2 Technical

development
programmes

1. Introduction to the
FIFA technical programme 1
2. The basis and main emphasis
of the technical programme 2
 Technical development programmes 2
1. Introduction to the FIFA technical programme

The following elements form the core of FIFA’s technical programme:

Training and development of and learning by young footballers

COACH
COACHING

Basis of the educational

process
→ Chapter 4

INTEGRATION OF DEVELOPMENT OF PLANNING AND

THE PLAYER INTO THE INDIVIDUAL SKILLS PROGRAMMING OF
THE TEAM UNIT OF THE PLAYER COACHING SESSIONS

• Playing style • Technical preparation • Football today

• Tactical principles • Technical and tactical • Main points of
preparation emphasis in coaching
• Coaching of the → Chapter 3
→ Chapter 5
whole team
• Development and • Planning coaching
• Dead-ball situations sessions
physical preparation
→ Chapter 6 → Chapter 8 • Recovery and
• The psychological regeneration
aspect → Chapter 9
• Cognitive skills • The player of tomorrow
→ Chapter 7 → Chapter 10
• Goalkeeper coaching
→ Chapter 11

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 2 Technical development programmes

2. The basis and main emphasis of the technical programme

The basic concept of FIFA’s technical development programme in recent years has been geared to the pro-
motion of football and to standardisation in the training of players, not to mention the training and improve-
ment of technical staff working in the game.

Even though it is difficult with football training to establish a precise direction that will satisfy the member
associations of the various confederations as well as the participants, the FIFA technical programmes have
proved extremely successful. Indeed, these programmes have been at the root of some spectacular results
achieved by certain national teams in international competitions, notably at youth level by players from Asia
and Africa.

Just as it is clear that FIFA has to continue to pursue its conception of the development of football, albeit
by making certain adjustments along the way to ensure that greater attention is paid to all areas of today’s
game, it is also logical to maintain a technical programme that meets the demands of the modern game and
the expectations of the associations as far as training and development are concerned, as well as of the
coaches themselves, whose role is becoming increasingly important.

In the recent technical reports produced by FIFA on the major international competitions and the recommen-
dations issued by acknowledged expert technicians and coaches from a number of different confederations,
the consensus has been that the game of football can still improve. There is room for improvement with
technique in the game and with players’ individual skills, not only as far as their quality of performance when
playing the game is concerned, but also with their mental approach and their personality.

To bring this improvement about, better development is needed for young players, a development that is
based on a truly formative philosophy, with programmes and methods that are best suited to the players’
age and to their level of development.

Football therefore has to take in a youngster’s education as well and, in the words of FIFA President Joseph
S. Blatter, to become a “school of life” for them.

At a time when several countries in all of FIFA’s confederations are seeking solutions to ensure that foot-
ball progresses, and are making resources available to set up better adapted training and coaching staff
structures, we feel that it is important to gear our technical programme over the next few years to an educa-
tional approach and to the basic training of young footballers, thereby preparing them better for tomorrow’s
game.

The ongoing training of coaches

It is not possible to imagine implementing a programme that is aimed at young footballers without such a
programme placing emphasis on training and education. This obviously means that qualified coaches are
required as well.

Even though thousands of coaches have had the opportunity to receive instruction and improve their skills
at FIFA courses in recent years, we feel that the science of coaching, with its emphasis on physical, peda-
gogical and psychological aspects, is continuously progressing and breaking new ground. Moreover, in view
of the current evolution of the game and of the ever increasing demands of the players, it is imperative that
today’s coaches and educators – the true “architects” of the individual and collective preparation of players
– can be better “equipped” to face all the demands of their work. And to achieve this, it is our intention to
provide them with this technical programme.

This programme has been designed methodologically and is based on a well-established, progressive ap-
proach that is geared to the preparation of young footballers. It is, however, also suitable for use by coaches
of top-level teams. The programme is suitable for use with both male and female players.

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 Technical development programmes 2

The programme of the courses

As was the case with courses in the past, this course programme has been designed with flexibility in mind.
Consequently, instructors can choose the topics that have been drawn up by FIFA, while also taking into ac-
count the demands of the individual national associations and the level of the participants.

The organisation of the course programme and the choice of content are also adapted to suit the expecta-
tions of the countries concerned. Countries will be asked to submit their specific wishes regarding the main
points of emphasis of the course and their own objectives. In agreement with the course organisers, the FIFA
instructors involved in the programme will then draw up the teaching plan for the course, together with the
supplementary activities requested by the associations, while also specifying the length of the course.

The course programme and teaching programmes presented here serve as examples and as a reference for
organising an instruction and training course.

The national associations will continue to be responsible for the choice of participants; this will depend on
the objectives of the course, on the level of the course and on the participants.

FIFA nevertheless reserves the right to request a list of the participants and details of their professional back-
ground. If he considers this necessary, the FIFA instructor running the course may ask participants to take ad-
mission tests at the start of the course. The national association organising the course may also request that
the participants be assessed at the end of a coach education course. This request must be addressed to FIFA
at least three weeks before the start of the course. The methodological approach of the training programme
to be found in this coaching manual may also be used by the national associations on a domestic level in
training courses for their own technicians, or even within clubs that wish to acquaint themselves better with
the concept of training and development.

The Coaching Handbook

To meet the wishes of the national associations, but primarily those of the participants on these courses,
this new FIFA coaching manual will serve as a basis for the instruction given. Once the course is over, the
Handbook will provide the course participants with methodological information and coaching material that
they will be able to refer back to on a regular basis. The practical coaching content of the courses is always
linked to the theory part of the teaching in the corresponding chapter of the Handbook.

The ring binder system used will also allow the participants to supplement the major topics covered in the
course with their own personal notes or with other reference documents.

Notwithstanding the considerable differences between the continents and even between certain countries
as far as the training of young footballers is concerned, FIFA is convinced that constant cooperation between
the national associations, coupled with exchanges between coaches, will bring about an improvement in the
coaching of players and will enable the level of football around the world to be improved still further.

The content of the courses: Table 1

The courses at pre-development level (12-15 years of age): Table 2

The courses at development level (16-19 years of age): Table 3

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Table 1: Technical programme – Courses for coaches Content of the courses
Introduction Coach/Coaching Technique Technique and Tactics Playing style Physical preparation The psychological and
Modern football Tactics Planning personalised aspect

THEORY THEORY THEORY THEORY THEORY THEORY THEORY

• Today’s football • Coach/Coaching • Technique • Game principles • Game concept • Physical preparation • Mental attitudes
– Personality – Basics – Analysis and – System – Performance-related • Cognitive skills
• Tomorrow’s training – Function – Co-ordination explanation – Organisation factors
• The player and
• Offensive play his personality
• National football • Coach/Coaching • Training • Tactical principles • Methods of training
– Attacks – How should he
– Match situation – Methodology
be developed?
• The – Training – Coaching • Defensive play • Dead-ball situations • Planning of
centre of excellence – Zonal marking training sessions • Fair Play
(Academy) • Coach/Educator – Pressing • Others – Preparation • Laws of the Game
– Others – Depending on the – Competition and refereeing
• Team coaching course • Doping
• Training
• Recovery/
– Methodology • Miscellaneous
Regeneration
– Coaching other items

PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK
• Model training • Model technical Attack • Coaching of the • Training with the main • Specific training
session session • Gradual build-up whole team emphasis on physical – Working on
– Direction – Co-ordination • Rapid attack 11v1/11v6/11v11 aspects mental aspects
– Coaching – Basics • Counter-attack – Emphasis on attack – Endurance – Working on
→ By seminars/ → With workshops and defence (aerobic-anaerobic) cognitive aspects
discussions • Methodological → With technical Games to work on – Organisation and – General and specific
application with the training circuits finishing occupation of the strength → Practical examples
→ Educational back- course participants → With drills - playing pitch – Speed
up with overhead Defence
• Training • Model session with
projector → Putting the • Model of a physical
– Dribbling + shooting • From 1v1 to 4v4 the whole team
participants in an – Passing + controlling – Zonal training session
→ Participation of the – Depending on the
active situation – Heading – In blocks
national association playing system and
– Direction – 1v1 duels • Specific strength
playing style
– Observation → Training drills • From 4v4 to 8v8 in youngsters
chosen by the – In blocks • Dead-ball situations → Depending on
instructor – Pressing their level
• Match for evaluation
• Technical games → With participants
• Games • Recovery session
→ Reduced-size acting as the
Technical development programmes

attack – defence – Suppleness

pitches observers
• Goalkeeper coaching
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Table 2 : Technical programme – Coach Courses at pre-development level (12 to 15 years of age)

DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6 DAY 7 DAY 8

• ORGANISATION THEORY THEORY THEORY THEORY THEORY THEORY THEORY/PRACTICAL
OF THE COURSE COACH/EDUCATOR TECHNICAL/TACTICAL TACTICS TRAINING OF TRAINING SESSION EDUCATION OF WORK
• Coaching of • Attack • Styles of play PHYSICAL CONDITION PLANNING YOUNGSTERS GOALKEEPER
• WELCOMING OF matches/ • Defence • Analysis of the • Performance- • For a preparation → Tasks of the TRAINING
THE PARTICIPANTS training sessions game related factors period participants
• For a competition (preparation of a • Specific/individual
• OPENING period training session) • With the team
OF THE COURSE
PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK
MODEL SESSION TE/TA – 1v1 TA/TE – 2v2/4v4 PHYSICAL SESSION TE/TA/CO TEAM UNIT
• Example of a • Attack/Defence • Defence (zonal) • Strength • Training with
training session – Dribbling and • Tactical principles • Endurance RAPID ATTACKING the team
– Methodology of a feinting • Speed (11v1/11v5)
training session – Tackling • Shooting on goal (9v3/9v6)

GAMES TO APPLY GAMES TO APPLY GAMES TO TEST GAMES TO APPLY MATCH – 9v9/11v11
THEORY AND PRAXIS THEORY AND PRAXIS ENDURANCE THEORY AND PRAXIS
WORKED ON WORKED ON WORKED ON

THEORY THEORY THEORY THEORY ORGANISING A PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK EVALUATION OF
MODERN FOOTBALL TRAINING OF CO-ORDINATION AND MENTAL PREPARATION TOURNAMENT WITH SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SESSION THE COURSE
• Analysis of the YOUNG PLAYERS TECHNIQUE AND COGNITIVE YOUNGSTERS SESSION • To be run by the
game • Methodology SKILLS participants
• Main points of SOS Children’s village Objective:
emphasis and PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK Working on technical a) U-13 team CLOSING CEREMONY
objectives of the TECHNICAL TRAINING TE/TA TE/TA – 3v3/4v4 and mental approach b) U-15 team
learning process • Co-ordination • Passes • Offensive play (to be chosen by the
• Basic technical • Losing a marker – Co-ordination instructor) (2 x 1 hour)
PRACTICAL WORK skills • Occupying the – Shooting on
YOUTH MATCH zones goal (complete session)
• Observation
GAMES TO APPLY GAMES ON REDUCED- GAME WITHOUT ANY
→ Youth team TECHNICAL GAMES THEORY AND PRAXIS SIZE PITCHES SPECIFIC TECHNICAL
(U-13/U-14) WORKED ON INSTRUCTIONS
COGNITIVE GAMES (with the course
SUPPLENESS participants)
MATCH EVALUATION INTERNATIONAL POSSIBLE SEMINAR REFEREEING
YOUTH FOOTBALL (free choice of
Technical development programmes

(video) content)
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Table 3 : Technical programme – Coach Courses at pre-development level (16 to 19 years of age)

DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6 DAY 7 DAY 8

• ORGANISATION THEORY THEORY THEORY THEORY THEORY THEORY PRACTICAL WORK
OF THE COURSE COACH/EDUCATOR TECHNICAL/TACTICAL OFFENSIVE PLAY PHYSICAL PHYSICAL THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION SESSION
• Coaching of TRAINING • Attacks PREPARATION PREPARATION AND MENTAL ASPECT • Training session
• WELCOMING OF training sessions – Principles of play • Endurance • Strength organised and
THE PARTICIPANTS (aerobic/anaerobic) • Speed conducted by the
participants
• OPENING
OF THE COURSE PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK → Youth team (U-18)
MODEL SESSION TE/TA TE/TA PHYSICAL SESSION PHYSICAL SESSION MENTAL TRAINING
• Example of a • 1v1/2v2 • Pass/One-two • Co-ordination • Strength • Cognitive skills
training session • Dribbling and • Rapid attack • Endurance – Muscle (tactical awareness)
– Methodology of shooting • Counter attack (separate and strengthening • TE/TA
training • Tackling integrated) – multi-faceted
• Speed (separate
and integrated)

GAMES TO APPLY GAMES TO APPLY ENDURANCE GAMES GAMES CONCLUDING GAMES EVALUATION OF
THEORY AND PRAXIS THEORY AND PRAXIS (reduced-size pitches) THE SESSION
WORKED ON WORKED ON
THEORY THEORY THEORY THEORY OTHER ACTIVITIES THEORY THEORY EVALUATION OF
MODERN FOOTBALL THE PLAYER DEFENSIVE PLAY COACH-EDUCATOR PLAYING STYLE PLANNING OF THE COURSE
• Video analysis • Development and • Zonal marking • Match coaching • Organisation • For the whole team THE TRAINING
• Playing systems training of cultural and PROGRAMME
• Trends for the future sporting activities • Annual programme
PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK PRACTICAL WORK involving the PRACTICAL WORK • Weekly programme CLOSING CEREMONY
PRACTICAL WORK TECHNICAL SESSION TA/TE TE/TA participants TEAM UNIT → Participants will
YOUTH MATCH • Co-ordination • Zonal • Crossing + finishing TRAINING WITH THE be asked to work
• Observation tasks • Basic technique • Pressing (with volley, etc.) SOS Children’s Village TEAM on this
• Coaching • Controlling + • 4v4/6v6 • Gradual build-up • Offensive play
passing Controlling + • Attacking from the (11v4/11v6) PRACTICAL WORK
→ Youth team
passing wings • Defensive play GOALKEEPER
(U-17/U-18) TECHNICAL GAMES (6v8/7v11) COACHING
• Passing • Specific/individual
DRILLS AND GAMES GAMES TO APPLY VISIT TO WATCH MATCH – 11v11 • In a real match
TO APPLY THEORY AND THEORY AND PRAXIS A MATCH situation
PRAXIS WORKED ON WORKED ON
INTERNATIONAL THEORY SITUATION OF REFEREEING
YOUTH FOOTBALL SPORTS MEDICINE DOMESTIC FOOTBALL SEMINAR
Technical development programmes

(Diet, hygiene IN THE COUNTRY (preparation of a

in sport) CONCERNED training session)
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