Today I will focus on the 16-18 years old age group.

In this group, the training stage is to build up programme and competition.

You can also work in this stage with the 14-year-olds but they need to be elite players. The phase of learning in relation to age is to refine and automate.

Main Training Objectives

The objective is to aim for the optimum performance in the competitive games they play. It’s important to ensure that they learn to create many goal-scoring opportunities and to develop a scoring habit.

They should learn to go by opponents individually or with teammates — combination play, wall passes — and finally they must use their skills to the maximum in the games they play.

Technical Aspects

To work at the highest level of technical performance under pressure in game-like situations. Must have the awareness to apply the learnt skill and speed or a combination of these two qualities and go by opponents individually.

Tactical Aspects

Concentrate on these aspects below when working on the tactical facet. The general tactics as well as specific tactics must be enforced so as to make them understand the roles and responsibilities in the system of play. What are they?

• System of play: 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, 3-5-2 (examples).
• Line tactics: Defensive line, midfield line, attacking line.
• Wing play.
• Individual tactics: Positional sense in defence, midfield attack.
• Defensive play: What do you do when possession is lost? First man pressure, provide balance or retreat and regroup.
• Offensive play: Build up attack when possession is won. How? Use wing play, through the middle, bypass the midfield, quick attack or counter attack.
• Transition of play, from offence to defence and vice versa.
• To know how, when and where to go by opponents in one-vs-one situation.
• To learn to go by opponents with teammates through combination play (one touch play), one-two combination and overlapping runs
• Forward runs in front of the ball.
• Diagonal runs.
• Learning when to go alone and when to pass the ball.
• Passing, shooting and receiving techniques at the highest level.
• Defensive and offensive heading.

Physical Aspects

On endurance, two key components must be covered. Working on aerobic endurance, working on long periods with low intensity, and the anaerobic endurance, working at short periods with high intensity.

• Do interval training focusing on extensive and intensive work.
• Speed training (technique training on speed).
• Power training (explosive starts during technique training, training plus power training with own body.
• When they are 18 and the body is fully grown, start with weight and fitness apparatus.
• Combine technique training with flexibility and coordination work.
• Have special training sessions on technique of turning, sprinting and running.

Mental Aspects

At this age the criteria, must be developing a winner’s mentality. Focus on results especially when in competition. Do not lose focus on objective when playing friendly matches though the winning mentality must always be there.

Typical Characteristics

The psychological factors for age 16-18 years are that they have become more mature. They are result orientated, are more eager to win and very social. They show more responsibility and have a strong desire to be independent.

The motor functions, they are physically strong, have good coordination, have normal body proportions and their body is fully grown.

Organisation

In all organisation and formations and highest level of competition should be 100 per cent.

Now at this level the need to transfer the aspects of technical, tactical, physical and mental in position and games is extremely important.

Focus more on one-vs-one in functional training, small sided games, transfer all aspects of technical, tactical and mental in 11-vs-11 games.

All sessions must be in match like situation – 100 per cent. Result orientated training sessions thereby creating a winning mentality.

Loading – Must ensure that there is a correct balance between load and rest. When coaching, demand from the players 100 per cent commitment and concentration. There must be constant initiative on the ball to help develop speed of thought and tactical awareness.

Next week, I will touch on the development of football.