My long term goal (excuse the pun), is to train football coaches from around the world, so even coaches brand new to the game can adopt the 321 football training principals. You can then report back on their successes, using the 321 coaching method. You can even make a living from the 321 Football Academy at local, regional and national level. You can do this part time or full time as you business grows. Just fill in the form on this webpage for more information.
Why teach the 321 method
If you watch the English Premier league or just about any top flight football matches from around the world, I want you to consider this one point. Every time a player receives the ball, the average number of touches of the ball the player actually gets, is less than 3, before the player passes the ball. So ask yourself, why should we train our players in any other way?
Seriously now, think long and hard about the previous sentence, why should you train in any other way. If you want to be elite, start training like the elite.
Football Ego’s
Those of you who have large football egos, please leave them at the door now and you may just learn something.
There is a saying that “You can’t teach old dogs new tricks”. If you block your mind to receive new information, then this saying will be true. I am still learning more about football every day. In my opinion, you are never too old to learn. This site has not been designed to show you how to take a throw-in properly or to learn the offside rule; it has been designed to start you on the absolute core principals needed for playing quality, fast-moving, incisive, possession-based football.
Everyone using the same 321 methods creates a “Club Culture.”
The whole playing spectrum can be trained, starting with brand new under 6 boys/girls beginners, right through to adults. When you master these techniques with confidence, you will not only enjoy the game more, but you will also achieve outstanding results if you stick with the 321 plan. This playing philosophy can then be transferred from the young beginners to the Junior and youth team players, right through to the senior level players. This then becomes a structure, philosophy and method that is played by the whole club, as the players progress through their various age grades into the first team. Thus creating, a true “Club Culture”.
Time
A word of warning to the clever and knowledgeable, this plan will take time. A noticeable improvement may take one month, and this is dependant on how many times a week you train and the ability and age of the players being coached. However, it will become very noticeable after three months.
Results
A great way of showing the world how well you have done with the 321 coaching system, is to take a video of your teams very first 321 training session. Then again at the end of your 10 weeks course. You will be amazed at the results over time. Pictures paint a thousand words or so the phrase goes. You can simply do this with your smartphone. You don’t have to be Steven Spielberg, just give it a go and send in your results to us, your team will love it. We may even put it on the 321 site.
321 Football: The secret
Coaches
The drills that you introduce with your players during training sessions will be 3 touch, 2 touch or 1 touch football. There are no exceptions. Some players may complain at the start, but they will very quickly get used to the 321 system and learn to enjoy it as their skills improve dramatically.
The maximum number of touches of the ball ever in one movement by any player, is 3 touch. For under 6’s and relative beginners start with 3 touch football for several training sessions or until all your players become comfortable with each stage of the process. The progression from this is obviously 2 touch and then 1 touch football. 321 is most effective when playing small-sided games. Now lets break this down.
3 TOUCH = CONTROL + PASS + MOVE It really is as simple as that.
CONTROL: This is the ability to control the ball instantly as it arrives to you by using both your feet; however, it is delivered to you. This is so important because if done well, it gives you that split second of extra time advantage, to carry out the second phase:
PASS: The accurate passing of the ball (practice equally with both feet) to your teammates, this done correctly stimulates the third phase:
MOVE: When you have passed the ball, move into some free space to either receive the ball back from your teammate or create a diversion or opening for another teammate to receive the ball. This gives your teammates more options to retain the ball.
2 TOUCH: = CONTROL + PASS + MOVE
Now think logically! What is required of you in this next phase? What is the difference between 3 touch and 2 touch football? Everything you do is now speeded up. You need to glance around you; your body shape needs to be better positioned for receiving the ball (facing the way you want to play the ball if possible). Your passing and movement needs to be quicker. You instantly need to control the ball when it is delivered. You need to control the ball into the exact position in front of you in one swift action, for you to pass it on to your teammate. As a team, you will all need to get closer to the player with the ball, to help and support them, thus again giving your team members more options and retaining more of the ball or to use football speak…… more possession.
1 TOUCH: = CONTROL + PASS + MOVE
Now, there is a massive difference between 3 touch and 1 touch football. Try it! With only 1 touch, you have to be able to do all of these three things at the same time, CONTROL, PASS, MOVE: You will need immediate support from all you teammates around you, as a team you will move up and down the field of play together as a really close, tight knit unit. Your body must be in exactly the right position to receive the ball. You must then pass the ball in the same action as you receive it. You must have fantastic passing ability with both feet and in the same instant, move to the next area of play to support your teammates. So there you have it “THE SECRET” if you don’t believe me watch Barcelona! They are the real deal. 3, 2 and 1 touch football is virtually all they do.
How to implement this at your training sessions:
You will have to be patient with your team members, dependent on age and ability you should introduce this over time. Remember start with 3 touch maximum at all times, then progress to 2 and then 1 touch when and where you think appropriate. These progressions should always be dependant on your players age and ability. For new coaches with young players, be extra patient with your young charges, they will “Get it” with time.
Size of small sided pitch games and team numbers:
Start off your small-sided game training session with 3 touch only. Play this for the majority of the training session or until the players become familiar with it. Then add in the 2 touch for two minutes just before a break. During the break, talk to the players about the differences between 3 and 2 touch football and get their feedback. Involve all your players in this process. Being a good coach sometimes means saying very little. Let the players figure out solutions to their football problems, intervene and guide them only when you need to. Restart after the break with 3 touch game. Then when the players are resonding well, introduce the 2 touch game. When the players are again playing a good 2 touch game, immediately introduce one minute of the 1 touch game. I guarantee you it will all go wrong at the first attempt (it always does). Persevere, it will improve dramatically the more you practice. The difference between your players from the start to the end of the season will be immeasurable. You will think you will have a side of world beaters!
Vision and Philosophy
I originally set up the www.321footballacademy.com website in an attempt to share with the football masses from around the world the basic fundementals of technical football coaching and some of the techniques. This philosophy is for young, youth, adult players and their coaches, to give them a clear Vision and Philosophy on how to play the beautiful game.
Training pitch sizes guidelines
The pitch size will vary dependent on the number of players playing and the players ability.
Adults: Pitch with 5 players per team should be max: 45m x 30m. As a general rule of thumb, you can use a quater of a full size pitch for these sessions. This will allow for 4 seperate training sessions to be played on a full size pitch, at the same time.
Note: Be carefull of the goalposts at each end of the pitch.
Youth: Pitch with 5 players per team should be max: 40m x 25m
Junior: Pitch with 5 players per team should be max: 30m x 20m
To progress this drill for all ages, just reduce down the size of the pitch or the number of players per team. Common sense should be applied here. Dont make the playing area too small to play and effcetive session. As a coach you will soon understand both the players ability, and their fitness levels.
As you will soon learn, it becomes much harder to carry out this drill in a smaller, more confined area. You can easily play 2, 3 or 4 a-side games in this format, just make the pitch the appropriate size for the number of players.
If you have an odd number of players during your session (for whatever reason), give one of the players a different coloured training bib and this player can play for both teams as an extra man for the team in possession. Swap the extra man player regularly.
Rule of thumb: The smaller the playing surface area, the harder it is for the players.
Player hydration
Take regular breaks to re-hydrate and always where shin pads during small-sided games. Coaches take the time during the water breaks to discuss with the players their experiences during the session, get the players feedback and involve them in the coaching process.
Equipment needed
Use flat, coloured marker cones, to mark out your boundary area and/or corner posts. Use two sets of bright fluorescent training bibs, so you can easily identify the players on both teams. Small pop up goals are sometimes helpful to improve the accuracy of the shooting. However, if no pop-up goals are available, your coloured marker cones will do just fine. Also corner posts can double as goalposts. This keeps training equipment to a minimum.
Game variance
The next variance of this game is simple, whilst still using the 321 methods! Take the goals out of the game. Five completed passes without an opposing team member touching the ball is a goal. Ten completed passes without an opposing team member touching the ball is three goals. Again if you have an odd number of players give one of the players a different coloured training bib and this player can play for both teams as an extra man for the team in possession. Remember to swap out the extra man player regularly.
Rule: Take regular breaks to re-hydrate and always where shin pads during small-sided games. Again, coaches take the time during the water breaks to discuss with the players their experiences during the session.