Intelligent footballers & Training activities by Gerard Nus

What are intelligent footballers?

Intelligent footballers are those who are capable of making the best decision in any given situation: a player that plays short balls when necessary, one who controls the ball before playing it instead of heading it aimlessly; definitively, the player who is aware of his strengths and weaknesses and whose play is dictated by different factors in the game (his team mates, opponents, the score line, minutes remaining, if players have been sent off or sanctioned, pressure from the supporters...)

In football, intelligent footballers, just as in society, are the ones who make a difference.

Otherwise, how can you explain a small player scoring from a header when his opponents are all taller and stronger than him? Perhaps, he knows where to position himself. Perhaps, also, because he knows how to win that position. If he is unable to win the ball, he can make sure that his opponent can’t play it easily, perhaps throwing him off-balance so he can’t make the most of an opportunity.

What type of training activities do these players need? 

There has been a lot written about training, exercises and planning...we want to simplify things into three main groups of activities that benefit decision making. 

1) Possession and/or positional activities with the ball 

There are hundreds of exercises of this kind, where the players have to distinguish between different situations, and then take and act upon the correct decision. 

These kind of situations are fundamental to a sport that is all about decision making. 

Examples:

2) Foreseeable situations

With situations that occur frequently, it is best to know beforehand how to react in order to make the most of them.

Example:

Counterattacking

In a 4v2 situation where the attacking side has numerical superiority, shots should be taken on goal in at least 16 of every 20 opportunities. The 3 occasions when a shot isn’t taken could be due to a mistake, such as a slip or poor control of the ball; not due to not knowing what should be done.  However, few clubs manage to score more than 3 or 4 goals from 20 attempts, and that should not be the case.

- Where do you want the ball to be at the start of a counterattack? On the wing or in the centre?

- Do you want a wide player to attempt a 1v1?

- In which direction should the centre forward move?

- Should the defenders temporise (play for time) or pressurise?

- Should the defenders adjust their position between their opponents or stick to a player?

- These concepts should be made clear beforehand in order to improve team performance.

Example:

Crossing are

Should the ball be crossed from any position or are there areas where players can get the best results?

The defending players (in red) see the ball face-on, which is ideal for anticipating moves, calculating a jump and winning the aerial battle.

However, when players have their back to the ball, it proves more difficult to defend and the attacker has more options.

3) Team situation

There needs to be mutual understanding between players in order to attack and defend effectively. It is necessary to be specific and propose team tasks where players are in their positions, their roles being the same as those for the upcoming match.