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FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LEVEL 2

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LEVEL 2
COACHING
Improve the Skill of Creating Space
Improve the Skill of Creating Space
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INTRODUCTION

Mike Trusson, who is a very experienced Football Association Level 2 Tutor and has tutored on over 50 Level
2 Courses, has written the content for the Skill of Creating Space.

Mike is also the owner of www.grassrootscoaching.com which has over 300 animated, interactive 3D coaching
sessions and a comprehensive section on the FA level 2 practical coaching curriculum with videos and
downloadable PDF’s.

The graphical content has been designed using Coaches Chalkboard, which is a very simple to use online
football training planning software tool, which is available FREE at
www.grassrootscoaching.com/freefootballcoaching/

WHAT IS A SKILL

A skill is a progression from the technique. The technique is unopposed, allowing the players to develop their
techniques and confidence in performing these techniques successfully without pressure from opposition
players. The skill session introduces opposition players to create pressure, not only on the players’ technique,
but on their decision making now that they are under pressure from opposition players.

So for example, the Skill of Creating Space now introduces opposition players that will try and close space
down. The players will have to not only employ the Techniques of Creating Space that they learnt and
practiced in the Technique of Creating Space, but be able to make the right decisions under pressure on
when, how and why they would use these techniques when opposition players are trying to pressure the ball
and space.

PROGRESSIONS

Ideally a coach would have coached the Technique of Creating Space prior to coaching the Skill of Creating
Space. The progression would be to play a small sided game with the coaching focus on improving Creating
Space in a Small Sided Game.

There are E Books available covering the Technique, Skill and Small sided games for all the FA Level 2
Practical Curriculum.
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1. ORGANISATION.
Suggested area size. Inside area 35 x
20 yards.
Circle areas of approximately 5 yards
in diameter as per graphic
2 x 5yard goals positioned at either
end, 10 yards outside of the area
Play 7 attackers v 3 defenders, one ball
Defenders are conditioned initially NOT
to go into any of the circles to defend.
Adjust the size of the area to suit the
age, ability and number of players.
The practice can be adjusted for 8 - 14
players

EQUIPMENT
Supply of footballs, cones to mark out areas and bibs.
PURPOSE
To improve the Skill of Creating Space

2. START
The ball starts with one player in the
attacking team
The 7 attackers must look to keep the
ball away from the 3 defenders. Using
the circle / space zones whenever they
can
The objective of the practice is for the 7
attacking players to keep possession
and to pass to a player in 4 different
circles, then try and score a goal.
If defenders win the ball they can try
and score in either of the goals
If ball goes out of play the Coach
serves a ball to an attacker
In this example, a player has made a
run to one of the circles and called for
the pass
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3. FINDING SPACE AND CREATING

PASSING CHANNELS
The player on the ball doesn’t have to
pass to a team mate in one of the
circles, but if a player can move into
one of the circles and a clear passing
channel can be created to bypass
defenders, then this might be the best
passing decision.
Communication from the receiving
player, both verbally and with hand
gestures would help the decision
making of the player on the ball

4. MORE THAN ONE PLAYER

CREATING SPACE
Encourage players who haven’t been
involved in the pass or receiving the
ball to time and communicate their
movement into the circles to find space
away from the defenders
The player on the ball should always
have more than one passing option to
pass to players in space
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5. PLAYERS ROTATE AND

CHANGE POSITIONS TO
CREATE SPACE
Another way for players to create and
find space and to confuse defenders is
to rotate positions
In this example, one player has made a
run out of the middle circle, leaving the
space for another player to time and
communicate their run into the space
created

6. THINKING AND BEING ONE

STEP AHEAD OF THE GAME
Players should try and be one step
ahead and time their movement before
the player receiving the ball actually
receives the ball
Encourage players to think about not
just where the ball is, but where it is
going to be
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7. SCORING
After the attacking team has passed 4
times to players in different circle
zones, they can score a goal.
For the goal to count the final pass
must be from one of the circle areas
If defenders win the ball, they can
score in either goal at any time
If the ball goes out of play, the coach
immediately serves a football back into
the attacking team and play continues

8. CHALLENGE
In 3 minutes of continuous play, how
many goals can the attacking team
score
Deduct 2 goals if defenders win the ball
and score
Rotate defenders with attacking players
after each challenge

9. PROGRESS TO 6 ATTACKERS V
4 DEFENDERS
Progress the practice, keeping the
same rules, to 6 attackers v 4
defenders
Defenders can now go into the circle
zones to pressure the ball
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10. CHANGING DIRECTION AND

CREATING SPACE WITH THE
BALL
The progression of 4 defenders will
make it harder for the attackers to
create and find space and will
challenge their decision making
One other way for players to create
space is to create space with the ball,
by turning, either when receiving the
ball or when in possession of the ball
As the player with the ball turns, it will
need to trigger a reaction from other
players to move into space that the turn
has created

11. KEY COACHING

Early, timed movement to create and
find space away from defenders
Creating clear passing channels away
from defenders, in space to receive a
pass
Early movement, acting and thinking
one step ahead to find space
More than one player to create and find
space for the player on the ball
Communication between players, both
verbally and with hand gestures
Clever movement to create space –
checks away from defenders and
check back. Check to the ball and spin
away
Turning when receiving the ball and
when on the ball to create space
Runs to create space for others by 12. PROGRESSIONS
dragging defenders away Progress to 5 v 5
Progress to Small sided Game – Improve creating space

On the next 4 pages there is an FA level 2 Coaching Session Planner Template. Please feel free to print
it out and use. You will need to complete the details relevant to your session and needs.
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Coaching Session Planner

Candidate Date Produced

Coach
Coach Educator Time Available

Information on Players
No. of Player Age Ability Level
Medical Info.
Particular Needs

Information on Facilities and Resources

Location . Session Date
Facility Needs Goals, safe and suitable playing area. Toilets
Equipment Balls, bibs, cones, Poles for goals
Needs

Health & Safety Check Players for injury and for personal health and safety. Suitable footwear, clothing,
shin pads, jewellery, Complete pitch check and ensure first aid kit and mobile telephone
are on site.
Risk assessment carried out prior to session start.

Action Plan, Give good demonstrations and intervene as appropriate. Ask questions of players. Use
Points from Guide and Discovery style of coaching with players. Progress the practice to the players
previous needs
Sessions:

Session Plan
Session Aim To improve the Skill of Creating Space

Timings
Warm Up Gradual increase of warm up activities with the ball. Looking to 10 minutes
Activities increase the pace and intensity of the players movement to game
intensity prior to the session. Looking to increase heart rate and
blood flow. Also looking to tune the players in mentally to the
upcoming session. Stretching of the main football muscle groups

Cool Down Gradual decrease of physical activity – run to jog to walk. Gentle 10 minutes
Activities stretching of the main muscle groups. Gravity led exercises to rid
the body of lactic acid.
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Session Plan
Session Improve the Skill of Creating Space Timings
Title
Key  Early, timed movement to create and find space away from defenders
Technical  Creating clear passing channels away from defenders, in space to
Aspects/ receive a pass
Factors  Early movement, acting and thinking one step ahead to find space
 More than one player to create and find space for the player on the ball
 Communication between players, both verbally and with hand gestures
 Clever movement to create space – checks away from defenders and
check back. Check to the ball and spin away
 Turning when receiving the ball and when on the ball to create space
 Runs to create space for others by dragging defenders away

ORGANISATION THE CHALLENGE AND PROGRESSIONS

*Suggested area size. Inside area 35 x 20 yards. *The 7 attackers must look to keep the ball away
*Circle areas of approximately 5 yards in diameter from the 3 defenders. Using the circle / space zones
as per graphic whenever they can
*2 x 5yard goals positioned at either end, 10 yards *The objective of the practice is for the 7 attacking
outside of the area players to keep possession and to pass to a player
*Play 7 attackers v 3 defenders, one ball in 4 different circles, then try and score a goal.
*Defenders are conditioned initially NOT to go into *If defenders win the ball they can try and score in
any of the circles to defend. either of the goals
*Adjust the size of the area to suit the age, ability *If ball goes out of play the coach serves a ball to an
and number of players. attacker
*The practice can be adjusted for 8 - 14 players *Progress to 6 v 4 and 5 v 5, defenders can defend
*The ball starts with one player in the attacking how they want
team
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LTPD 4-Corner Model Outcomes

When planning your session you will need to consider what outcomes you are trying to achieve in relation to
the 4-corner model. You should aspire to identify outcomes for all 4-corners for each of your sessions.

Technical Psychological
 Passing  Imagination
 Receiving  Decision making
 Ball control  Confidence
 First time passing  Self Belief
 Decisions  Spatial awareness
 Defending  Communication
 Linked play

Physical Social
 Running  Decision making
 Turning  Fair play
 Balance  Communication
 Agility  Team work
 Changes of pace and direction  Challenges

Development of the Session

Some players are struggling to Make the area bigger to give the players more space and time.
cope with the session, how would Slow down the practice to walking pace, and then increase the
you adapt it to make it more pace, as the players get better. Spend more time on the
achievable for them. technique with the players.

Some players are finding the Progress to 6 v 4 and 5 v 5 quicker

session to easy, how would you Make the area smaller
adapt it to make it more Introduce the challenges sooner
demanding for them.

Identify what sessions you would Short Passing

ideally have coached prior to this
session
Identify what the session content Forward runs / forward passing
might be for the next session.

Coaching Session Self Evaluation

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Candidate Coach Session date

Were the Size and pitch appropriate for the age group. All equipment ready and
arrangements and organised
organisation of the
session appropriate?
Was the health and Risk assessment carried out prior to session start, no issues.
safety of the
environment and
session maintained?
Did the session content Discussed with the players and let them come up with the answers,
deliver the outcomes of which they did very well?
the 4-corner model?
Did the session content Pretty much. They can all master the technique of creating space. They
meet the player’s need to focus on support movement and decision making
needs and
expectations?
Was your coaching I gave good clear instructions and used the EDI formula when coaching.
style and I also asked players questions on their performance and used Guide and
communication Discovery to help players find out their own solutions to problems
appropriate to the
players?
Did the player’s There were improvements as individuals and as a group. Although one
performance improve or two players need a bit more individual help
as expected?
What feedback have I had pretty positive feedback from the players and the parents watching.
you had from other I also asked a Level 2 qualified coach on their views and they were very
people involved in the positive about the session
session?
If you were to coach I would have spent more time initially getting the pattern of the practice
this session again, right, so that players understood what they were doing better. I could
what might you have stepped in and shown them this
change?

The aim of the next Forward runs / forward passing

session might be:

Personal Action Plan:

Particular points that you think you should address at the next/future sessions:

Progressed quicker to the challenges, which the players really enjoyed. Observe more and coach
sometimes from good practice when players had done well, rather than from coach from
mistakes.

PERSONAL NOTES:
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