Mini Football 9-12 Grades 2012

NZF National Player Development Framework

9^th to 12^th Grade MINI FOOTBALL 2012

Mini Football is the name given under the NZF National Player Development Framework for the new

football structure and player development for players in grades 9 to 12 years.

It follows First Kicks (5-6 years) Fun Football (7, 8, 9 years) and is followed by Youth Football (13-15years), Youth Football (16-19 years), Senior Football (20-23 years), Senior Football (24+ years).

The National Development framework maybe viewed on the PAFC website or NZF website. The programme reflects the latest academic research and best practice from a number of leading football nations. 

First Kicks is about starting football and discovery, and learning basic skills. Fun Football is about developing on that foundation.  Both programmes are aimed to set foundations of technical excellence in fun motivating environments.

Mini Football introduces more structured learning, emphasises developing individual skills and basic group tactics.

Summary of Proposed Key Format Organizational Changes

 

• 11th and 12th Grades Boys and Mixed will play 9v9 instead of 11v11
• 11^th and 12^th Grades Girls only competition will be 7v7.
• 9^th and 10^th Grade Girls only competition will be 5v5.
• 9^th and 10^th Grade teams instead of one game against the same team will play two x 25 minute games against the same team or different opposition depending on issues with practical organisation.
•  11^th and 12^th Grades instead of one game against the same team will play two x 30 minute games against the same team or different opposition depending on practical organisation.
• Standardization of age appropriate field sizes

Competition

PAFC will still run a 9^th Grade in house competition and 10, 11 and 12^th grades will still be graded and taking part in AFF organised graded competition.

Teams & Coaches

There will be individual teams with individual Coachs and Managers who are responsible for the player’s development, organization of training  just as they are now.

PAFC will work to ensure more consistency of coaching delivery between coaches.

Coaching Philosophy

This age group is often described as being in the golden years for football learning.  Research has recognised that players in this age group are at their most receptive to learn technical skills.

The coaching focus in this age group is on learning and building individual technical excellence to prepare the players to step up to Youth football and the 11v11 game. 

Basic positions within team structures and tactical understandings are introduced as part of this preparation.   There is competition provided in leagues but the emphasis must still be on learning and fun. 

The recommended number of player hours both game day and training is three to four hours per week over a 25 week season. 

The development and maintenance of  player confidence is a vital ingredient to retain players and improve performance.

Training Focus

Training should consist of 10% General movement, 10% Football Co-ordination (Ball control with all parts of the body) 40% Football Technique, 40% SSG (Small side games).  Speed and agility are the key physical qualities to develop at every training session.  Players learn to play together with purpose but are not coached the specifics of positional play.

Game Day

9^th Grade

PAFC In house Competition.  

Format:  7 v 7.

Field size: A minimum of 45 x 30 and a maximum of 55 x 35. 

Goal size:  4 x 2 metres. 

Ball Size: 3

Time: 2x 25 games of 25 minutes each, either against the same team or different opposition.   

10^th Grade

AFF graded competition.  

Format:  7v7.  Unless Girls only competition then 5v5.

Field size:  A minimum of 45 x 30 and a maximum of 55 x 35. 

Goal size: A minimum 4 x 2 metres and a maximum of 5x 2 metres. 

Ball Size: 4 

Time: 2 x 30 minute game against the same team or different opposition depending on issues with practical organisation. 

11^th Grade and 12^th Grade

AFF graded competition:

Format:  9 v 9, Unless Girls only competition then Girls 7 v 7.  

Field size: Minimum of 60 x 45 and a maximum of 70 x 50.

Goal size: Minimum 4 x 2 and a maximum 5 x 2

Ball size: 4. 

Time:  2 x 30 minute game against the same team or different opposition depending on issues with practical organisation. 

Observation

The purpose of 9v9 is to allow a stepped transition towards the complexity of 11v11 rather than the present progression straight from 7v7. This will allow players to physically and mentally adjust and develop while ensuring the continuance to more touches, more decision making, more time on the ball.

The adoption of appropriate field sizes will ensure games are played to a better standard without the holes in mid field that appear when young players are placed on long fields, and correspondingly will reduce the automatic recourse to long ball football and promote short passing.  It will mitigate against dominance achieved through physicality of size, speed and strength and allow football skill to neutralise the competitive advantage physically mature players have on large fields. 

The purpose of the change in girl’s only football of playing 5v5 and 7v7 for longer than boys is to accelerate the technical development of female players and recognises the differences in maturation in this age group between boys and girls.   

The purpose of the change in to two games is to reduce the negative effect of high scoring lopsided games has on the losing team players and allow the opportunity to change the game dynamics by giving players a fresh start.  

The emphasis in training should be on possession football specifically passing, moving, receiving and using turns to progress forward momentum.  

Set play training (restart plays ) is an inefficient use of training time as players in these age groups are generally not technically capable of the repetitive accuracy that is a requisite for successful set play development.

There is an opportunity to develope grid training under which coach’s work together to train teams in groups rather than independently of each other on at least one night of the week.  

Future

PAFC will be hold briefing programmes on Mini football. In particular on coaching delivery in these age groups to ensure it is consistent with the National Player Development Frame Work. The PAFC Coaching manuals will be amended to reflect the objectives of the National Development framework.

Any immediate concerns should be emailed to idavidson@xtra.co.nz.

 

Ian Davidson

 

Download: National Development Framework PDF (4 MB)