Reader,
We’ve all seen them: the “perfect” sessions. The cones are laid out in straight lines, the players move in predictable patterns, the ball never goes out of play, and it looks like a well-oiled machine.
But does the game look like that?
Football is chaotic. It involves weird bounces, bad pitches, miscommunications, and opponents who don’t follow the script. If our training sessions look too clean and ordered, we might be failing to prepare our players for the reality of the match. We need to embrace a bit of chaos.
A concept, often referred to as “repetition without repetition”, ensures players are solving new problems constantly rather than just reciting a movement pattern
Three Things to Consider
1. Remove the Lines: Occasionally, take away the cones or expand the boundaries. Let the game flow naturally and see how players adapt to undefined spaces.
2. Static vs. Solution: Audit your session. Are you running “static” drills (lines, waiting, predictable) or “solution” based games (opposed, decision-making, active)?
3. Add Interference: Instead of unopposed passing drills, add a defender who provides “passive” pressure or simply blocks passing lanes. This forces the passer to make a decision rather than just executing a technique
One thing to try this week
Take a drill you usually do unopposed (like a passing square) and turn it into a game. Add a defender in the middle. If the defender wins the ball, they swap with the player who lost it. Instantly, you have added transition, decision-making, and realism to a simple technical practice.
One Critical Resource on the Topic
Read Todd Beane’s article on “Static vs. Solution Training” to understand why moving away from mindless drills is crucial for developing intelligent players
