The Street Football Variety game – by Paul Cooper
Small pitch (e.g. 20 x 15)
“From a technical standpoint, I couldn’t help but improve my skills. Anybody can trap and control a ball on a picture-perfect billiard table smooth pitch. But where I played, you had to learn how to control the ball no matter what, regardless of whether it bounced off the rubbish or skidded along the gutter. I learned how to dribble up steps, how to run non-stop for hours (there was no such thing as ‘out of bounds’) and how to thread my way through tight spaces (we played eleven-a-side on a pitch which would have been tight for a five-a-side). I guess much of my close control and dribbling ability originated on the Stenditoi”
Paulo De Canio
The great thing about street football was the variety. The different formats from 4v4 to 20v20, assorted ages, varied surfaces, grass, tarmac, dirt, and carpet as well as various balls from tennis to full size leather ball.
1. The small pitch game
Play different formats on a small pitch e.g. 6v6 on 20v15.
Benefits
- The weaker players are always near the play
- The stronger players are challenged due to lack of space
- In such a small space you need a good first touch – so that improves
- Great for concentration – needs VERY quick decision making
- Great use of every inch of space
- Creative give and goes
- The weight of each pass needs to be spot on
- When dribbling the ball, needs to be very close to the feet. There is no room for exaggerated step-over’s. Little feints or a quick swivel of the hips work best. (see De Canio’s above quote about learning to dribble in small spaces with lots of players)
- Teaches subtlety and creativity
- Prepares for possession play in tight midfield situations
“Football will always be about time and space”
George Cohen (Fulham & England)
2. The large pitch game
Different formats on a large pitch e.g. 6v6 on 45 v 20.
Benefits
- Good fitness work out
- More time and space which is made even easier after having to play on such a small pitch where the first touch is improved
- Lots of dribbling opportunities to build confidence
- Let players compare the differences
3. A different ball game
Play a normal game with a normal ball then after a few minutes change it for a tennis ball, and then later change it with a futsal or mini size one ball.
Benefits
- Players have to be aware of their first touch
- Different balls use different parts of the foot and different ways of passing e.g. futsal – sole of foot
4. Playground football game
Play a normal game with the players wearing bibs and after a few minutes take the bibs away and ask them to compare the difference after.
Benefits
- Players get their heads up to see where team mates are
- More communication, both verbal and non verbal
This is the kind of environment that produced so many creative footballers who were sadly so often over looked by the English national team.
“I’m irresistibly reminded of what Glenn Hoddle, that resilient technician, once told me; that by the time he was 11, he’d taught himself every trick but one in his repertoire” Brian Glanville
