. Watch as many high level soccer games as possible whether in person or on TV.  

Rather than just watching as a fan, try to figure out why a player did a specific move, where he was on the field, whether it worked or not and then why it worked
(or didn’t).  

Then, try to copy the move (assuming it worked) and see if you can use it in a similar
type situation.  

Watch the heads of top players “off the ball” and how their eyes are always looking away from the ball, here, there everywhere, assessing all the ever changing options. Its all about LOOK and THINK and this is all happening before they receive the ball. Barcelona being the prime team in the world to observe for this.

Also, really try to learn from coaches and if you don’t understand something be willing to ask additional questions.  

If you have the chance, play with and against older, more experienced players (but make sure it’s not putting yourself in a dangerous situation).

The players who have a general idea of what is going to happen next (or at least have an idea of what the possibilities are for what is going to happen next) are going to have more fun playing soccer, and be more successful while playing the
game.

Which category are you in as a player?

If you’re not in the third category what are you going to do to get there?

Try learning the Soccer Awareness method of playing; it will get you there if you add your own intrinsic desire to succeed!

How Do You Define Soccer Intelligence?

I call it Soccer Awareness

1. This is the “thinking” part of the game. The game starts in the head of the player and we as coaches must guide the players to think more quickly and with better accuracy in decision making.

Therefore soccer intelligence is based around players being able to identify their options BEFORE they receive the ball; and pick out the best option of hopefully several available to advance it; and maintain possession of it in the next phase of play.

2. Another VITAL part of developing soccer intelligence in a player is the “Coaching Methodology” a coach uses.

You will never know how much a player understands until you ask them.                               

How often does your coach ask the players questions in training, how often do they ask the players to “decide themselves” where would be a better position to stand, what would be a better pass to make, where would it be best to dribble, where would it be best to play one touch; and then have the player SHOW the coach through their own movement and decision making?                                                                                    

How many times do you see a coach tell the player to do this, do that, go here; go there?

The player does it but doesn’t necessarily understand it; they did it because the coach told them to.

So with this current and prevalent style of coaching how does the player learn soccer intelligence for themselves when they are being told what to do all the time and not allowed to think for themselves? EXACTLY, they DON’T.

So from this my directive would be from the earliest age possible the coach should engage the players in conversation about the game, get their opinion, the coach doesn’t ram their opinion down the players throats, after a minute are the players listening anyway?

Half time team talk, have the players run it, yes even at U8. Ask them questions don’t tell them everything that happened unless they clearly do not understand for themselves and need the help.

In time you will see they are thinking for themselves; identifying situations that happened in the first half that they did well, that can improve on.                                     

Of course the coach must offer advice also, but mix it up so everyone has a chance to add constructive information.

From this you would find the players begin to talk more on the field of play which is a serious problem in youth soccer in the USA where players play and hardly say anything.

They should ALL be communicating on the field which means less need for the coach to offer direction, and therefore offer direction sparingly when they really need it.

So start this process as early as possible.                                                                    

I recently watched a team practice and hardly heard a player speak on the field. They wait until the coach tells them what to do, this is wrong but has developed because they have not been taught / guided correctly to think for themselves; from U8 and onwards and allowed / encouraged to develop their “own” soccer intelligence. 

We can fix this at U8 and every year beyond if the coaching methodology of “question and answer” and “guided discovery” is used as opposed to the traditional “COMMAND” style that is out of date; though can still be used when needed; but sparingly rather than as the norm.

Why is it Important?

Without soccer intelligence a player cannot assess situations quickly enough    through thinking and movement and therefore cannot maintain possession of the ball especially in pressure situations that occur every second on the field of play.

How Does Soccer Intelligence give players and teams a winning advantage? 

Players assessing the game more quickly cerebrally than then opponents can play faster and think faster and make better decisions through identifying the best options as early as possible than opponents; and hence be one step ahead of them.

In player development is soccer intelligence the most important? Where does it fit in with tactical and technical development?

I would say it is the key to being a great soccer player. It is the SKILL FACTOR in player development, the when, where, how and why of technical development in terms of decision making. I will explain more and in greater detail below.

At what age should soccer intelligence training start?

It depends on the player. Some can start at 7 years old some might not be able to grasp it until 10 years old. Generally speaking the earlier the better; introducing very simple decision making training at 7 or 8 years.                                            

Development of technique with closed skill training is the most important at these ages, repetition of the same things without too much thought; so they are capable of making successful dribbles and turns and passes without pressure and then introducing decision making to see if the players know where, where, how and why to make that pass, that dribble that turn and so on with pressure included.

How young is too young and why?

As I said it depends on the player.

How do you train soccer intelligence?

By systematically training the players with an awareness training model.                          

For example creating situations in training where the player MUST look around before they receive the ball, and so setting “conditions of training” to ensure this happens.

Simply put it goes like this and in this order:

1. Observe where the ball is coming from
2. Observe how it is coming? In the air; on the ground; and position accordingly
3. Know where “teammates” are before receiving the ball
4. Know where “opponents” are before receiving the ball
5. Know where the “space” is to play into before receiving the ball
6. Decide what to do with the ball before the ball arrives (one touch pass, two touch, dribble, run with it etc)
7. Observe “where” the ball is to be moved to (where is the free space for example)
8. Decide “when” the ball has to be moved (quickly due to pressure or keep it as you have time)
9. Decide how the ball needs to be moved (one touch pass, two touch, dribble, run with it etc)
10. Decide why that is the best option (compare all options with the teams tactical objectives in mind and pick the best one)

All this must be processed in the players mind BEFORE they get the ball.

I have created a “Continuums of Development Model” to identify what a player needs to do to develop soccer intelligence / awareness and it identifies all the component parts needed for a player to receive the ball and be successful in maintaining possession of it.

Therefore based on this above the Continuum looks like this:

All below done and worked out before receiving the ball:

• Look / Observe: what are my options?
• Body position: Open stance
• Feet preparation: not flat footed; but fleet of foot
• Communication: with your own eyes, vocally or from teammates

All done below after receiving the ball:

• Technique: the first touch; could be a controlling touch so 2 touches or more; or a one touch execution
• Skill: the when, where; how and why of the technique; the decision making process
• Mobility: Movement off the ball by the player and preparing for the next phase of play
• Transition: we lose possession we immediately tune into a defending mentality from an attacking mentality

To add, many players have the first part (the most important part), the look / observe assessment of options after e) and before f) when it should be at a) and be the first thing they do.

They don’t assess their options until they have received the ball and often this is too late and they lose possession.

Therefore the Look / Observe; if done before receiving the ball; actually may give them more “time” and offer three or four yards of space “in their head” or tell them they need to move it one touch because there is quick pressure on them.

How can parents help?

By learning more about the game, reading coaching books; by watching the top teams in the world on TV with their children, by going to live games with them when able. Even passing back and forth helping their kids develop their first touch or if they want throwing it to them as the first touch is a vital part of the players makeup.

I believe parent education of the game is vitally important to help them understand it more and they then can further understand even just the fundamentals of what we as the coaches / teachers are trying to develop with their children.

It might result in more questions for coaches to answer but coaches who know what they are doing will not or should not be afraid of that.

Is anyone really doing this today?

Good question, ask the coaches wherever your child plays to describe it; then you will know.

Please name a few professional players from clubs around the world who you think display soccer intelligence on the field today

Every professional player has soccer intelligence to a high level otherwise they could not play at the pace of the game today and be successful.

That said Paul Scholes of Manchester United has been the best in England, a great one touch player and interestingly enough whilst he hardly ever loses possession of the ball at the vast pace of the game today, he himself is not particularly quick of limb; but rather quick of MIND and has identified the game 3 moves ahead even before he gets the ball. He only needs half a touch he thinks so quickly J

Xavi; Buschets, Iniesta and Messi of Barcelona all completely different players who bring different qualities to soccer intelligence

Now there is another chapter for the future to explain all that!!

In essence, but not limited to: Buschets the set up player; one touch (especially good at awareness, possibly the best one touch player in the world), Xavi the link man, one and two touch, Iniesta the feeder player with quick passing and dribbling and Messi the finisher with EVERYTHING A PLAYER COULD EVER WISH FOR.