- Our Approach
- Speed & Agility
- Strength
- Game Play
- Decision Making
- Skill
- Technique
The Approach

THE HOW, WHERE, WHEN.
All 3 stages of the method are just as important as the other.
AIM
What do we mean?
TECHNICALLY EXCELLENT
INNOVATIVE
CREATIVE
RESPONSIBILITY
“Everything is Practice"
Speed and Agility

An essential element of successful football performance is to accelerate, change direction quickly and deceive the opposition; performing these movements while dribbling requires considerable effort and control. This requires both speed and agility.
In football, the ability to accelerate, decelerate and rapid movements in all directions is more important than simply running fast.
To analyse these key aspects, we need to consider the components of speed and agility separately.
These are:- Speed - force required to facilitate acceleration, deceleration and change direction
- Agility - ability to explosively brake, change direction and accelerate again
- Dribbling
- Evading tackles
- Chasing the opposition
- Change direction quickly
- Start and stop effectively
- React to situations
- Retreating to referees and assistant referee commands
- Avoiding injury
There is a great deal of TECHNIQUE required in order to be able to run at speed (with and without the ball) and be able to change direction (with and without the ball). The Tecnico Coaching programme will ensure that young players are able to improve their game related speed and agility through fun practices and detailed sessions and coaching points.
Strength

At Tecnico Coaching we believe that if a player has their body between the ball and opponent, the opposition should not be able to get the ball back. It is important that all players know how to get their body in a strong position to protect the ball.
The programme ensures players are confident when protecting the ball and regaining possession of the ball. We encourage players to stabilise their core and work on their balance to protect the ball.
Players should work on the physical attributes (strength conditioning) post 16 years of age or when physically developed. Players who have learnt the importance of balance and the position of the body when protecting the ball will have an advantage over players that have not learnt this.
Game Awareness

This aspect relates to players being aware of the changing situations that occur within a game. It is closely linked to decision making. A players ‘game awareness’ can relate to their understanding of the different position roles on the pitch.
More importantly, the key aspect has a focus on ‘thinking ahead’, reading the specific situation before the opponents. If a player is able to do this, they will have an advantage over their opposite number.
Without doubt, there is a TECHNIQUE to game awareness. At Tecnico Coaching we encourage all players to perform the ‘shoulder look’. This requires the player to regularly look over their shoulder so they can scan the pitch or area and see where the space is and where their opponents and team mates are. The coaches at Tecnico will show and explain how players can do this throughout the game.
Decision Making

This relates to how, where and when individual skills and techniques could or should be performed. It relates to on the ball and off the ball situations. It also refers to anticipating the next play or movement. A player is at an advantage if they are one step ahead of their opponents.
The programme at Tecnico Coaching ensures players improve their decision making skills. Players are able to do this by constantly being put in game related situations.
Game related situations are ever changing;
Players are always making decisions. Repetition of these situations ensures the player is able to experience the changing factors and react to them accordingly. The experienced coaches at Tecnico Coaching can add value to the players ‘decision making development’ by giving excellent feedback at the right time.
Skill

At Tecnico Coaching, we believe that practice and excellent relevant coaching and feedback is what improves a player. Some players may be born with physical attributes – height, build etc. but technical attributes are learned and can be developed.
Players can learn the relevant skills by analysing footage of great players in action and breaking down the technique step by step. Tecnico Coaching have a range of footage of the current great players performing game related skills. We show the footage, demonstrate the technique and break down how it is performed. Once the players understand ‘how’ to perform the technique, the coaches at Tecnico Coaching ensure they are able to perform the techniques and skills at speed and with both feet – thus equipping them with tools to adapt to the changing situations within a game.
The Tecnico Coaching approach has the emphasis on skill and mastering of technique.
All of the Tecnico Coaching approach is linked and we believe to be a complete player, one must master all of the Key elements to develop oneself into a complete player.
Change of Direction/Speed
Change of Direction and Speed. It is one thing being able to dribble and run with the ball unopposed, it is another thing dribbling and running with the ball under pressure. This element ensures players are able to execute the dribbling and running with the ball technique unopposed, opposed, with both feet and at speed.
The players will learn how to change direction and speed without the ball, so as to lose opponents in game situations. Once players understand how to change direction and speed without the ball, they are able to practice and learn the technique with the ball.
Players will know the importance of:
- Body position and stabilisation of body
- Incorporating ball ability and ABC + S
- Being on their toes in order to accelerate and change direction quickly
- Adding disguise and ‘shock’ to lose an opponent
- How to touch the ball – big or small touches?
- Eyes up – able to see opponents, space, GK and teammates
- End product
Moves to Beat and Defending an Opponent
Beating an Opponent and Defending an Opponent. This focus not only encourages players to be creative in attacking situations but it also encourages players to read opponents moves in order to win the ball back and retain possession.
Players will learn and experiment different ways to beat an opponent in 1 v 1 and small sided situations. Players will perform the techniques unopposed to practice and understand the technique. They will then move on to performing the techniques opposed, with both feet and at speed.
To be a complete player, one must be able to defend as well as attack. This focus encourages players to not only win the ball back and learn ways in which to tackle, but also keep possession of the ball once it has been won.
Once the ‘how’ has been mastered in this focus, players must understand the where and when. This will be learned through the players experiencing different, game related situations.
Players will know the importance of:
- Being creative and experimenting
- Incorporating ball ability and ABC + S
- Incorporating Change of Direction and Speed
- Executing the technique at speed and with both feet
- Ensuring the first touch is good
- Getting the body in the correct position when attacking and defending
- Being able to win the ball back, protect and regain possession
- Knowing when and where to perform the technique
- End product
Passing
Passing the ball is one of the key skills to master. Good passing leads to increased possession and a greater chance of victory in a match, because without the ball, how can you expect to score a goal. Players will learn and practice different ways of passing that can work outside of the standard side foot pass.
Side Foot Short Pass: The easiest and most used pass in football. Every player must know how to do this properly.
Lofted Pass: A lofted pass is a pass made through the air. The ball is knocked into the air over your opposition and into the pass of your team-mates.
The Wall Pass: A wall pass is a quick pass to a team-mate, who then returns the ball to you with one touch as you run into space. Effective for beating defenders and catching your opponents off guard.
Through Ball: A through ball is a pass made into open space where a team-mate can run onto it. Great for beating defenders to create openings.
Switching Play: Playing a ball across the field into space for a team-mate to move onto it..
Passing a straight ball to a diagonal running team mate.
Passing a diagonal ball to a straight running team mate.
Play a short pass so that the receiver has to come to the ball and create space.
Play a long pass so that the receiver can turn and run into space to receive it.
Passing the ball to the feet of your team mate. Take it to the next level and practice passing to the correct foot of your team mate.
Passing the ball into the space in front of your team mate for them to run onto it.
All 3 stages of the method are just as important as the other. Without the HOW you are unable to move on to the WHERE. Without the WHERE, a player cannot move on to the WHEN. This all comes in the players decision making that they remember, “don’t just pass for the sake of it”
Often players can play “safe” and play a simple pass, a square pass, a back pass when a much more dangerous pass was available, again, this can be as a result of unfair criticism if the pass was unsuccessful. It is a fine balance between playing the simple, safe pass and achieving nothing except for keeping possession and being creative, being daring, being exciting and attempting a pass that is from another planet and maybe as a result winning the game!
So learn when and where to play the safe pass and when and where to go for the daring killer pass. If in doubt, keep it safe, but if you see an opportunity to go for it, GO FOR IT!
Players will enjoy receiving the ball, enjoy passing to a team mate, enjoy being involved in the game. The more touches you have on the ball, the more passes you complete in a game, the more you will enjoy the game and the more opportunities you will create.
Possession:
Players will learn the different ways a pass can be played. Coaching points and feedback will be detailed to ensure the technique is correct. Once a selection of passes have been mastered, players can experience possession play.
This focus encourages players to pass the ball quickly and move off the ball intelligently. It often involves one team having an overload (3 v 2 situation) to ensure the extra player moves in appropriate spaces to receive the ball or make space for teammates. It also encourages the team in possession to keep the ball and play short passes to move the opponents around – thus opening space to play the killer pass.
There are multiple goals. This not only ensures that players have the opportunity to score many goals but it also encourages the players to spread the play and move the defending team around.
This focus will have an emphasis on small sided games (no more than teams of 5). This will enable players to have lots of touches in tight situations. It also encourages players to look for space to receive the ball.
Once players have an understanding of Possession football, they can experience and be encouragesd to be creative and innovative by passing the ball behind the defending team for a teammate to receive the pass in an attacking situation.
Players will know the importance of:
- Keeping possession of the ball
- Protecting the ball
- Incorporating core focus 1, 2 and 3
- Moving off the ball to create space for self or teammate
- Selection of pass
- Technique of pass
- Timing and weight of pass
- Disguise
- Where and when to perform the pass – gaining game related experiences
Aerial Control
Chest, Thigh, Feet, Angled Control
Player's gain an understanding of control skills when receiving passes that is passed into them through the air and how they should complete each technique before they are exposed to opposition and placed in pressurised situations.
Turning with the Ball
Players will learn several different types of turning action that allows the player in possession to lose a closely marking defender, create vital space for themselves, change the direction of play. Once the basic technique has been mastered, it is important that players learn when and where to try out their turning techniques.
Small-sided games such as 2v2 where a server plays the ball into his team mate who must turn his attacker before playing it back into the server who now becomes the attacker can help before progressing onto normal sided games.
Heading
Players will be introduced to heading techniques and for successful learning it is necessary that basic practicing has been extensively practiced.
Heading techniques of defending and attacking will be practiced with the main focus in teaching young players the correct technique. It is the only way to make sure that the children and teenagers are becoming free of fear from heading.
Shooting/ Finishing:
Players love to score goals! This encourages players to use a variety of techniques to finish. All practices within this focus have been designed to incorporate many goals. This will help to enhance confidence and it will give the players an opportunity to ‘repeat’ the technique to maximise learning.
Players will learn a variety of ‘finishes’. They will understand the importance of selecting the correct finish for the specific situation.
Players will be able to finish unopposed so as to perfect the technique. They will then finish in opposed situations where a change of speed may be important. Players will also be encouraged to finish with both feet so they are ready for the changing situations within a game.
Players will know the importance of:
- Scoring goals with different surfaces of the foot
- Selecting the type of finish depending on the GK position
- Incorporating core focus 1, 2, 3 and 4
- Movement off the ball to make space in and around the penalty area
- Experimenting and being creative
- Disguise
- Using the best foot. The one most appropriate for the situation
- Decision making – when to shoot – when to pass – Is someone in a better position?
Skill
At Tecnico Coaching, we believe that practice and excellent relevant coaching and feedback is what improves a player. Some players may be born with physical attributes – height, build etc. but technical attributes are learned and can be developed.
Players can learn the relevant skills by analysing footage of great players in action and breaking down the technique step by step. Tecnico Coaching have a range of footage of the current great players performing game related skills. We show the footage, demonstrate the technique and break down how it is performed. Once the players understand ‘how’ to perform the technique, the coaches at Tecnico Coaching ensure they are able to perform the techniques and skills at speed and with both feet – thus equipping them with tools to adapt to the changing situations within a game.
The Tecnico Coaching approach has the emphasis on skill and mastering of technique.
All of the Tecnico Coaching approach is linked and we believe to be a complete player, one must master all of the Key elements to develop oneself into a complete player.
“Everything is Practice”
Technique

At Tecnico Coaching, we believe that the key aspects of football require TECHNIQUE. We also believe that you are not born a technically gifted football player. All of the key aspects can be improved through dedication, hard work, practice and good coaching.
The Tecnico Approach
The approaches are the same for each age band and ability. The complexity of the sessions and practices will differ but players will understand how to perform a range of techniques appropriate to football and will continue to perfect a range of techniques (opposed and at speed) also they will understand the importance of decision making within game related practices and understand the importance of tactics and strategies.
Developing Quick Feet:
A quick foot refers to a player’s ability to be comfortable with the ball at their feet – Mastering the ball. The element will encourage players to manipulate the ball so they experience feeling the ball with all surfaces of the foot and ball control.
It is important that the first core element is the foundation of a high quality programme. If a player is unable to have control of the ball, they will not be able to move on to the other core elements.
The coaches at Tecnico will break down the manipulation techniques to ensure players understand how to perform them correctly. Once the players understand how to perform the technique, they can practice with both feet and they can practice combinations and performing the techniques at speed. This will help the players in game situations.
The ABC + S refer to Agility, Balance, Co-ordination and Speed. These are important components within football. They can help a player perform a variety of skills and techniques.
The coaches at Tecnico realise the importance of educating players and laying the foundations of a players ABC + S. The complexity of the ABC + S practices is dependent on the age and ability of the players. Many Tecnico sessions and practices incorporate the ABC + S as we realise how important it is to develop and maintain a high level of agility, balance, co-ordination and speed.
Players will know the importance of:
- Practicing the techniques constantly
- Use all surfaces of the foot
- Combine techniques
- Breaking down the techniques
- Working on agility, balance, co-ordination and speed and how they relate to football
- Perform the techniques with both feet and at speed
- Protecting the ball from opponents
- End product
- Controlling the ball from varying heights and angles
- Keeping the ball moving at all times
Football Development





