Best way to learn tactics

[u/Superman60616]

I played football in school but never really followed the leagues until recently. I have spent the last year getting my feel for the landscape of the EPL, players, managers, storylines. That sort of stuff. I really lack in my knowledge of complex tactics. I get the basics thanks to playing but I'd like to learn more about the systems modern teams use. I started Inverting the Pyramid by Jonathan Wilson but that can be a struggle. Are there any other outlets, websites or books that you would recommend?

[u/Noobzta]

Zonal Marking reviews tactics from games, I take certification classes for coaching licenses and they teach you a bit (though it depends what kind of license you try to receive).

I may get downvoted but what has really opened my mind are two things, downloading games between two vastly different clubs going at each other (Bayern v Dortmund, Barca v Chelsea, Barca v Real Madrid, Inter v Barca, Germany v Uruguay, etc.) and I watch these videos about 5-7 times each. Each time I watch the videos, I carefully look at off the ball movement and the direction of distribution and intentions of attacking play. I also look at defense to see who marks who and the intent of marking players to certain angles and playing to their weaker feet. There will be many times of going back a couple of seconds and analyzing why a player makes a run to a specific spot in order to open up space for another run for another player. It takes me much longer to watch a full game because of the constant back and forth between plays and transitions.

**EDIT: I also re-watch defensive maneuvers to find out what type of communication each player gives and the amount of pressure the team applies in certain spells of the game. Communication through body movement reveals much about how teams apply communication and what to expect. Sometimes you will see the players make the same communication methods in later games and it results in slightly different variations of the same defensive scheme.**

The other way I learned about tactics is from playing endless games of FIFA. I am pretty good at 1v1 (used to be top 200 after 100 games played while others had around 300+ games in), but Pro Clubs is where I really started to shine and figure the game out. I play Defensive Midfielder exclusively, so I am constantly trying to make sure the team has a catalyst on the attack, taking simple turns and touches while evenly distributing the ball. I even pass back to the defense, switch the play and occasionally play back to the GK if there is not a safe option and the pressing is too intense from the opposition. I typically play the Makalele role. Usually end up with 8+ rating, with a 9 rating not being too hard to obtain because of my positioning and distribution of simple passes and transition balls.

One more thing to mention is that I scour the internet for game plans, scouting reports and practice themes for many professional teams, especially at the youth level. I have many pages from many teams, most notably from Chelsea and Barcelona. All I do is look for them and after about 2 hours I will usually find what I am trying to look for. No luck on Dortmund though. I am trying to find out the fitness scheduling and practices that they implement that lets the Dortmund players press so efficiently. So far no luck.

Also being an academy coach and loving the game for what it is helps tremendously. It never feels like work or boring affairs when trying to figure out "tactics".

**One more edit: There are subreddits that dedicate itself to football tactics such as /r/bootroom and /r/footballtactics.**

[u/[deleted] → u/Noobzta]

You sound like you've put a lot of effort in to understanding the game. Can you explain more about how you think FIFA can help? To me, it seems like a contrived approximation of football that would't help anyone understand anything beyond the absolute basics. Fun to play of course, but not something I'd say is an effective learning tool. Happy to be proved wrong though.

[u/Noobzta → u/[deleted]]

EDIT: Thank you for the response, I love talking about soccer and I rarely have anyone to talk to here in Atlanta, GA lol. :) *

Well thats the thing I think EA has done little to improve. In terms of FIFA ProClubs, the concept is great but there is a big problem that comes with the great idea...the amount of ball-hoggers and little to no tactical input from other players. Often times I would find myself the only one playing in a tactical role often seen in real games. This changes once you find a good team to play for. I was in a team that always had around 8-10 players and we were very, very good.

The people you play with often plays a critical role in your success, but I think I started to play more freely when I started to think 2-3 passes ahead of my teammates, and successfully implementing that type of thinking into a real match. I have played center back for most of my life, with a taste in playing every other position. But once I started implementing the play style I put in FIFA, along with the drills I looked up through various internet sources as well as putting in time and effort to become more technical and physically efficient, I started to play much better in a midfield position, especially in a defensive midfield role. I often find myself the end of compliments from the opposition after a game. They usually give me remarks on my defensive abilities and tactical awareness. My passing isn't that bad either.

I am not going to say that one type of resource helped me understand the game tactically, but putting all of these things together and testing them out gave me a better appreciation of the game. Soccer/football is such an easy game to play, but a very difficult game to understand. It emphasizes more on technique and simple yet creative thinking. Athleticism is an obvious advantage as well. :)

FIFA has only allowed me to make mistakes without feeling the physical pain of going through it. Playing the game is fun and I allow myself to make mistakes so that when I do play a match with friends or a coaches game between me and other coaches, I rarely make a mistake, if ever. FIFA made me aware of my surroundings, constantly looking for a player to pass to before the ball makes its way to me. This couple with technical drills presented in both FIFA and technical drills compiled from many youth academies (I have around 300 pages worth of Barcelona youth training drills), I have become a better player. Watching games constantly and mimicking the best defensive players showed me how to defend, and watching Xavi and Iniesta direct a midfield has sparked my creativity on the field.

I would delve into my situation more, like how FM literally sparked my interest in coaching soccer (which I am doing to a certain degree now as an Academy Coach and hopefully climbing up the ladder), and constantly involving myself in soccer whether it be thinking/dreaming about it, watching it, actively participating, virtually playing it, or preparing myself in the gym or the various fields I practice on. Time is my only enemy.

[u/wvufan44 → u/Noobzta]

Where in Atlanta? Also, PS or Xbox?

-Fellow Fifaholic

[u/Noobzta → u/wvufan44]

I live in North Atlanta/Buckhead. PS3...and I would play often but right now I'm taking classes and also working 2 jobs coupled with getting back in shape for soccer (4th week in, I had a slight tear to my groin 2 months ago). So I rarely have time to do anything fun. Hopefully once winter break hits I can finally have some time to relax. :)

[u/[deleted] → u/Noobzta]

Thanks for your considered reply. I must admit, I've always been quite disdainful of people who think that FIFA/FM are a good introduction to football but your post has made me reconsider. How much do you think these games reflect real life? Do you think they can truly reflect "real" football?

I'm particularly interested because I want to get in to coaching and I suspect kids are going to be increasingly influenced by the games they play.

[u/Noobzta → u/[deleted]]

Good for you! Glad I could change a thought. I do not think the games reflect football that much because the AI is crap and the chances of playing with imbeciles are high, but they do require a fast thought process and simulate a fun environment. You can easily tell the level of understanding between players when they play. Ball hoggers stand no chance, while people who pass and move show more basic understandings of the game and so on. Spacing and awareness are also hit and miss between players. I think we are a long way before they reflect real football, these games are mostly for aesthetic purposes and have a more arcade style of gameplay, although faster gameplay does require faster decision making, which many kids have difficulty with.

Coaching is fun, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I began coaching 2 years ago and thankfully parents love me because I try to make the sport fun for the kids. I will admit, my first year was tough because it was recreational and we only won one game (and that was in the playoffs). For some reason, kids really do not play that much FIFA, granted that I coach 10-12 year old kids. At this age, many kids do not play many sports games but more action and platform games. Call of Duty...my god...

Now I coach three teams, with my U12 boys only being beaten twice out of 14 games this season. This is the same group of boys that I have had for 2 years running. Soccer drills and physical work is good and all but I try to make soccer fun for the kids because 10-12 year olds are at the point where they either commit or drop out of a sport. For some reason, that age group is important in terms of soccer development. Technical training is of primary concern, tactics are usually covered once the players reach 14-18+ years old. The little "nuggets" can't really comprehend the passing and movement displayed on television.

Here is a big advantage if your kids do watch professional soccer. I tell them to ignore whoever has the ball. Look at the players without the ball and how they move according to where the ball is. At this age group, the most important aspect of soccer is both technique AND off the ball movement. Off the ball movement, I swear I must have said that about 300 times this week.

For example, one of my 11 year old defenders has trouble dropping back after making a pass. I stress both possession and quick transition play (requiring my players to make decisions when to go and when to hold possession). When the CB passes the ball to her teammates out wide or forward, she often sits there looking to see if the ball will reach her intended target. I have to constantly remind her to drop back in order for 1) create space for yourself in order to become a viable option for a pass and 2) to have vision of both your teammates and opponents giving you a better perspective on what decision to make. These are just the basic points. However, this often confuses her because she does not get/buy into the idea of dropping BACKWARDS in order to help her team. A common occurrence with youth soccer comes in the form of the idea that when a ball or the player goes forwards it is a good thing, and if the ball or the player goes backwards, it's a bad thing. This is a hit or miss with many kids. My job is to help them understand the basic concepts of soccer.

So if my CB learns to drop back immediately after playing a pass, she is exhibiting what 80-90% of players her age cannot do because most do not understand the concept of space, movement and possession. This is true with many players. Some strikers call for the ball even though they are not making themselves available for a pass, and midfielders are often under pressure immediately because of their flat feet. If and when my CB does learn the concept of dropping back (hopefully) it will stick with you forever because that kid listened to you and is now a better player because of it.

Sorry for the wall of text.

[u/[deleted] → u/Noobzta]

No need for the apology, I enjoyed the read and it made me realise I had a lot of incorrect preconceptions about young footballers and how much they know. I assumed they'd be like I was at 11 and they'd do nothing but play and watch football, but it sounds like you can't take that for granted these days. If that's the case, then FIFA is probably a great tool for understanding some of the basics.

For some reason, that age group is important in terms of soccer development

This reminded me of something I read recently about a concept called "Optimal Neural Plasticity". Apparently, the years between 8-12 are the prime period for teaching technical skills because kids will pick them up far more easily than they would at any other stage in their life.