Ministry of Football CONTEXT Ministry of Football is

Ministry of Football CONTEXT Ministry of Football is an indoor skill development programme for male and female players of all abilities, from ages 4 to adult. Started in 2007, we focus on small-sided football and futsal. From young ages, we believe in game-based learning, using modified small-sided games, lead by expert coaches and teachers. More at: http: //www. ministry-of-football. com CONTACT Suggestions and feedback welcomed as usual. If you have used the cards in an activity in a new and useful way then let me know about it and I will add this to the ideas at the end of these slides. Mark Carter mark@ministry-of-football. com 07772 716 876

The player. We have tried to use a variety of role models from men’s and women’s football and futsal Try to change direction quickly to beat an opponent Tips and help Leo Messi Barcelona & Argentina, football The task The team. This card is part of the Blue team Try to change direction quickly to beat an opponent INDIVIDUAL DRIBBLING FRONT The colour shows the task group. This one is green for the ‘Individual Dribbling’ group Tips: Success criteria to help children understand the task, and reflect on progress Try changing speed as well as direction Practice changing direction suddenly Explode quickly past when you can Be confident, keep trying Don’t make it obvious what you are going to do REVERSE

Player Challenge Cards USING THE CARDS These cards are meant for use in children’s football sessions, for ages 8 -16 (approx). They are designed to be used in game or modified game activities. There are various ways the cards could be used, including: • Cards can be given out randomly, or children can choose their challenge card themselves. Children may work on a card until they have successfully achieved the task twice, and then come and get a new card. This could lead to competitive work to see which child can complete a card of each colour the quickest, for example. • Pairs of children or small teams could work on the same challenge card together. This has the benefit of the children (and you, the coach) understanding what each other are working on, and to plan and reflect on progress together. • You might give a child an appropriate card in response to a particular learning need they have seen and in addition to some individual teaching. Your role, as coach or teacher, is vital in order to help the children learn. The cards themselves are a resource not a teacher. You should ideally know which cards are being used and help the children to understand the context of the task and how and why the skill can be applied appropriately in a game setting. Because the players used on the cards are from a variety of football and futsal, including female players and disabled players, they offer the chance to promote role-models from a wider range of football and include a more complete range of abilities and successes.

Player Challenge Cards COLOURS, GROUPS AND TEAMS There are four task groups. These are intended to link to the England FA DNA Foundation and Youth Development Phase and FA four-corner model, with a particular focus on futsal: • Individual dribbling (Stay on the ball, master the ball, excite with the ball) • Attacking with others (Connect and combine creatively with others, instinctive decision making and reactions) • Defending (Intelligent defending, Positive and enthusiastic defending, instinctive decision making and reactions) • Thinking skills (Social and psychological corner, focus on emotional control, communication and playing fairly) • Coaching and tactics (Social and psychological corner, focus on tactical understanding, communication and leadership) The circles in the bottom left of the front of the card allow them to be grouped into teams of up to 9 children, so the red circles could play against the green circles for example. In each team there is a selection of different types of cards, including one GK card and one coach card. The Coaching and tactics cards could be given to someone to coach from the side-line, or captain the team within the game, or they could be team challenges. The card groups and teams are summarised in the next slide. At the end of these slides are some brief game ideas showing how the cards could be used.

There are 36 cards across 5 areas: Individual dribbling (9) Attacking with others (11) Defending (8) Thinking skills (4) Coaching and tactics (4) The circles on the cards divide them into teams of 9 children. Each team has: • 1 coach card • 1 thinking skills card • 2 defenders cards • 5 dribbling / attacking cards Each team will have a card for GK within these.

Individual dribbling

Try to change direction quickly to beat an opponent Tips and help Try changing speed as well as direction Leo Messi Barcelona & Argentina, football Try to change direction quickly to beat an opponent Practice changing direction suddenly Explode quickly past when you can Be confident, keep trying Don’t make it obvious what you are going to do INDIVIDUAL DRIBBLING FRONT REVERSE

Try to fake shot or fake pass the ball as you receive it Tips and help Be convincing – make it look real Marta Vieira da Silva Orlando Pride & Brazil, football Try to ‘fake shot’ or ‘fake pass’ the ball as you receive it Use your body, shoulders, hips, eyes to fake Make use of the space and time you create Be confident, keep trying Don’t make it obvious what you are going to do INDIVIDUAL DRIBBLING FRONT REVERSE

Try to use your weaker foot Tips and help Great footballers can use both feet well Eden Hazard Chelsea and Belgium, football Try to use your weaker foot to control ball, dribble ball and pass the ball It takes practice to get good at something, and the journey can be long Set yourself targets (e. g. two weaker foot passes in next 5 minutes) Don’t stop trying, be patient with yourself, keep practising INDIVIDUAL DRIBBLING FRONT REVERSE

Try to hold the ball up and shield the ball when under pressure Tips and help Shield the ball when you have no passing option Zlatan Ibrahimovic Man Utd & Sweden, football Try to hold the ball up and ‘shield’ the ball while under pressure Keep your body between the ball and your opponent Keep looking around so you see when to pass or dribble out of trouble Don’t show the ball to your opponent INDIVIDUAL DRIBBLING FRONT REVERSE

Try to stay on the ball by dribbling out of trouble Tips and help Paul Gascoigne ex England, football Try to ‘stay on the ball’ by dribbling out of trouble INDIVIDUAL DRIBBLING FRONT Look around you before you receive the ball for spaces, opponents and team-mates Use feints and dummies to help you create space Pass after your dribble Always keep possession Don’t make it obvious what you are going to do REVERSE

Try to receive and roll the ball with the sole of your foot as it arrives Tips and help Receive and roll the ball in one motion Ricardinho Inter FS & Portugal, futsal Try to receive and roll the ball with the sole of your foot as it arrives INDIVIDUAL DRIBBLING FRONT Roll the ball in the direction you want to go, use the space you have around you Keep the ball moving, keep your opponent offbalance Don’t make it obvious what you are going to do REVERSE

Try to start and stop dribbling quickly, to lose your opponent Tips and help Keep the ball close so you can start and stop suddenly Diego Maradona ex Argentina, football Try to start and stop dribbling suddenly, in order to lose your opponent INDIVIDUAL DRIBBLING FRONT Make your feints and dummies convincing (e. g. dummy to start a dribble, but actually the ball doesn’t move) Always keep possession; make a pass or shot after your dribble Don’t make it obvious what you are trying to do REVERSE

Try to score by dummying the goalie Tips and help Assess position of the GK, and score easily if you can Pele ex Brazil, football Look around you for support (e. g. sweaty goal) if you can Be decisive, be calm Try to score by dummying the goalie Make your dummy convincing, move quickly afterwards Don’t stop trying INDIVIDUAL DRIBBLING FRONT REVERSE

Try to dribble between two opponents Tips and help Keep ball close, be sudden with your movements Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid & Portugal, football Use feints and dummies to disguise your dribble Aim for the gap between two defenders Try to dribble between two opponents Keep possession afterwards Don’t make it obvious what you are going to do INDIVIDUAL DRIBBLING FRONT REVERSE

Attacking with others

Try to receive the ball from the GK at the earliest opportunity Tips and help Recognise before your GK has received the ball John Stones Man City & England, football Try to receive the ball from the goalie at the earliest opportunity Communicate with GK Move early/quickly, get yourself ready to receive – body should be facing down the pitch Scan forward before you receive the ball Don’t lose the ball ATTACKING WITH OTHERS FRONT REVERSE

Try to pass the ball so it moves quickly & goes straight to yr team-mate Tips and help Get a good contact with the ball – “punch” it Paul Scholes ex-Man Utd & England, football Try to pass the ball so it moves quickly along the floor and goes straight to the foot of your team-mate Keep the ball on the floor if possible Aim for one of the feet of your team-mate (if they are moving this will need to be in-front of them) Don’t make it obvious what you are going to do ATTACKING WITH OTHERS FRONT REVERSE

Try to play through balls or split passes Tips and help Scan early and look around for the best attacking pass Kevin de Bruyne Get a good contact with the ball – “punch” it Try to play ‘throughballs’ or ‘split passes’ (passes that go between two opponents) Play ball in air if needed, disguise your passes Man City & Belgium, football Support your pass Don’t make it obvious what you are going to do ATTACKING WITH OTHERS FRONT REVERSE

Try to dribble out of goal early and quickly and start an attack Tips and help Assess space in front of you before you receive ball Vanessa Martinez Spain goalkeeper, futsal Try to dribble out of goal early and quickly and start an attack GK Where there is space, dribble out straight away (if no space, can you make an early, quick pass or throw? ) Be quick and urgent Don’t make it obvious what you are going to do ATTACKING WITH OTHERS FRONT REVERSE

Try to start a 1 -2 move Tips and help Engage a defender, get them interested in the ball Fran Kirby Chelsea & England, football Try to start a ‘ 1 -2’ move by passing to a team-mate and moving beyond an opponent to receive the ball back ATTACKING WITH OTHERS FRONT Play the ball into a teammate’s feet quickly Move into a new space the other side of defender Receive the ball and keep possession Don’t make it obvious what you are going to do REVERSE

Try to play forward quickly and early when you can Tips and help Assess the space around ahead of you before you receive the ball Lucy Bronze Lyon & England, football Play forward 1 -touch when you can Pass firmly, strongly weighted Try to play forward quickly and early when you can Move to support after passing Don’t force the play forward if it’s not on – play back or sideways instead ATTACKING WITH OTHERS FRONT REVERSE

Try to be in a position to receive the ball from a team mate Tips and help Assess the space around you before your team-mate receive the ball Amandinha Brazil, futsal Try to always be in a position to receive the ball from a team-mate ATTACKING WITH OTHERS FRONT Move early and quickly If you are then marked or can’t see the ball, then move again If you get the ball, keep possession Don’t stop just because you don’t receive the ball REVERSE

Try to receive the ball after overlapping a team-mate Tips and help Start your run before your team-mate has received the ball Marcus Rashford Man Utd and England, football Try to receive the ball after overlapping a team-mate ATTACKING WITH OTHERS FRONT Move suddenly and quickly Try to get into spaces beyond the ball Receive the ball and keep possession Don’t give up if you don’t receive the ball REVERSE

Try to always be available to support your team-mates Tips and help Keep alert and focus on the game ahead of you Erin Naylor New Zealand goalkeeper, football Try to always be available to support your team-mates in case they need you GK Move into the space ahead of you to support teammates when they have the ball Communicate and ask for the ball Don’t lose possession or stay on the ball too long ATTACKING WITH OTHERS FRONT REVERSE

Try to remain calm when in possession of ball near own goal Tips and help Scan the area around you before you receive the ball Luke Ballinger England captain, futsal Try to remain calm when in possession of ball near own goal ATTACKING WITH OTHERS FRONT Pass out of trouble early if you can Dribble out of trouble if you need to Use feints and dummies to create space for yourself Don’t just clear the ball anywhere REVERSE

Try to keep possession by playing the ball back when you can’t attack Tips and help Assess the space around you before you receive the ball Carli Lloyd USA, football Try to keep possession by playing the ball back when you can’t go forward Always keep possession Play back (e. g. to GK) if under pressure and you can’t play forward Move to support your pass Don’t force the play forward when it’s not on ATTACKING WITH OTHERS FRONT REVERSE

Defending

Be patient and calm when defending when outnumbered Tips and help Recognise when you are outnumbered in defence John Atkinson England, futsal, men’s deaf team Be patient and calm when defending when outnumbered DEFENDING FRONT Your role is to delay the attack until support arrives Be patient, try to force the attack to wide areas Win the ball if you can Don’t let someone dribble past you, or receive the ball behind you REVERSE

Try to come out to intercept passes before attacker receives ball Tips and help Be on your toes, and focus on the play in-front of you Manuel Neuer Germany goalkeeper, football As a goalie, try to come out to intercept passes before the attacker receives the ball GK DEFENDING FRONT If the ball is far away, you can come off your line to dominate the space If a pass come in to a striker, decide whether you can intercept the ball before it reaches them Don’t lose ball once you have it, keep possession REVERSE

Try to move towards the attacker when they are through on goal Tips and help Moving towards the attacker makes the spaces of the goal smaller for them Paco Sedano Spain goalkeeper, futsal As a goalie, try to move towards the attacker when they are through on goal GK DEFENDING FRONT Make yourself big using your arms and legs Be brave and alert Win the ball if you can Don’t let someone dribble past you, or receive the ball behind you REVERSE

Try to recover goal-side quickly when your team lose possession Tips and help Recognise when your team has lost ball, or are about to Steph Haughton Man City & England, football Try to recover ‘goalside’ quickly and early as soon as your team lose possession This includes a tackle, but also when your team shoot at goal or concede a sideline ball or free kick Recover behind ball early Once recovered, be patient, win ball when you can DEFENDING FRONT REVERSE

Try to slow your opponents down, force them wide or backwards Tips and help Get between the ball and your own goal Stuart Pearce ex England, football Try to slow your opponents down and force them wide or backwards Be patient, slow their attack down Force the play wide or backwards Win the ball and keep possession if you can Don’t jump in to a tackle DEFENDING FRONT REVERSE

Try to press the ball suddenly when you see an opportunity Tips and help Press the ball when you see a chance to do so Birgit Prinz Good pressing happens when the opponent makes a bad pass or touch, or has their back to goal Try to press the ball suddenly when you see an opportunity Try to win the ball and keep possession ex Germany, football DEFENDING FRONT Be careful pressing on your own, try to do it with a team -mate REVERSE

Try to intercept a pass and start an attack Tips and help Be on your toes, leave a gap for a pass to happen but be ready to intercept N’Golo Kante Chelsea & France, football Try to intercept a pass and start an attack When you decide to intercept the pass, make sure you win the ball Take the chance to counterattack quickly if possible, otherwise just keep the ball Don’t lose the ball DEFENDING FRONT REVERSE

Try to defend patiently 1 v 1, don’t let your opponent beat you Tips and help Slow down and get low as you approach the attacker Paolo Maldini ex Milan & Italy, football Try to defend patiently when 1 v 1, and don’t let the opponent get past you Keep eyes on ball Body ‘side-on’ so you can force the attacker wide, and are ready to retreat Be patient, win the ball when you can Don’t jump into the tackle DEFENDING FRONT REVERSE

Thinking skills

Try to be honest, play fairly, and encourage others to do so too Tips and help Juan Mata Man Utd & Spain, football Try to be honest, play fairly, and encourage others to do so too Play to the rules. E. g. If you have dribbled the ball out of play, own up straightaway Respect refereeing decisions – even when they are incorrect Correct others if they try to cheat Don’t win by cheating THINKING SKILLS FRONT REVERSE

Try something new Tips and help Enjoy being creative; trying new things is how we learn Dele Alli Spurs & England, football Try something new – be creative, be brave Try to dribble in new ways Try to use new feints and dummies Try to play like someone you admire Don’t worry about making mistakes THINKING SKILLS FRONT REVERSE

Try to encourage others, especially after they have made a mistake Tips and help Everyone makes mistakes sometimes Alex Scott Arsenal and England, football Try to encourage others, especially after they have made a mistake People can often feel down if they make a mistake, and this can affect their performance Use encouraging words and positive body language Don’t be unkind or disrespectful to others THINKING SKILLS FRONT REVERSE

Try to focus on the game and not get distracted Tips and help Practice concentrating on the game and not getting distracted David Clarke ex England, blind football team Try to focus on the game and not get distracted (help others around you to focus too) Even when the ball is out of play, think about what your next role is Help others on your team to focus too, remind them of tactics and responsibilities Don’t respond to others who try to distract you THINKING SKILLS FRONT REVERSE

Coaching & tactics

Try to work out a tactic and explain this to others Tips and help Work out some simple tactics that might work Gareth Southgate England men’s coach, football Try to help your team win the game by working out a tactic and telling others (coach your team) C COACHING & TACTICS FRONT Communicate this to your team-mates Listen to other ideas; ask for suggestions Reflect or review: Have the tactics worked? Why/ why not? Don’t forget your tactics REVERSE

Decide a defending tactic and tell others Tips and help Work out some simple tactics that might work Jill Ellis USA women’s coach, football Try to help your team win the game by deciding a defending tactic and telling others (coach your team) C Communicate this to your team-mates Listen to other ideas; ask for suggestions Reflect or review: Have the tactics worked? Why/ why not? Don’t forget your tactics COACHING & TACTICS FRONT REVERSE

Decide an attacking tactic and tell others Tips and help Work out some simple tactics that might work Alf Ramsey ex England, football Try to help your team win the game by deciding an attacking tactic and telling others (coach your team) C Communicate this to your team-mates Listen to other ideas; ask for suggestions Reflect or review: Have the tactics worked? Why/ why not? Don’t forget your tactics COACHING & TACTICS FRONT REVERSE

Change tactics when you need to Tips and help Work out some simple tactics that might work Marcos Sorato Brazil coach, futsal Try to help your team win the game by changing tactics when you need to (coach your team) C COACHING & TACTICS FRONT Communicate this to your team-mates Listen to other ideas; ask for suggestions Reflect or review: Have the tactics worked? Why/ why not? Don’t forget your tactics REVERSE

Using Cards in Games, idea 1 CONTEXT e. g. Futsal session for 8 -11 year olds focusing on ‘Staying on the Ball’. ACTIVITY OUTLINE 5 v 5 Futsal, or could be two 3 v 3 games, or similar. One player from each team is a sub, and they must choose one Individual Dribbling card which they will both work on. They must read and understand the card together, and set themselves a target for the next 5 minutes. Younger players may need help from the coach at this stage. They then sub on for two others, and work on their task. When the pair is later subbed off again, they can review how they got on (using the card). It may be useful at this stage to have some specific questions for them to answer (questions are written on the whiteboard) such as: 1. When were you successful? Why? 2. When didn’t it work? Why not? 3. When should you stay on the ball individually and when is it better to use a team mate to stay on the ball? TIP It may help to put the two team-sheets of names of the players on the whiteboard, so it is easy to see who is paired with each other. This helps players and coach know who is subbing on and off together.

Using Cards in Games, idea 2 CONTEXT e. g. Futsal session for 8 -11 year olds focusing on ‘Defending 1 v 1’. ACTIVITY OUTLINE 5 v 5 Futsal, or could be two 3 v 3 games, or similar. Teams in games are called A and B, so team A plays against team B. Team A: Each player is given a card from Individual Dribbling. Team B: The whole team work on the Paolo Maldini and Stuart Pearce Defending cards. The coach works with Team B. Give them time to read the cards and plan for their defending. After the game, reflect together on the main points of 1 v 1 Defending, using examples from the game and success criteria on the cards. Give feedback to individuals. Switch over teams, so now Team A get to focus on Defending. TIP This could work well with a scenario situation, such as Team B are 2 -0 up with 8 minutes left. Can they win the game? You could give them one or two less players if you wanted to stretch them. In this situation the coach could call a ‘Time Out’ if needed to help coach Team B when they see a need. Or you could give one of the learners the Jill Ellis Coaching and Tactics card and they coach from the sideline.

Using Cards in Games, idea 3 CONTEXT Working with individual children within game-based activities, all ages 8+. ACTIVITY OUTLINE Any game-based activity. Using your knowledge of the group, identify two to three children who need specific help related to any of the areas on any of the cards. (Suggest only 2 -3 in order to allow realistic coach attention for each individual). Once the game begins, take them aside one at a time (while the game continues) and show them the card. For younger children, you may need to talk them through it. For older ones, maybe let them read it themselves. Ask them to go and play like Messi, or defend like Haughton. TIP For real individual progress and understanding, children will often need interventions in the game. The role of the coach or teacher may be to stop the game at the correct moment and recreate a situation that relates to the task the child is working on. This may be your opportunity to demonstrate, or to demonstrate the work of one of the children who is very able in the task area. These ‘recreation’ interventions are a skilled area of teaching, but vital for: • The child to understand the task, and recognise the success criteria in action • The teacher to understand how the child perceives the situation themselves (in order to help them)

Using Cards in Games, idea 4 CONTEXT Working in pairs within games e. g. 5 v 5 Futsal for ages 12 -16 ACTIVITY OUTLINE 5 v 5 Futsal, or could be 4 v 4, 4 v 3, 3 v 3 depending on numbers of players and space. Some cards could be used in pairs, as tasks often fit together. For example in Attacking with others: • Carli Lloyd: Try to keep possession by playing back when you can’t go forward • Erin Naylor (GK): Try to always be available to support your team-mates in case they need you These pairs of cards could be given to pairs within the same team. Give them time before the game to discuss how their tasks link, and how they can work together. During the game, give pairs a chance to demonstrate how their work together helped them. Use your own examples too. Go in and coach during the game if needed to show the pair can work together. Other pairings of cards: • John Stones and Vanessa Martinez (GK) Attacking with others • Lucy Bronze and Amandinha Attacking with others • Paul Scholes and Marcus Rashford Attacking with others • Alex Scott and Dele Alli Thinking skills

Using Cards in Games, idea 5 CONTEXT e. g. Futsal tournament or friendly game for 12 -16 year olds (could be 2 -4 teams). ACTIVITY OUTLINE 5 v 5 Futsal, or could be 4 v 4, 4 v 3, 3 v 3 depending on numbers of players and space. Each team is given a set of cards from the same team (see circle in bottom left of front of card). There are up to four teams, red, yellow, blue and green. You could put the children in bibs of these colours. There are 9 cards in each team, so the children could choose which card they work on from the set of 9. Or the coach could issue specific cards to individuals based on what they need to work on. Allow the children some time to read and understand their card, and to set themselves targets (e. g. things they will try to do). Give the children time in a short break to reflect on how they are doing. The coach or teacher may need to focus on two or three children to give specific help to, as it may not be possible in this kind of set-up to help everyone with their task. TIP The Coaching and Tactics cards could be used for this type of activity, either given to the whole team, or to one captain or coach of the team who needs to ensure the team wins the game.