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FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LEVEL 2 COACHING

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LEVEL 2
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 PDFs.
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 doesnt 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 havent 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
dragging defenders away

12. PROGRESSIONS
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
Coach

Date Produced

Coach Educator

Time Available

No. of Player

Age

Information on Players
Ability Level

Medical Info.
Particular Needs

Location
Facility Needs
Equipment
Needs

Information on Facilities and Resources

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

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,
Points from
previous
Sessions:

Session Aim

Give good demonstrations and intervene as appropriate. Ask questions of players. Use
Guide and Discovery style of coaching with players. Progress the practice to the players
needs

Session Plan
To improve the Skill of Creating Space
Timings

Warm Up
Activities

Gradual increase of warm up activities with the ball. Looking to

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

10 minutes

Cool Down
Activities

Gradual decrease of physical activity run to jog to walk. Gentle

stretching of the main muscle groups. Gravity led exercises to rid
the body of lactic acid.

10 minutes

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Session
Title
Key
Technical
Aspects/
Factors

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Session Plan
Improve the Skill of Creating Space

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Timings

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 dragging defenders away

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
*The ball starts with one player in the attacking
team

THE CHALLENGE AND PROGRESSIONS

*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
*Progress to 6 v 4 and 5 v 5, defenders can defend
how they want

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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
Passing
Receiving
Ball control
First time passing
Decisions
Defending
Linked play

Psychological
Imagination
Decision making
Confidence
Self Belief
Spatial awareness
Communication

Physical
Running
Turning
Balance
Agility
Changes of pace and direction

Social

Decision making
Fair play
Communication
Team work
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

session to easy, how would you
adapt it to make it more
demanding for them.

Progress to 6 v 4 and 5 v 5 quicker

Make the area smaller
Introduce the challenges sooner

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.

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Coaching Session Self Evaluation

Candidate Coach

Session date

Were the
arrangements and
organisation of the
session appropriate?

Size and pitch appropriate for the age group. All equipment ready and
organised

Was the health and

safety of the
environment and
session maintained?

Risk assessment carried out prior to session start, no issues.

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 players
need to focus on support movement and decision making
needs and
expectations?
Was your coaching
style and
communication
appropriate to the
players?

I gave good clear instructions and used the EDI formula when coaching.
I also asked players questions on their performance and used Guide and
Discovery to help players find out their own solutions to problems

Did the players

performance improve
as expected?

There were improvements as individuals and as a group. Although one

or two players need a bit more individual help

What feedback have

you had from other
people involved in the
session?

I had pretty positive feedback from the players and the parents watching.
I also asked a Level 2 qualified coach on their views and they were very
positive about the session

If you were to coach

this session again,
what might you
change?

I would have spent more time initially getting the pattern of the practice
right, so that players understood what they were doing better. I could
have stepped in and shown them this

The aim of the next

session might be:

Forward runs / forward passing

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.

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PERSONAL NOTES:

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[Street Address]
[City], [State][Postal Code]
[Web Address]

www.grassrootscoaching.com | support@grassrootscoaching.com | 01273 90 6943

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