Guardiola Approach 22 (Ebook)

DEVELOPING
A GUARDIOLA
APPROACH
Prepared exclusively for ergiborshi@icloud.com Transaction: TFC12936

DEVELOPING
A GUARDIOLA
APPROACH
THEFOOTBALLCOACH
An insight in to the attacking tactics of one of

the most famous and successful coaches in
world football. This book will help coaches
deliver the attacking dominance they need to
be successful in coaching.

Copyright © 2020 TheFootballCoach.Net
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

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permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention:
Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.
ISBN: 978-1-291-24742-8
Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are

used fictitiously. Names, characters, and places are products of the
author’s imagination.
Front cover image by TheFootballCoach.
Book design by TheFootballCoach.
Printed by FootballCoaching, Ltd., in the United Kingdom.
First printing edition 2021.
London,
United Kingdom
www.Thefootballcoach.net

BOOK BACKGROUND

This book looks to take you through a six-week program on how to
develop attacking play within a team. How to develop the tactical needs,
technical needs, as well as those physical and psychological
requirements. The book has been based on the work of Pep Guardiola
and built-in a style that suits some of his coaching structures. The book
has, of course, been made realistic and deliverable to coaches of all
experiences.
The book will focus on providing you with a structured six-week program
that can be delivered to any group of players. During the program, we
have built this to suit a pre-season training plan, but this can be adapted
to suit any microcycle at any point of the season.
We will also look to share with you some of the sessions known by Pep
Guardiola, why he delivers them and how you can deliver them with your
players. These sessions are of-course fantastic opportunities to learn for
both players and coaches. The detail included Is substantial and speci c.
This means individuals will be able to perform with con dence within a
unit to deliver a Guardiola approach to attacking play.
We have also included sessions based on the principles of Guardiola's
work. Creating and adapting coaching sessions is one of the essential
traits of a coach, and we have tried to do this to provide you with even
more detail and opportunity.
We hope you enjoy reading and learning from this book as much as we
have enjoyed putting it together. As always, if you have any further
questions or queries about the work, the philosophy, or the detail, please
feel free to contact us.
TheFoootballCoach

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INTRODUCTION

Developing a Guardiola approach
WHO IS PEP GUARDIOLA?
Josep “Pep” Guardiola Sala, otherwise known as ‘Pep Guardiola’ was born
in Santpedor in Spain in 1971. The Catalonian has become a world-
famous manager for his success with Barcelona, Bayern and Manchester
City. However, his history within football runs much deeper.
Pep was a young footballer in Santpedor, Barcelona playing local football
before he was asked to join the world-famous academy ‘La Masia’ at age
13. Pep continued his youth journey through Barcelona’s academy teams
and eventually B team over a six-year period before making his debut in
Cádiz in 1990.
Pep played as a defensive mid eld player for most of his career, but
this was not always the way. He had often played on the right-hand side of
mid eld within a 1-4-4-2 before his role-model Johan Cruyff spotted him in
a youth team game. It is said that Guardiola was playing on the right-hand
side in a youth team game one day when Cruyff noticed him from the side
at the Mini Estadi. Cruyff asked the youth team manager whom the young
man was before, insisting he is moved to the pivot position of mid eld.
This position was considered dif cult for a young player, but as
expected, Guardiola ourished in this position. Over the next couple of
seasons, Guardiola would take advantage of the suspension of Amor to
take playing time in the pivot position within the 1991-92 season. The
twenty-year-old became a pivotal part of the side that went on to win La
Liga and The European Cup that same year.
During Guardiola’s playing career, he was inspired and fortunate to
play for some of the most in uential characters in every play or manage
the game. Pep played under Johan Cruyff during the “Dream Team” era
before winning cups under English legend Sir Bobby Robson. Guardiola
was named Barcelona captain under Louis Van Gaal but suffered injury
over a signi cant period.
During his time, Guardiola also played with some of the most
successful players in world football. This included players such as Luîs
Figo, Luis Enrique, Ronald Koeman, Micheal Laudrup, Rivaldo, Phillip
Cocu, Ronaldo, Xavi, Puyol and Cruyff these individuals and experiences,
no doubt had an effect on a young Guardiola as he transition from his
decorated footballing career where he had won a Champions League, and
six league titles, to his managerial career.

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Following his departure as a player from Barcelona, he return upon his

retirement where he took charge of Barcelona B in 2007 with Tito Vilanova
as his assistant. With their partnership taking an instant progressive turn,
Barcelona B went on to win their division group and quali ed for the B
team playoffs, they went on to win this before achieving promotion.  
Very quickly following this success, Barcelona announced that Pep
Guardiola would be taking over from Rijkaard at the end of the 2008
season, seemingly after Barcelona failed to attain their main managerial
target. From the offset Guardiola showed he was capable of making drastic
and distinct changes to playing squads. He was willing to move on from
club legends in his rst season, this quite strong stance of club legends
divided the Barcelona public. But Guardiola stood by his decision and
invested in youth.  
During the 08/09 season Guardiola found his con dence in youth
rewarded, his side performed to an incredible stared winning La Liga back
from Real Madrid but also winning the Copa del Rey and The UEFA
Champions League in an unprecedented treble. With Tito as his assistant
they had seemingly won everything within the rst season, his side were
able to core over 100 league goals, and lose just ve games int he
domestic season. The season included a 20 game unbeaten run in all
competitions. With Deco, Ronaldinho, Dos santos and Zambrotta sold
Guardiola’s start in management seemed almost genius.  
In his next season Guardiola continued to experience success and
plaudits for the style of football his team played both in and out of
possession. The 09/10 season saw Barcelona win La Liga again, The
Super Cup, The World Club Cup and the Supercopa. His side
unfortunately knocked out by Ac Milan in the semi- nals. Guardiola’s
dominance on European football continued as his side passed their way to
more success in 10/11 as they retained La Liga and were able to win the
Champions League back, the second time in three years. This historic win
at Wembley Stadium is often considered the most dominant and beautiful
side to ever dominate European football. It has been described by some
players and coaches as the greatest football team on earth, ever. The next
season seemed to be business as usual for Barcelona before dif cult
moments hit in the league with Real Madrid storming to 100 points in La
Liga.

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However, the trophies did keep owing for Guardiola his side won both
domestic trophies in Spain, as well as the Superclub and club world cup for
the second time. In 2012 this Barcelona legacy did however come to an
end with Guardiola deciding to call time on his experience with Barcelona.
The legacy’s most staggering statistic is that during the four seasons of
Guardiola, Barcelona was able to win 13 of the 17 competitions they
entered.  
Following a short sabbatical, Pep became the manager of German
side Bayern Munich. In true Guardiola fashion, it is said that during his
sabbatical in New York City, Guardiola spent ve hours a day learning
German before making his move to the record German champions. During
his rst season, Guardiola was able to continue his footballing legacy,
revolutionising the role of the full-back in his team and more importantly
winning the UEFA super cup and Club World Cup for a record-breaking
time. During his three seasons, he showed absolute dominance in
domestic football, winning the league title three times, as well as the
German Cup twice. His three years did however end without Champions
League success and Guardiola found himself moving again. 
Guardiola found himself with the huge task of trying to dominate
English football with the same methodology and approach that had served
him so well in Europe. However, his rst season with Manchester City
provided challenges with Guardiola nishing third losing six games along
the way. As the English media criticised the approach as ‘Stubborn’, he
was able to bounce back in the only way Pep knows. His side went on to
win the league in the following season, winning 32 of their 38 games. Only
losing two games the entire season, scoring 106 goals in a season where
they went on to get an unprecedented century of points in the Premier
League. This 100-point season shocked English football and showed the
beautiful way Guardiola’s teams are able to dominate. Guardiola’s
attacking play both with and without the ball excited a new generation of
football fans in England and started to increase the scope on his club side
Manchester City. With a goal difference of over +421 with Guardiola as
manager you can see why fans have enjoyed his time so far.

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However, one league title was not enough and next season, Manchester
City were able to retain the Premier League an achievement that has not
been done by many sides in the last two decades (other than Manchester
United). The League dominance was not the only trophy that Manchester
City had, there success in the English League Cup was also record
breaking with three back to back to back wins in the competition and a
place in the nal to be played later in the 2021 season. 
Manchester City and Pep Guardiola have also found themselves at
the heart of one of the most entertaining and fantastic rivalries in European
Football. With Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp. After back-to-back Premier
League titles, there crown was snatched by a fantastic Liverpool team in
2020, but like Guardiola has done through out his career his team were
able to bounce back and win the title back in 2021.  
This means that in total, his Manchester City sides have won 3
Premier League Titles, 1 FA Cup, 2 Community Shields and 3 League
Cups. This dynasty at Manchester City has not only been successful within
competitions but also played some of the most attractive and appreciated
football in Europe. Guardiola’s dominance domestically can only be
bettered if he is able to achieve the MultiMate goal of the UEFA Champions
League with Manchester City.

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PRE-SEASON

PLANNING
The word microcycle refers to a small period of training, in football, this is

commonly known as a ‘six-week’ working period. During this book, we are
going to look speci cally at a six-week pre-season training period. The rst
microcycle of the season usually takes place within the pre-season period
and offers some unique challenges and opportunities. It is often where
physical performance is at its lowest, but fatigue is also at its lowest, this is
both physical and psychological fatigue.  
This means that although there are challenges to pre-season, such
as a low training age for players and the risk of injury, players are fresher
and more malleable to new training and playing methodologies. This brings
us as a coach a huge opportunity to stamp down a new playing
methodology during the pre-season period. This gives you the opportunity
to work through some of the Guardiola principles mentioned, in order to
bring the playing philosophy you want your players to achieve.  
Pre-season has, however, always offered us the opportunity to work
the players physically. Players report being put through ‘hell’ to achieve
physical performance and tness during this period. It is often talked about
as the hardest period of the season. However, Guardiola as well as other
coaches such as Mourinho have changed this tradition. It is this approach
that has changed the way in which pre-season is seen. It is now not just a
blast, but a period
Traditional Horizontal
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75
50
25
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September November Janurary March May

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PERIODISATION
That prepares players for the season, but the beginning of a season-long
attempt to still be at peak performance at the end of the year. Think of it
this way, teams with traditional periodisation models work relentlessly in
pre-season and then drop their levels as the season goes on, this might
see them have an advantage at the start of the year, but their performance
will naturally drop as they fatigue. On the opposite the more consistent,
horizontal approach sees players receive a more consistent level of
training, with integrated recovery into the working week, continuing their
levels of performance through to the end of the season.  
This is shown in the diagram above (of course in a simple format)
how the team applying a horizontal periodisation model might actually have
a performance advantage at the end of the year. The time of year when
trophies are won. There are some popular models of horizontal
periodisation out there that can be used to train players across a six-week
program during pre-season, any of these will work.
The most used is probably Tactical Periodisation. This model was rst
known for its use by Jose Mourinho at Porto and it had a devastating effect
on European football. Guardiola has used a model that is fundamentally
very similar called Microciclo-Estructurado. We will look to try and compare
both models for you and try to explain the difference between them. 
Both models are fundamentally the same in their core beliefs of
integrated recovery and horizontal planning, however, Guardiola’s model
provides a more individual approach to training, it focuses more on the
eco-system around the individual and not the collective.  
With periodisation a big talking point in football today, it is important
to understand why periodisation is important. Physical performance has
become a major part in today’s game. Not just a player’s strength or power
but their ability to perform physically time and time again with quicker
recovery than the player around them.
Fitness in football is an extremely important area of performance, it is the
area of performance that allows the technical and tactical areas of
performance that come to life. The Physical area of performance is not
just responsible for the development of key attributes such as strength,
speed, balance and aerobic performance, but responsible for the recovery
and prevention of injury and also attributed to creating balance in positive
mental well-being.

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When developing any football-related training program, it is important to

ensure that the physical outcomes for players can be achieved, and
important to understand how these can be achieved. However, before we
look at what physical components a good training program should have, it
is very important to understand what physical components a top player
must have, as this will be the building blocks for our program.
We know from Premier League data players cover up to 450KM in the

running distance in just the Premier League alone, with some players
averaging over 13KM per game, this shows that our training programs
must build robust players, capable of dealing with the huge demands
constantly throughout the season. However, we all know football is not a
game where players run constantly at one pace, players are regularly
producing over 600 sprints for the season, combining this with some
players producing top speeds just short of 22 MPH!
So, from the above we are able to see that the physical requirements are
extremely vast, and provide a dif cult task when trying to produce all of
these components in one training program, however, Guardiola and other
Other coaches have often spoken of the work of Professor Vitor Frade and
his development of Tactical Periodisation, this process has been largely
used, and can provide a system that allows the development of many
different physical attributes in the same training program across a training
week, allowing the players to be freshest at the end of the training week
where games are played, and points are available.

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PRE-SEASON

TACTICAL PERIOIDISATION
Tactical Periodisation is effectively a method of planning a training week

and a training session, it looks to abide by a set of principles and structures
to provide players with the most effective way to train all elements of the
game in one. Within tactical periodisation, we do not perform tasks that
only train one element of the game. For example, we do not just work on
sprinting on a Monday to make the players faster, we built sprinting into a
session with the ball, with a tactical element such as running in behind, on
a training day that suits that kind of muscular contraction.  
 
Tactical Periodisation is a methodology which was developed in the mid
1980’s by Professor Vitor Frade, his study of training methodologies
occurred at Porto University in Portugal. It did however take some time for
Frade’s work to come into the global football domain. It rst became
famous some twenty years later during the early success of one of his
disciples, Jose Mourinho, who at the time was leading FC Porto to
unprecedented success winning the Champions League, Europes premier
competition. Whilst Mourinho’s success continued throughout Europe, with
Chelsea in England, other clubs looked to learn from Mourinho’s success
and take risks with other preachers of Tactical Periodisation such as André
Villas-Boas.
The methodology now sits comfortably at the top as football’s most popular
model of periodisation. It is now used throughout Europe’s major leagues,
with coaches such as Brendan Rodgers, Nuno Espirito Santos, Marco
Silva and even coaches such as Pep Ljinders have spoken of their belief in
similar methodologies.
Before we look into tactical periodisation in more detail, it is important that
we understand that this is an adaptable model that can work for any coach
in any situation, it has the ability to be adjusted and manipulated to suit the
demands of the situation. Even within the grassroots game, tactical
Periodisation can offer some level of structure to the way we train.
Tactical Periodisation is a modern holistic approach to a training

methodology. It encompasses many different sciences and multi-disciplines
that occur within a football club. Such as physiology, psychology, tactical
delivery, neuroscience and the theory of complexity to create a streamlined
and comprehensive football methodology.

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The fundamental difference between standard periodisation and that of

tactical periodisation must always be understood when trying to implement
this into your training. Tactical Periodisation is a model that periodises
training based around the delivery of tactical information. Standard
periodisation is based around a physical model, this is an important
difference between the two that must always be understood. Tactical
Periodisation is a modern holistic approach to a training methodology. It
encompasses many different sciences and multi-disciplines that occur
within a football club. Such as physiology, psychology, tactical delivery,
neuroscience and the theory of complexity to create a stream lined and
comprehensive football methodology.
The fundamental difference between standard periodisation and that of
tactical periodisation must always be understood when trying to implement
this into your training. Tactical Periodisation is a model that periodises
training based around the delivery of tactical information. Standard
periodisation is based around a physical model, this is an important
difference between the two that must always be understood.  
Now, the diagram below does bring an element of confusion and
complexity to Tactical Periodisation the use of Systems Theory, Theory of
Complexity, Physiology, Psychology, Chaos Theory, Fractal Geometry,
Sociology and Neuroscience, instantly puts coaches off. However the
beauty of Tactical Periodisation is how simply these theories can be
elegantly combined to create simplicity for a coach and player.
As the title suggests, the core to tactical periodisation is the tactical
dimension that exists with the game, the other physical and psychological
factors exist within the tactical frame work. In this methodology, no element
is ever looked at in isolation, so a training session is never a ‘tactical’ or
‘physical’ session. A training session always trains every element of the
training model, they just have structure to expose them all.
Not only does the traditional periodisation prioritise the preparation of
players from a physical stand point, it also looks at the game in isolated
segments. For example traditional periodisation, will prepare players
physically with the use of isolated tness practices, and then offer the
opportunity to the coach to work at technical and tactical aspects in
isolation. Within this idea the sport science department are responsible for
the physical preparation, and the coaches work within that framework to
deliver the technical and tactical.

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Systems
Theory
Theory of
Neuroscience
Complexity
Tactical
Sociology Periodisation Physiology
Fractal
Psychology
Geometry
Chaos Theory
Tactical Periodisation is a modern holistic approach to a training

methodology. It encompasses many different sciences and multi-disciplines
that occur within a football club. Such as physiology, psychology, tactical
delivery, neuroscience and the theory of complexity to create a streamlined
and comprehensive football methodology.
As the title suggests, the core of tactical periodisation is the tactical

dimension that exists within the game, and the other physical and
psychological factors exist within the tactical framework. In this
methodology, no element is ever looked at in isolation, so a training
session is never a ‘tactical’ or ‘physical’ session. A training session always
trains every element of the training model, they just have structure to
expose them all.
Physical
Technical Psychological
Tactical

Tactical Periodisation differs from the above approach, as none of the four
moments above can ever be trained in isolation, they are part of the
players natural eco system, and every trained moment in uences the
other.
For example a coach cannot deliver a session on high speed
running, without context to the game, high speeds require lots of space,
which allows us to work tactically on running in behind the back four, this
technically challenges our players to run with the ball, which may in turn
challenge con dence when in possession, thus training all four of these
moments. This puts the delivery of all moments of the game back in to the
control of the coach.
It also believed that these four moments do not sit alongside each
other in isolation, that in fact the three moments (Technical, Physical and
Psychological) sit within the tactical ‘bubble’, and in order to train the
moments, you must open up a tactical element to provide realism and
challenge to the players.
Tactical
Psychological Physical
Technical

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Periodisation as mentioned traditionally looks at how the players are

‘loaded’ e.g. how is the physical load applied to a player throughout the
training week. However, tactical periodisation prioritises how a player is
exposed to the tactical principles of the methodology throughout the week.
Firstly a weekly plan is known as a ‘Morphocycle’ and this refers to a week
of training e.g. from game to game. The Morphocycle effectively represents
the weekly learning the coach wants to expose the player to. 
This starts to provide you with a little bit more of an understanding as
to what Tactical Periodisation looks like, it is known as a horizontal
periodisation model, as the stimuli changes daily across the week. Now we
understand how the tactical focus changes from day to day and how the
week is structured, it is important to understand how Tactical Periodisation
views the game, and Ever more importantly how Tactical Periodisation
breaks the game down and trains the individual moments. 
 
Game Complexity 
In order to understand what training must look like, we must have an

honest re ection on what the game is, as previously mentioned
understanding the complexity of the game is a key element of this. Tactical
Periodisation thoroughly restructures the way in which we think about the
game, by training all of the elements in one moment, we are able to keep
some of the chaos that occurs within the real game. When we train
moments in isolation we remove the chaos that is apparent within the real
game.
The traditional method of isolation also follows a training pattern (e.g.
tactical day, physical day) that does not exist within the real game. There is
no logical order to play, the game is random. This means we must be
prepared to train all elements at the same time. The game will always be
random because of the subjectivity that exists within it, two large teams of
22 players, of ciated by as many as ve match of cials in the professional
game allow for inconsistencies and randomness at every moment. In order
to accept and train for these variances, we must make training as complex
as the game, in order to provide a real challenge to our players. This
doesn’t however mean that every session should be a 11v11 game.

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Fractality  
Fractality is an important part of Tactical Periodisation, it is how the game

is broken down, and why it is broken down in this manor. Stripping the
game back to its chaotic and natural setup is key, but as previously
mentioned this doesn’t have to be a traditional 11v11, played out ve times
a week. The consequences of training 11v11 each day, would have
detrimental impacts to our players in every area of the game. 
 
Pitch Setup 
 
This means we must train in reduced sizes throughout the week. However,
just because a session exists within a smaller space or smaller number,
does not mean it needs to lose the chaos or complexity that is key within
the game. What we as coaches want to achieve is to take an element of
the game away from the game, and that element still look the same.
Imagine having an apple, the whole apple is the complete product, when
the apple is cut in two slices the
structure, taste, texture all remain
consistent, the only thing that changes
is the amount. This simple analogy is Whole
how our training must exist.
How we create this is with the use of
intelligent constraints on a coaching
practice, the limiting of space, the
correct numbers, the use of rules, the Part
use of timing, location and addition of

goals to create the more natural and (Fractal)
chaotic feeling within training. The
session design is also important when
breaking a session down. The game
creates highly complex decisions,
natural intensity and relevance to the
game model through out. Our micro
sessions will still require theses
moments through out.

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One of the most important factors within Tactical Periodisation is the

understanding of how the coach’s game model interacts with the training
matrix (Training Model, your methodological principles). In laymen’s terms,
how do your tactical beliefs interact with your training principles.  
The way we want to play can only be achieved by training

the way we want to play.  
The Game Model is a very personal set of beliefs, it is what you the head
coach want to achieve mixed with many other factors. When creating a
game model you must understand what your players are capable of, this
includes their ability from every aspect of performance, and whether the
players have the technical ability to achieve the tactical outcome. Do we
have clear principles in every moment of the game, must have clarity
around how we want our players to behave in all moments of the game,
because if we do not know what we want from them in a single moment,
how are they supposed to know?
The club’s aims will also play an important role in creating a game
model, the club will have a set of targets that it wants to achieve not just in
winning, but in delivering young players into the rst team, or achieving a
speci c amount of time in possession. This leads to another important
factor which will be the club’s tradition and culture. Some football clubs
such as FC Barcelona and Ajax have clear principles in the way they play
such as a 1-4-3-3 system or the desire to maintain possession of the ball
for long periods. When creating the game model these factors will play
signi cant importance.
The country that the model is created in will also be very important,
football culture changes throughout the world, and with this so does
expectation, people within South America may expect to see a more
chaotic and individual approach to playing, whilst Italian people may expect
to see a more rigid and defensively solid system. These are all key factors
as you create your model.

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Maybe the most forgotten factor is the ideas of the coach, whenever
delivering at any club, at any level, it is important to believe in what you’re
trying to achieve. In order to do this, you must fully believe in what you are
trying to achieve. The best way to do this is to make sure the game model
is built around your ideas. The conceptual matrix can have in uences from
many different organisations and factors, but it fundamentally must be
something that has your blueprint, your ideas and your belief.
GAME MODEL
PLAYER CLUBS NATIONAL

ABILITY BELIEFS CULTURE
COACHES GAME
PRINCIPLES
IDEAS MOMENTS
SUB STRUCTURAL
PEOPLE
PRINCIPLES ORGANISATION

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The game model however includes a far more tactical element as well, the
belief that the game can be broken down in to four moments, this is the
Offensive Organisation, Defensive Organisation, as well as both the
Offensive and Defensive Transition.
Every moment of the game exists within one of these four moments, the
game never leaves the cycle, it moves like energy, it never dies it just
moves from moment to moment. Every action within this model has a
tactical dimension (a decision), as well as a technical dimension (motor
skill) as well as a physical action (movement) and a psychological moment
(an emotion or behaviour)
It is fundamental to Tactical Periodisation that we understand what these
four moments are, that we as coaches are able to recognise when the
game is in speci c moments e.g. when does the game leave the attacking
transition and become in possession. Without this knowledge Tactical
Periodisation becomes awed.
Four Moments of The Game 

 
These are de ned as in possession, out of possession, offensive transition
and defensive transition. Each of them are important within this game
model, as in each session we will look to train a different moment.
OFFENSIVE
MOMENTS
DEFENSIVE OF THE OFFENSIVE
GAME
DEFENSIVE

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Principles of Play 
One of the most important aspects of Tactical Periodisation is recognising

the difference between Principles, Sub-Principles and Sub-Sub-Principles.
These three terminologies will make more sense as this continues but will
also break down our philosophy to create an almost layered philosophy,
with core factors and more speci c factors.
Main Principles
These main principles refer to a set of tactical match-play patterns that the
coach sees as paramount that the player adopts, these moments occur
within all four moments of the game, and act as the centre of the playing
philosophy. These principles are usually less exible and involve collective
units. Generally training of the main principles occur within larger-sided
practices, such as 9v9+ as the principles require nearly all of the units to
be in place.  
The main principles of a team are generally not in uenced by the
opponent, they are the core principles that should be recognisable
because of the consistency in their delivery. An example of this might be
during the offensive organisation, where a team look to build through the
thirds, by starting with the goalkeeper, this team will generally look to play
out from the back and play through the opponent’s line. Although they will
at times go longer, the principle is there to play out from the back, when
possible.  
If our team didn’t look to play out from the back and looked to play
forward as the rst thought, we would suggest this was not the main
principle but maybe a sub-principle, that was just being delivered in
response to the opponent’s set up.  
It is very important to create habits within professional football,
creating habits allows players to make more subconscious cognitive
decisions, and this can only happen by having consistency. Consistency is
delivered by the constant practising of the main principle. 
Effectively the main principle should try to provide some predictability, to a
highly unpredictable game. What we are trying to do throughout is provide
chaos for the opponent, whilst using our main principles to deliver
structure, whilst the opponent tries to create chaos

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Sub-Principles 
Sub principles represent a cross-unit principle or a principle that has more

exibility than a main-principle. The sub-principle does not usually
in uence all 11 players, but more an eco system within the team. Sub-
principles are commonly tactically exible that can occur in preparation for
a speci c opponent. This doesn’t mean the coach changes philosophy
between games, but simply can make adjustments dependent on the
opponent. 
For example if the opponent is playing with a 4-3-3- and presses
high against the defensive line creating a 4+GK v 3, the coach might
decide to play with one central mid eld player dropping in to the space to
create a 5v3 and assist the team in playing out from the back. This might
not be a wholesale change to the philosophy, but a very small tactical
adaptation to allow the main principle of ‘Playing Through The Thirds’ to be
achieved. 
Sub principles as you can see are generally smaller components of
a principle. They are signi cant in how they can effect the balance of the
game, but minor in how the player should train for them. Playing with two
holding mid eld players and one attacking mid eld player, or one holding
mid eld player and two attacking mid eld players in build up play, is
different, but it is not a change in principle.  
Playing formation should also very rarely become a principle, but in
fact a sub principle, this is because a formation is merely the shape in
which the team sets up, how the team plays within that formation is far
more important. This can be easily explained. If you are playing a team in a
1-4-3-3, that tells you little about them, how they behave within that shape
is more important, in possession they might drop a centre back in and push
full backs high. This would create a 1-3-4-3 formation. But then out of
possession they could well drop the wide players in two create a 1-4-5-1
formation.
Sub-Sub-Principles 
Sub-Sub-Principles usually link very well to individual training or training
within a very small group, such as working with two wider players, or two
central mid eld players. This is because the Sub-Sub-Principles represent

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much more unique and speci c information. This kind of information is

usually something that doesn’t need to be shared with the entire team, but
merely a speci c role within the team.
This doesn’t have to be speci c to position, it can be speci c to playing

against a speci c player, a psychological sharing of information in a 1v1
against an opponent, or a physical match up and a set-piece. It can also be
two players working together to develop a tactical plan to exploit the
opponent.
Speci city  
The next section will now look at what training looks like, how is that a
coach using Tactical Periodisation would deliver a training session on any
given day. There are some great principles for us as coaches that help
structure and deliver the sessions. At times the next part can be confusing,
so we will try to break them down in as much detail as possible to help
those who are being exposed to Tactical Periodisation for the very rst
time.
Speci city has often been described as the most important factor in
Tactical Periodisation. Professor Vitor Frade has spoken openly about how
this is the most important factor, referring to it as a supra-principle, which
translates to a principle that is beyond any other.  
The Principle of Speci city aims to connect the coaches game
model, the training matrix and the game together in one line. So for
example we should never train anything that does not relate to the game,
so we do not just train, for training sake. There has to be speci city to how
we are trying to perform. But it is slightly more complex than this, because
the excises must not just train the game, but also speci cally the game
model and training matrix. 
This means the coach must create a session that is speci c to the
game model, speci c to the opponent at the weekend and still hit all areas
of the training model e.g. must hit the physical element being trained, the
technical element and at least one of the four moments of the game.  
This can provide challenges for coaches as it starts to provide a
layered approach to session design that if often far more complex than
every delivered before, but this speci city can be very bene cial to player
development.

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In possession they might look to create a wide diamond to aid positional

play through the thirds, this would be a very important principle. However
they might achieve this by playing a mid eld three a mid eld four or ve at
the back, the formation plays a much less important role.
José Mourinho has also spoken openly about the importance of speci city
and what that means for him as a coach delivering in this way. He has
spoken about the difference between a high-speed run and a high-speed
run within tactical periodisation. A high speed run is where a player runs like
a sprinter with no decision, and no implication. When this is performed
within tactical periodisation it is given to the players within a functional
session, how the player will need to make cognitive decisions whilst
sprinting. He has also spoke about how he refers to this as the intensity of
concentration
Principles of Complex Progression  
Like any level development, or learning there has to be a level of progression for
learners. When implementing a game model, it is impossible and careless to
try and share everything with the players at one time. This information
overload can be counterproductive to player learning, player enjoyment and
player performance.
With this in mind it is important that we structure the implementation of our
game-model. The ‘Principles’ are the most important factors, and these must
be trained consistently as a priority within the rst ‘Microcycle’. A Microcycle
refers to a week of training from game day to game day.  
The second part that must be trained are the sub-principles, there will
inevitably be more sub-principles than principles, so these can be planned,
and training across the coming ‘Mescocyle’. A mesocycle is a section of a
season, it is commonly a six week period, but can change depending on the
calendar.  
For example, in English football, the Christmas period is often a very
complex and fatiguing period of the season, so it would make sense to
make this period of four weeks, its own ‘Mesocycle’, this would allow for
strategic planning and implementing of information as the week period
continued. Whilst it is important, to constantly be adding complexity to
training, with the addition of new principles and the constant challenge that
players experience. It is fundamental to remember that training should
always be complex, this is because the game is complex 

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There is never a session without complexity, the complexity just develops

over time to include more speci c complexity. The more complexity is more
speci c because it is more tting to the game model. 
Principles Of Complex Horizontal Alteration

One of the more commonly known factors of Tactical Periodisation is its
use of horizontal alteration. To coaches who brie y use a ‘loose form’ of
tactical periodisation, they believe that is just simply a way of training
different physical components each day in order to provide structure. This
is very wrong, the principle of complex alteration, is the structure that
allows the game model, training methodology and principle of complex
progression come together.
The principle of complex alteration, is the principle that provides
structure to the training week, it allows for distribution of the playing
principles to be trained whilst exposing players to the correct technical,
tactical and physical requirements.
It insures that within any moment, the brain and the game are never
being trained separately, it ensures that physical work is combined with
mental work, providing that realism and intensity we’ve spoken about
through out every chapter. Connecting the mind and body is a key
component of tactical periodisation, planning the week to take in to account
the relationship between effort (the physical stimuli) and the delivery of
principles (methodology) as well as the principles of recovery are key
components.  
When looking at performance from a physical point of view,
exercises can be broken down in to three categories according to Vitor
Frade, dependent on there physical make up. It is suggested that these
three categories are what players need to be exposed to during the week,
and what practice design must incorporate in order to use complex
alteration effectively. These are For the Sub-Sub-Principles they are often
changing on a weekly basis, so these can be strategically implemented
within the program on a weekly basis, it is possible to plan these long in
advance, as it is possible to know the xtures in advance. For example if
you are planning a ‘Macrocycle’ a season long plan, and you know you are
playing a team who play 1-4-4-2 and play direct in to the nine, it is probably
possible to look at this and plan the delivery on sub-sub-principles at this
point.

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Tension (Strength) - the ability to work back and forwards at a high

intensity, whilst being exposed to lots of changes in direction, this will
constantly expose the muscles to ghting during the accretions and
decelerations  
Duration (Endurance) - This is where players work for larger periods of

time, training their ability to perform for longer periods of time, the space is
often much more realistic to the game and will see players exposed to high
end speeds, usually up to 80% and above.
Velocity (Speed) - This is where players are exposing the muscle to high
capacity exercise, this will be a contraction of the muscle that is explosive.
Players will reach maximal speed during these exercises.
TENSION
DURATION
GAME GAME
VELOCITY
The above graph shows how each of the three physical components
changes throughout the training week, how we as the practice designer
can stimulate the muscle differently by intelligently design practice in a
slightly different way.
In order to take this in to account we do not need a group of sport
scientists and a £1000 wort of GPS. We can simply do this by changing the
space the players train in, change the numbers in the practice, as well as
the time the players train for. 

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Training Week
Sunday (MD+1)
Like most models of periodisation, this is a day off. This not only allows for
physical recovery in the 24 hours after a game, but this also allows for the
psychological recovery needed after the stress provided by a game, due to
the unique demands a match day produces.
It is important that within these 24 hours, players aren’t provided with
game footage, and asked to make an attempt at analysis. This is because,
within Tactical Periodisation, the mind and body are never separate, we
can’t ask the body to recover if the mind isn’t allowed to recover. We must
accept wholeheartedly that recovery is a process of physical and mental
effort.
Monday (MD+2)
Like Sunday, we are still working with a + session, as recovery is still the
main aim of the game within 48 hours of playing in a game. The aim of this
session is to aid the body and mind’s recovery as we look to move towards
an acquisition day on Tuesday.
It is very important that this session is a low stimulus for both mind and
body, when looking to train principles or sub-principles, we must remember
that these must be game model based, or based on the last opponent. We
are not ready to move on to the next game as the players are still in the
process of recovering from the previous game, and in these situations
won’t bene t from taking new information in.
Some coaches will look to train a ‘principle’ a core element of their game
model that might be non-speci c to the previous game, but speci c to their
model. Other coaches will look to work hard at a sub-principle, something
that relates speci cally to the previous game that they feel needs to be
trained to support the development of the wider group. At this point,
speci c player information overload can be damaging as players are still
recovering mentally from the challenges they experienced.

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Tuesday (MD-4)
Notice within the Tuesday session that the focus has now moved from a
plus session to a minus session, this is meant for players, but it is the
moment that we as coaches change our focus to the next game. This is
also the rst day in the new Morphocycle, where we begin to look to
challenge the players with a stimulus, the rst acquisition day.
This acquisition day is both for mind and body, and physically this training
day is a strength day. During these sessions, we are looking for players to
change direction multiple times at a high intensity within a smaller space
than normal. This will limit their exposure to high-speed running but will
make sure that they are constantly accelerating and decelerating, building
the strength and resistance within the muscles. Players will also be
challenged to jump and shoot during these sessions, as this will resemble
the strength element of muscle contraction.
Within these training sessions, coaches are delivering in much smaller
spaces, with much smaller groups of players. This then means we are
focusing on coaching the sub-principles of our game model, as well as the
sub-sub principles. This is the rst time where we are changing player
focus from the previous opponent to a new opponent, as the sub-sub-
principles will contain information speci c to the next opponent.
That they feel needs to be trained to support the development of the wider
group. At this point, speci c player information overload can be damaging
as players are still recovering mentally from the challenges they
experienced.
Wednesday (MD-3)
Within the session of MD-3 we are focusing on training the core principles
of our game model. This is the training day where speci city and
complexity are at their peak during training. The session also includes their
largest numbers, with sessions taking place in much larger spaces, with
numbers that are more similar to those of a game day (11v11 or 11v9 etc.).
This is also the largest stimulus on the psychological part of the game, with
players taking in more information around the game model and opponent
than any other day, which is why in the tables, the MD-3 shows the largest
cognitive loading.

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The larger spaces will naturally force players to reach high speeds, and the
longer periods of work will ensure that the players are repeatedly
challenged to cover distance at high speed, exposing them to the speci c
endurance we are looking for in a footballer. This speci c endurance is not
a one-dimensional speed endurance like long-distance running, but the
ability to work hard at high speeds, multiple times during a large period of
time.
Thursday (MD-2)
This is the nal acquisition day before the upcoming game, during this
session the focus will be speed, and players are challenged not just to
accelerate and reach high speeds, but make decisions and think at high
speed. This is challenging those players to think quickly and act quickly.
The emphasis on speed will force the coach to create a task where players
are explosive physically in their reaction, and are given the opportunity to
compete in tasks where quick thinking and quick moving are rewarded. It is
however very important that the coach limits how much work players
compete in during these sessions, the intensity is high which means the
total work must be low. This is because it is impossible for players to
perform at an explosive intensity for large periods before we lose the
quality. Mourinho has spoken extensively about the need to limit change of
direction in these sessions and has limited SSG action to limit the
decelerations.
Friday (MD-1)
Within the Morphocycle this session creates the biggest risk to our training
week, this is because if performed incorrectly it can compromise the entire
training week, if the recovery of the players is not respected, both mentally
and physically. It is important that this session focuses on the mental and
physical recovery of players as well as ensuring they are adequately
prepared for the upcoming game, as this is the nal opportunity.
However, at this point, it is too late to share vast amounts of new
information, this is because cognitive recovery is important, overloading
individuals with vast amounts of new information will be counterproductive
to this.

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In time be more damaging to performance. It is important that this day

does not become a day where we chase physical and tactical losses
created earlier in the week, through poor planning. This means if the
training week has been poorly planned, the process has been lost, it can
not simply be xed by over-training and over-preparing in the nal session.
The session itself in MD-1 looks like larger spaces, and larger numbers,
however, the duration and intensity of the session are much lower, almost
like a walk-through for players at times. The decisions players make must
be quick decisions, to the point of activation. Without the high-intensity
running that a normal large-sided session might have. Small boxes or
rondos can be an effective way to train activation as it limits the total
distance but still provides a physical and cognitive load on the players.
Saturday (Match Day)  
This is the centrepiece of everything we are trying to achieve. The 6
previous days have been structured into the morphocycle to allow us to
have the greatest opportunity for success at this moment. The game is
naturally a huge in uence on the previous, and upcoming training week. It
also provides the biggest workload from a cognitive and physical position
for players. They will not experience this high a workload for this long a
period in any other training moment.
It is important that even we as coaches prepare ourselves around this
moment, and ensure that we, as well as the players, are prepared just as
well to perform at this moment, as this is the outcome moment for the
training week. Below is an example of the previously discussed
morphocycle, when a training week is very standard (game every 7 days).
It is important that this session focuses on the mental and physical
recovery of players as well as ensuring they are adequately prepared for
the upcoming game, as this is the nal opportunity.
 
However, at this point, it is too late to share vast amounts of new
information, this is because cognitive recovery is important, overloading
individuals with vast amounts of new information will be counterproductive
to this, and in time be more damaging to performance.

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It is important that this day does not become a day where we chase
physical and tactical losses created earlier in the week, through poor
planning. This means if the training week has been poorly planned, the
process has been lost, it can not simply be xed by over-training and over-
preparing in the nal session.
The session itself in MD-1 looks like larger spaces, and larger numbers,
however, the duration and intensity of the session are much lower, almost
like a walk-through for players at times. The decisions players make must
be quick decisions, to the point of activation. Without the high-intensity
running that a normal large-sided session might have. Small boxes or
rondos can be an effective way to train activation as it limits the total
distance but still provides a physical and cognitive load on the players.
Saturday (Match Day)  
This is the centrepiece of everything we are trying to achieve. The 6
previous days have been structured into the morphocycle to allow us to
have the greatest opportunity for success at this moment. The game is
naturally a huge in uence on the previous, and upcoming training week. It
also provides the biggest workload from a cognitive and physical position
for players. They will not experience this high a workload for this long a
period in any other training moment.
It is important that even we as coaches prepare ourselves around this
moment, and ensure that we, as well as the players, are prepared just as
well to perform at this moment, as this is the outcome moment for the
training week. Below is an example of the previously discussed
morphocycle, when a training week is very standard (game every 7 days).
Below is an example of the previously discussed morphocycle, when a

training week is very standard (game every 7 days). We do however know
that the modern day game can be very demanding in terms of games per
week. Providing exibility within this morphocycle will be very important .

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Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

MD+2 MD-4 MD-3 MD-2 MD-1 MD MD+1
Active Recovery
Function Acquisition Acquisition Acquisition Recovery Match
Recovery (Day Off)
Sub- Sub-Sub
Principles Principles
Training Principles Principles Sub-
Sub- Sub- Game Model N/A
Principle Sub-Sub Sub- Principles
Cross-Unit Cross-Unit Cross-Unit

Training Collective Collective
Inter Single Unit Inter Collective N/A
Units Training Training
Sectional Group Sectional
Social And
Emotional Low Medium High Medium Low Very High Very Low
Load
Muscle Specific Specific

Recovery Strength Activation All N/A
Contraction Endurance Speed
Small-
Pitch Size Medium Small Large Medium Full Size N/A
Medium
Interval Short -
Short Short Long Medium Very Long N/A
Timings Medium
Number Of Medium Low High Low- Medium-

Maximun N/A
Players 7-9 Per Side 2-7 Per Side 9-11 Per Side Medium High
 
 
 

 
 

 
We do, however, know that the modern-day game can be very demanding
in terms of games per week. Providing exibility within this morphocycle
will be very important.  
The second table shows how a training week will be adapted to allow for
two games in one week. We have removed two of the acquisition days,
both strength and endurance, as these will be more exposed during
games. These are also the most physically taxing sessions. Within this
training week we will see the removal of the day o , and the addition of
active recovery twice
Monday Monday Thursday Friday Sunday

MD-1 MD+1 MD-2 MD-1 MD+1
Active
Function Recovery Acquisition Recovery Active Recovery
Recovery
Sub-Sub
Training Sub- Principles Principles Sub- Principles
Principle Principles Sub-Principles Sub- Principles Sub-Principles
Principles
Cross-Unit
Training Collective Cross-Unit Collective Cross-Unit
Inter
Units Training Inter Sectional Training Inter Sectional
Sectional
Social And Game Game

Emotional Low Day Low Medium Low Day Low
Load
Muscle
Specific
Contractio Activation Recovery Activation Recovery
Speed
n
Small-
Pitch Size Medium Medium Medium Medium
Medium
Interval Short - Short -
Short Medium Short
Timings Medium Medium
Number Of Medium Low- Medium- Medium

Medium- High
Players 7-9 Per Side Medium High 7-9 Per Side

 

 
 
 
 

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PRE-SEASON

MICROCICLO-ESTRUCTURADO
Having made your way through the rst section of this book, you should
now be familiar with the aims of periodisation, as well as the way in which
Tactical Periodisation is delivered. Although Tactical Periodisation is by far
the most popular model of periodisation, it is important to recognise that it
is not the only model of periodisation.
Microciclo-Estructurado is a very unknown model of periodisation within
the English-speaking world, in fact, if you google it in an English search
engine, you might not nd one accurate result. This well-kept secret is in
fact a Spanish model, that has been used with FC Barcelona for the last 10
years. It simply translates to micro-cycle structure. Simply meaning
structured short cycles.
However, this unknown model of periodisation is used by one of the
most famous coaches and clubs in the world. Designed by Professor Paco
Seirul lo or simply ‘Paco’. He is the man who is famous for being known as
the ‘professor’ by Pep Guardiola. The 65-year-old scientist has been at FC
Barcelona since 1994, and has played his role in the creation of the
‘Barcelona Way’.
Since 1994, Barcelona has been moulded by the Catalan, Paco’s
early work ‘Dynamic Systems and Performance in Team Sports’ helped
change the club’s views on training and helped Barcelona move towards a
model where body and mind are trained in tandem. He also helped change
the mindset of players such as Pep Guardiola, who brought into the idea of
training a physical component of the body, at the same time that tactical
and technical demands were applied.
It is this in uence on Pep Guardiola as a player, that led to his decision as
a manager to use the Microciclo-Estructurado model of Periodisation.
Other coaches such as Mikel Arteta have also continued to use the model
since their experience of working with Pep Guardiola.
The model itself does share some very similar traits with the model
of Tactical Periodisation, however, unlike the above model, Microciclo-
Estructurado focuses on the individual instead of the team.  
The model has been built with multiple sports in mind, to match the
environment that exists at FC Barcelona with handball, basketball and
other sports. His continued work found that in order to optimise individual
performance, you must have the individual at the heart of the model.

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With this taken into account, the process focuses on the individual and the
sport itself is seen as a paradigm from the normal. It is proposed that from
the analysis of the individual, an individual is made up of different
structures. All of the different complexity, but these structures are all
necessary to understand the person in the physical, coordinative and
psychosocial structures.
This clearly outlines the difference between standard periodisation
and Microciclo estructurado as the player is being considered in their
environment, with all of the structures and their importance. Compared to
older paradigms which focus purely on the physical and coordinative
structures. For this reason, these structures have been more successful in
sports such as sprinting and long-distance running, where randomness
does not exist.
This model does look to go further into the individual, believing that
the emotional factor and the interaction of all structures at the same time
develop the player in a more holistic environment and approach.
Understanding the social element will increase our understanding of how
the player interacts in a more personal way with the sport-speci c
environment
The need to train all these moments at the same time is similar to
that of Tactical Periodisation, however where it differs are the moments that
must be trained at the same time. It was proposed by Professor Seirul lo
that six moments must be trained at the same time these are Conditional
Structures, Coordinating structures, Mental-Cognitive Structures, Socio-
affective Structures, Emotional-willpower structures and Creative-
expressive Structures.
 

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Within the structured microcycle there is a sum of structures that are

consistent; 
Conditional structure: these are the aspects that have to do with speed,
strength, endurance, exibility and relaxation. 
Socio-affective structure: they are inter-personal-group relationships.

Co-ordinating structure: it is the ability to control movement. 
Cognitive structure: the treatment of information by the player is

considered.
Creative-expressive structure: it is the structure that consists of trying to
get the originality of the player and all his knowledge. 
Emotional-evolutionary structure: the aspect that deals with the

identi cation of the player, with bringing out his emotions.
Coordinating
Conditional Structure Mental-Cognitive
Structure Structure
The Individual
Socio- Affective Creative

Structure Emotional Will Expressive
Structure

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As previously discussed these structures must relate to each other when

situations and training moments occur, these elements will be present, at
times some stronger than the other. But it is their relationship with each
other during those training moments that will allow a person to grow
through the individual’s self-discovery of themselves at the moment.
In order to keep this simple, we will now try and compare this to Tactical
Periodisation, a more well-known model of preparing athletes and players.
Now we can see how the individual is important within this model, we have
spent a signi cant time discussing the individual and this is very important
as we now know what stimuli are applied to our player, what we want to
know now is how does this in uence our practice?
Well like Tactical Periodisation, it is accepted that you must always
have a targeted stimulus within the practice (in tactical periodisation we
called this a principle or sub principle) with this model we have the
‘Preferential Simulation Situations’, this is where the coach has structured
a session towards one of the six structures but not exclusively worked on
it.
At this point, we must recognise how important the coach’s delivery
is, the coach is no longer the one who marks behaviour and instructs ways
of thinking, but nurtures self-discovery for players and provides an
environment where they nd their own answers to the questions and
problems they have.  
 
The following page should provide some clarity on what it means to train all
six moments, but also what it looks like to train all six moments at one time.
Conditional Coordinating Mental-Cognitive

Structure Structure Structure
Socio- Affective Emotional Will Creative

Structure Structure Expressive
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The pictures and paragraphs below should detail how all six
moments can be trained collectively in one moment
ELITE COACHING ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING
The conditional structure - In this session we want the players to work on
their neuromuscular strength, to do this the practice has been built to a
size that will require a high quantity of change of direction. We know that
strength is developed quite simply through a change of direction and a
simple adaptation to the session allows this.
The coordinative structure - We know the strength element of performance is
key, it is required to compete in transition when the game moves from end to end,
and it requires the skills of acceleration and balance to perform.
Cognitive structure - If the session is being completed in a tight space

and is focusing on overloading the opponent to score, the information must
be relevant to the speci c detail. The cognitive information and situation
must support the players understanding of how to dominate these
overloaded moments

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The conditional structure - In this session we want the players to work on
their neuromuscular strength, to do this the practice has been built to a
size that will require a high quantity of change of direction. We know that
strength is developed quite simply through a change of direction and a
simple adaptation to the session allows this.
The coordinative structure - We know the strength element of performance is
key, it is required to compete in transition when the game moves from end to end,
and it requires the skills of acceleration and balance to perform.
Cognitive structure - If the session is being completed in a tight space

and is focusing on overloading the opponent to score, the information must
be relevant to the speci c detail. The cognitive information and situation
must support the players understanding of how to dominate these
overloaded moments
The socio-affective structure - The session will naturally have key

relationships between players because of its team-based practice.
Speci cally, the social moments will be targeted in the combination of
players to create overloads.
Emotional-volitional structure - It refers to how the players cope with the
demand of the session on a personal level. How do the rules (let’s say
offside rule) in uence the player, and how do they cope with the stresses
this applies.  
Creative-Expressive Structure - Finally the practice must allow for the

creative response to problems by players, if an overload session is
created, the use of four goals in the practice allows the player to
experiment with the problem in order to nd a solution.
Task Category - One of the most important factors within this model is
‘variability’, the model understands that a structured approach must be
different for each session. Putting preference to different structures at
different moments within the training week
Going into further detail, the type of task a player might undergo within a
typical training week, and the speci city of tasks players undertake will
change dependent on the training cycle and training day.

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Generic Tasks - These are more athlete-based exercises such as

swimming, running or cycling. They offer assistance with performance but
they are not speci c. 
 
Speci c Tasks - There are four types of speci c tasks.
General - Exercises such as running repeated high intensity 70% MHR
runs (They are important to our sport because they match the physical
demands but are not bespoke)  
Directed - Exercises that resemble the game but only in a small manner,
this could be very basic rondos such as 4v1, it is football but it is not
offering huge transferability to similarity.  
Specials - These are again more speci c than the directed tasks, these
are now practices such as larger-sided games of 3v3v3 or rondos with 6v4
and multiple aims of possession and practice.  
Competition - These are much larger-sided and orientated games, their

focus is on maybe much larger tactical outcomes, and played across much
larger spaces.
1. Preparatory Microcycle - It is considered a microcycle for a

regenerative phase, in which its tasks have a generic and general nature. It
usually occurs in pre-season periods in which general and directed
sessions alternate with special sessions. 
2. Directed Transformation Microcycle - A microcycle in which the

sessions are predominantly directed and special. It is usually found from
the second week of preseason until the week that the season begins and
in a week where the activity is quite low. 
3. Special transformation microcycle - It is a microcycle where the

sessions are characterised by having a special character and directed over
the competitive ones. 
4. Maintenance microcycle - It is a microcycle where there is a balance

between special, directed and competitive tasks. It develops during the
competitive period.

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5. Competition microcycle - It is mastering sessions of a special and

competitive nature. It takes place during the weeks when competition is the
priority.  
 
Finally, the design of the training week is one of the most important factors
for a coach when planning and designing in line with Microciclo-
Estructurado The training week should look similar to that of Tactical
Periodisation however there are some important differences.
 
As you can see Professor Paco’s model believes players should get an
increased amount of recovery post-game, with ‘optimisation’ not occurring
until Wednesday, when a reduced size practice takes place followed by
Thursday which is another day of optimisation or ‘Acquisition’ this time it
takes place in a much larger space and the physical structure switches.
Friday then provides a ‘stress adjustment day’ this is effectively a session
of unopposed practice or ‘simple tasks. The nal pre-game session is a
‘pre-comp day’, this is another recovery day where physical output is at its
lowest in the training week.
Sunday Sunday
Wednesday
Optimization
Reduced Thursday
Optimization
Monday Space
Wider
Recovery
Friday
Space Optimization
Compensation
Tuesday Saturday
Stress Activation
Stimulation
Adjustment
Free Pre Comp

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Example Sessions

MONDAY SESSION
Practice Explained 
One player centrally, looks to play within the small red
box, he then looks to receive a pass from the outside player, he then takes
a touch and nishes in one of the four goals. This is repeated 4 times,
before rotating with one of the 4 outside players. The area is kept compact
to limit the physical running involved in the session. Goalkeepers are used
if possible, or small mini goals to make the practice more realistic.
 
Session Design 
Central player is at game day +1 or +2 they have not fully recovered
physically or psychologically from the previous game. The session
provides very little physical work, limiting the distance covered by the
player, but the light
low intensity work, will aid recovery, to allow the player to make
acquisitions physically in the coming days, the recovery time is equal to
that of the
working time, but the intensity of the work is very low. The distance of the
practice is important at this point the small red box, means that the working
player covers very little distance. This will allow quickened recovery, whilst
still working towards tactical and technical outcomes within the session
Physical Recoevery
Component
Day MD+2
Working 60 Seconds
Recovery 60 Seconds
Blocks 5
Size 25x25 Yards

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TUESDAY SESSION
four goals are split around a 20x20-yard area. A central area contains as
many footballs as possible, and the outside corners
have 4 poles, 4 players work at the same time, the players run out
towards the closest pole 10-15 yards away, and then run back towards
the football, before getting possession of a ball and shooting in one of the
four goals, they then continue to head to the next pole, then shoot and
then back around another pole until the 90 seconds is up 
Session Design 
Practice design is very important here, we are trying to create a practice
that has consistent change of direction at a high intensity, if the session is
too big the physical output will become endurance very quickly, however
90 seconds of work and short distances 10-15 yards, will mean that the
energy system used will be mainly anaerobic and allow us to work the
strength component we are looking to train, the players will also now test
their technical ability under the physical stress put upon them under the
high intensity work that the session will demand, the constant change of
direction and the limited time of 90 second wills ensure that the design
Physical Recoevery
Component
Day MD-4
Working 90 Seconds
Recovery 60 Seconds
Blocks 5
Size 20x20 Yards

THURSDAY SESSION
two goals are positioned 30 yards apart. The player behind the goals
passes to the central players who set the players who passed the balls for
a rst-time nish before joining the back of the other end for recovery. It is
vital that this practice is performed with large numbers to ensure there is a
wait and that players are not consistently working. The advised numbers
to perform this practice are 14 + 2GK 
 
Session Design 
The session design and manipulation are key to ensure that speed is
trained in this practice. If you allow it to run as a normal practice and
players run through this quickly, you will nd this very quickly becomes an
endurance session. However, if you can count the distances and ensure
the player who passes the ball then makes a sprint to receive it, walk back
to the end zone and waits 60 seconds before the next block. It is
important that the sprint is around 10 yards and that non of the players are
reaching maximal speed, as this would have been trained earlier in the
week, and high-intensity work now,
one day before a game, will likely
see the players fatigue and not
perform maximally in the coming
game.
Physical Recoevery
Component
Day MD-1
Working 115 Seconds
Recovery 60 Seconds
Blocks 5
Size 30x20 Yards

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Testing physical performance

FITNESS TESTING
Fitness testing can be an extremely complex part of any training program.

However, the below tests will provide a cheap and easy-to-test method,
allowing coaches to measure the change in players’ tness levels and
weight levels through the 6-week period.
Fitness Test week 2

Fitness testing takes place during the start of week 2 to allow players to
undertake some training in week 1. Taking the test in week 2 allows
players to have some level of tness and mobility in the muscles limiting
the player’s exposure to injury.
Fitness Test In Week 6

During the 6th week of pre-season, tness testing takes place again to try
to test the difference and the current levels of tness ready to take part in
the regular season. However, this must be done at the start of the week to
ensure that players are recovered and ready to perform on the weekend in
the rst competitive xture.
Height
Types Of Testing
Weight
Different types of tests are used to test
Standing Jump score
different elements of performance, weight
and height is used to formulate changes Forward reach test
in body type. Body fat is not used due to Multi-Stage Fitness Test
its dif culty in testing and lack of reliability.   30 Yard Sprint
  Change Of Direction
The standing jump test tests the athlete’s Test
ability to jump and may correlate with the
explosiveness of the athlete. The forward
reach test will test mobility and movement range in the back and
hamstrings, the multi-stage tness test will measure levels of aerobic
endurance, the 30-yard sprint will record changes in top speeds over 30
yards, and the change of direction test will provide a speci c test in
monitoring speed through a changed and varied movement pattern.

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FITNESS TESTING
Player Name Test Week 2 Test Week 6 Change

Six week overview

OVERVIEW
6-Week Training Plan Structure

This six-week program is based around a team training 3 times per week,
and playing 1 to 2 games per week dependent on the moment of the
season.
Week 1
Week 1 has a slightly lower volume but provides a full training week, this
involves the standard training days of Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, the
emphasis through week 1 is the activation of the body and mind, whilst
focusing on maintaining structure in timings etc to ensure that the players
re-adapt quickly to the structure of the program.
During week 1 a game is not scheduled to allow at least 10 days of the

training program before maximal effort is made, this way the players are
limited in their exposure to easier season injuries.
Week 2
Week 2 provides the rst week of an increased stimulus, and this is where
players will also be tness tested to provide some base results, the tness
testing replaces the rst session of the week, this is to ensure that the
volume of the training week is not unbearably high.
Week 2 also sees the rst opportunity to compete in a game, this game
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6
Monday Day Off Recovery Recovery Recovery Training Recovery
Tuesday Training Fitness Testing Training Training Game Fitness Testing
Wednesday Training Training Training Training Recovery Training
Thursday Recovery Recovery Recovery Recovery Training Recovery
Friday Training Training Training Training Training Training
Saturday Day Off Game Game Game Game Game
Sunday Recovery Recovery Recovery Recovery Recovery Recovery

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6-WEEK TRAINING PLAN STRUCTURE
Week 3
Week 3 provides the rst full week of training and playing, this week
includes 3 full sessions on 3 different structures, the same as a normal
training week. However it is important that the volume is increased as
shown in the weekly plan, this week should have an emphasis on the
acquisition period to ensure players are stretched within reason.
Match day is as standard on a Saturday, with an activation-based session

the day before and double recovery on the two following days.
Week 4
Week 4 is a complete copy of week 3, this week shows the standard
training structure and will build normality and habits with players due to its
consistency. The game should now see key players build to 90 minutes,
and at this point, the volume for rst-team players should ensure they are
comfortable dealing with 90 minutes, this game should also be more of a
challenge than the previous games
Week 5
Week 5 provides a different challenge physically, with the rst inclusion of a
2 game week, this will replicate the challenge of a full season and will
challenge key players to deal with the structure of a dual gamed week,
whilst also providing the opportunity for players to play 90 minutes + during
a single morphocycle.


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6-WEEK TRAINING PLAN STRUCTURE
Week 6 
This is the nal opportunity to ensure you are prepared for the season
ahead, the week returns back to a standard training week, with one
exception, on Tuesday tness testing Is re-performed, this is key for any
coach at any level ( Dependent on your standard, tness testing can be
very different, we’ve attached a simple plan that can be done with no
budget, but this plan is not necessarily the best tness test available with
the correct budget)
By testing again coaches will see a change in body weight, increases/

decreases in mobility, as well as any changes in explosive speed, high-
speed running and aerobic endurance this may be useful to recognise a
player’s physical presence, but also help prepare the next 6 week blocks
and individual players, may need support in different areas to ensure they
are able to further develop.
This nal week should not be seen as the nal step in the ‘Fitness Blocks’
but actually a block as physically demanding as any other block, as
avoiding an intensity-driven start, you may nd players peak later in the
season, and maintain the ability to compete at a much higher physical level
towards the back end of the season.
The last preseason friendly should represent the biggest challenge, this
game could be used to give players game time who haven’t managed to


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ACTIVATION EXERCISES
Activation Routine 
Exercise List
A list of exercises that can be regularly performed before sessions to provide

pre-habilitation to players. Ensuring a reduction in injuries for players from non-
contact injuries. Prehab provides players with exercises that can dramatically
reduce injury.
1.) Back Stretch - Rotate arms across body (Inverted)
2.) Small Bounce Squat
3.) Reverse Small Step Lunge
4.) Quick open Gate rotation
5.) Toe touching
Band Exercises
1.) Banded reverse lunge
2.) Left to right Bounds

3.) Right To left Bounds
4.) Kick the right foot to

left hand / Then Left foot
ELITE COACHING
to right hand
5.) Ankle bounds
6.) Hamstring reach

forward stretch
ELITE COACHING
7.) Open The Gate
8.) Close The Gate
ELITE COACHING
9.) Knee Raise and kick

extension (Russian Kick)
10.) Fast feet in towards

the centre of the circle
ELITE COACHING
quickly
11.) Static hamstring

stretch
12.) Leg Extensions

13.) Bound left to right in

towards center quickly
14.) Knee raise and kick back
15.) Quad stretch (Hold foot behind bum)
16.) Glutei stretch, lean on to leg pushing knee out


WEEK 1 TRAINING PLAN
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Sat/sun
Tactical Principle Sub-Principle Principle Sub-sub principle

Training Groups Units Multiple units Units / team
Retaining possession Finishing phase / Finishing phase /
R
Tactical Outcomes
defending the defending the box E
R box R
C
Physical Loading
E Change of direction High speed
running
E Sprints
O
Physical Theme C strength Endurance C Speed V
Relative Intensity O Medium-high High O Low E
Area Used
V Small spaces Large spaces
V Medium and large
R
Pitch space used
E E Y
R R
&
Y Y
Running distance Short Long distance Medium distances
Few interventions Frequent High interventions
G
Coaching
interventions interventions A
Session length 90 mins 120 mins 90 minutes max M
Work 180 seconds 420 seconds 180 seconds
E
Rest 60 seconds 90 seconds 120 seconds
Blocks 8 blocks 5 blocks 5 blocks
Team size Groups 5-7 Groups 9-11 Groups of 9v11

Psychological load Medium High Low
Week 1 - Tuesday

WEEK 1 - TUESDAY
Training week 1 provides the rst contact with Tuesday

players during the preseason program. Tactical Principle Sub-Principle
Training Groups Units
The intensity needs to be high but must have
Tactical Outcomes Retaining possession
the exibility to ensure that players are able to
strive within the environment, if a player
requires additional recovery or an adapted Change of direction
Physical Loading
session structure, this should be catered for to
avoid injury.
Physical Theme strength
The training week is speci c to playing Relative Intensity Medium-high

through the mid eld and should focus on the
Area Used Small spaces
combing of players in central areas to play
forward, whilst out of possession players Running distance Short
should focus on looking to deal with central Coaching Few interventions
attacking situations and look to be compact interventions
centrally and prevent penetration. Session length 90 mins
Work 180 seconds
The week does not nish with a game, but this
is just to allow the players the opportunity to Rest 60 seconds
gain some physical tness before competing Blocks 8 blocks
and maximal effort where players are
traditionally more at risk of injury. Team size Groups 5-7
Psychological load Medium
The session structure will ensure that there is
a progression throughout the 6-week block,
ensuring that the timings are religiously kept. Timings Activity
0-15 Muscle activation

15-25 Rondo
25-55 Session theme
55-90 Small-Sided game

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WEEK 1 - TUESDAY
Description:
The rondo involves four outside players and three central players. The
outside players look to move possession quickly and stay on the ball,
whilst the players out of possession focus on pressing quickly and moving
from end to end, applying pressure,
Play 2 touches to increase ball speed.
Progression:
In order to progress this, coaches should look to add a central red player to
create a 5v3. This will improve ball circulation but also increase the
changes in direction and create a physically more demanding session 
Player Detail:
Outside players should be focusing on moving the ball quickly, being aware
of the passing options before they receive the ball, and playing on two
touches to ensure quick ball manipulation 
Intervention Style:
Size:
The Coaching intervention required is an intense,
25 Yards Wide
motivational coach willing to encourage and praise 20 Yards Long
positive ball manipulation, physical tness before
competing and maximal effort where players are
traditionally more at risk
of injury.
The session structure

will ensure that there is
a progression
throughout the 6-week
block, ensuring that the
timings are religiously
kept.

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WEEK 1 - TUESDAY
Description:
Reds attack the blues, on the transition, the team that keeps the ball then
attacks the Greens, and the Greens then attack the team at the other end.
Constantly 2v2. The constant 2v2 allows for consistent opportunities to
attack centrally, whilst challenging fatigued defenders to defend
competently in steal areas.
Progression:
In order to progress this drill, the ball can be entered from different areas to
manipulate the transition, also the time the ball is in play can be increased
to ensure that the physical challenge is increased 
Player Detail:
Individual players should be encouraged to treat these as breakaway
attacking opportunities and directness and runs away from the goal are key 
Intervention Style:
Empower players to self-drive, when intensity drops, encourage the
players and ensure the intensity remains
Size:
20 Yards Wide
30 Yards Long


WEEK 1 - TUESDAY
Description:
The small-sided game provides the opportunity to expose the players
to vast amounts of changed direction, this will allow the game to
become exposed and create opportunities for players to attack
through central areas
Progression:
In order to create a highly transitional game that goes end to end with
high physical returns, the session can have a 6-
second scoring progression or a forward pass only
to ensure the game goes from end to end with Size:
35 Yards Wide
uidity 22 Yards Long
Player Detail:
Individual players
should be
challenged to win
1v1 situations and
individuals should
be set
Intervention Style
The Small sided
game should have
less coaching
allowing players to
express
themselves and
perform.

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Week 1 - wednesday

WEEK 1 - WEDNESDAY
Training week one is still the week where Wednesday

players are being introduced to this level of Tactical Principle Principle
physical activity for the rst time in many
Training Groups Multiple units
weeks. This means we must remember this
and ensure that our players welfare is Tactical Outcomes Finishing phase /
remembered and addressed. This is done to defending the box
avoid any injuries or future problems.   Physical Loading High speed running
 
The Wednesday session is our rst opportunity Physical Theme Endurance
to work on the key principles of coaching
model. This is also the rst practice where Relative Intensity High
multiple playing units will train together in a Area Used Large spaces
larger-formatted session. We are challenging
Pitch space used
the players to work on two key game moments.
Running distance Long distance
In Possession: The Finishing Phase; How do Coaching Frequent
we score?  interventions interventions
  Session length 120 mins
Out of Possession: Defending the box; How
Work 420 seconds
do we block the box? 
  Rest 90 seconds
We are then exposing the players to their rst Blocks 5 blocks
bout of sprinting, and high-intensity running.
This will be important in physically preparing Team size Groups 9-11
players for the rest of pre-season. Players will Psychological load High
need to work hard within the larger spaces and
will produce more fatigue than most other
sessions within the training week.  Timings Activity
  0-15 Muscle activation
Over this 120 minute session we need to
ensure that the players receive realistic and 15-25 Rondo
meaningful coaching detail. This larger-sided 25-60 Session theme
format is perfect for more tactical and inter- 60-120 Large-sided game
connected information between units.

 
 
 

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WEEK 1 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
The rondo activity involves a 4v4 in a very large central area with two end
players. The team in possession looks to move the ball simply from one
end to the other.
Progression:
A progression to this exercise would be to allow the end players to break
out of the end zone whilst the player who passed that player the ball
sprints into the end zone to even up the practice.  
 
This will see lots of high-speed running.
Player Detail:
Players need to focus on their receiving and retaining Size:
skills, challenge players to combine and look to play 25 Yards Wide
50 Yards Long
through the opponent. 
Intervention Style:
In recovery time, the
coach should look to
provide a player lead
tactical intervention
involving information
speci c to the mid eld
ability to play through
the opponent.
information speci c to
the mid eld ability to
play through the
opponent.

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WEEK 1 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
The theme of the session involves a 3v1 in each of the end thirds. In
the central zone, the area is split into 4, and the teams play 3v3 in
this area. Only one player in possession can be in a 1/4 at any time.
This means the team in possession must use the ball and quick
rotations to play through the opponent.
Progression:
To progress this session, the 1/4 can be opened to 1/2’s this will
challenge the players and measure the learning from a 1/4 zone to a
1/2 zone.
Player Detail:
Player movement is key. What movements does a player make when
the ball is on the same side as them? Can we train two players to
stay on the opposite side, and the one player on the same side peel
wide to allow a ball through to the end zone.
Intervention Style
On the grass interventions and the repeating of moments to test the
understanding of the rotations required is key.
Size:
20 Yards Wide
30 Yards Long


WEEK 1 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
This 11v11 practice will provide an opportunity to train the key
principles of the game within a manageable framework, high speed
running and end-to-end practice is key to allowing high-speed
running. Players must focus on training the rotations key in the
previous part of the session
Progression:
To progress the session, and progress the
understanding, the game can be played 9v9 in
addition to this, the central grid can be added in Size:
50 Yards Wide
again to aid the transfer from theme to small-sided 70 Yards Long
game.
Player Detail:
To get mid eld rotation, work
closely on individuals
movement to receive
possession and movements to
create space for the opponent
Intervention Style
During the small-sided game,
allow the players to work
physically, however during the
recovery time, give detailed
information in accordance with
the player’s ability to play
through mid eld.

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Week 1 - Friday

WEEK 1 - FRIDAY
Training week one is still clearly around Friday

preparing and activating the players mind and Tactical Principle Sub-sub principle
body. The Friday session is the nal session of
Training Groups Units / team
the initial training week and looking at training
the sub-sub-principles of the playing model. Tactical Outcomes Finishing phase /
This however, doesn’t just mean that the defending the box
training is individual, it involves the team as a Physical Loading Sprints
whole and the focus around the individual
detail.   Physical Theme Speed
 
For a coach this means that the focus is on Relative Intensity Low
how the individual works within the system. Area Used Medium and large
Providing very important individual detail for
Pitch space used
the player. The tactical outcomes are still the
same as the training week for the players, they Running distance Medium distances
are focusing on the nishing phase and Coaching High
defending the box. interventions interventions
Session length 90 minutes max
The players are physically working on their
Work 180 seconds
sprinting, this doesn’t mean repeat sprints, but
the sprint reaction. How quickly can players Rest 120 seconds
recognise the need to sprint and then transition Blocks 5 blocks
into a sprint. The session requires lots of
recovery time so players are using medium to Team size Groups of 9v11
large spaces but are working in small periods Psychological load Low
with lots of rest.  
 
The session itself is 90 minutes and the team Timings Activity
sizes are between 9-11 players. This means 0-15 Muscle activation
we are working on large units but have plenty
of recovery to ensure the players are physically 15-35 Rondo
prepared for the following day (which is where 35-65 Session theme
the game will be played). 65-90 Large-sided game

 

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WEEK 1 - FRIDAY
Description:
3v3 + 3v3 street football exercise, low impact due to small-sized, coach
throws the ball in from the side to ensure its reactive speed, short blocks
and long recovery.
Progression:
In order to progress this the session will require the goal to change after
every goal, this will force the psychological side of a player’s game to
become engaged as well.
Player Detail: Size:

Players just need to focus on short sharp sprints 25 Yards Wide
25 Yards Long
and rst-time nishes
Intervention Style:
Zero intervention is
needed technically and
tactically but the coach
should look to enforce
and encourage quick
movements and high
recovery.

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WEEK 1 - FRIDAY
Description:
Opportunity to practice the rotations required to combine into the nal
third. Rotation 1 Mid eld player bounces into a withdrawn nine who has
pulled the centre back out to leave space, then the wide player who is
pinning the full-back runs across the defender and receives inside. The
second rotation is the wide player running inside, taking the full-back with
him, to leave the full-back in the outside channel.
Progression:
Progression, maybe to add limited opposition instead of mannequins, but
important to remember this session must be low intensity to ensure low
fatigue levels.
Player Detail:
Challenge the player’s individual movements, why the full-back is staying
wide, why the full-back is touching the touchline etc.
Intervention Style
Very grass lead, information concurrent with the situation, ensure the
detail is correct, no surprises for the day ahead.
THEFOOTBALLCOACH.NET THEFOOTBALLCOACH.NET
Size:
ELITE COACHING
Half-Pitch
Space
ELITE COACHING

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WEEK 1 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
The 11v11 game must be very, very low intensity. This will almost be
a walk-through, just reinforcing some of the tactical ideas or
structures being transferred into the game. This will be speci c to
your game model and the opponent that you will be playing against.
Progression:
No Progression needed
Player Detail:
Size:
No new messages. Just reinforce the principles that 50 Yards Wide
you have enforced all week. Remember the 70 Yards Long
importance of individual detail and how to link the
individual to the system. The
idea of training sub-sub-
principles doesn’t mean that
the focus is just on really
individual factors. But more
about how the individual lives
within the system.
Intervention Style
Walk through the situations
you coach, let players see the
moment, what is commonly
referred to as the traditional
coaching process, reenact
moments and experience them
again.

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Week 2 overview

WEEK 2
Training week 2 is an important part of

the 6-week block. It involves the rst Week 2
opportunity for tness testing, and this
takes part as a replacement for
session 1 of the week. It is important Monday Recovery
that players undergo one week of
training rst, and then equally
Tuesday Fitness Testing
important that they are exposed to
tness testing whilst not under fatigue
from the training week. Wednesday Training
The second week provides the rst

Thursday Recovery
opportunity for competitive xtures, but
this week should not involve key
players playing signi cant game time, Friday Training
as the training and game workload
should be increased over the six
weeks. Saturday Game
During training week 2, players look to

train the pressing element of Sunday Recovery
performance in the nal third whilst
working to understand the patterns and
movements required to successfully
play out from the back under pressure, these two key training areas should
then be enforced into the weekends game to
ensure that the transferability between training Timings Activity
and games is high and this way the coach can
ensure the game model being implemented is 0-15 Muscle activation
obvious within the players. 15-35 Rondo
35-65 Session theme
65-90 Large-sided game

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WEEK 2
Training week 2 is an important part of the 6-week Week 2

block. It involves the rst opportunity for tness
testing, and this takes part as a replacement for Recovery
session 1 of the week. It is important that players
undergo one week of training rst, and then equally
Fitness Testing
important that they are exposed to tness testing
whilst not under fatigue from the training week.
Training
The second week provides the rst opportunity for

Recovery
competitive xtures, but this week should not involve
key players playing signi cant game time, as the
training and game workload should be increased over Training
the six weeks.
Game
During training week 2, players look to train the
pressing element of performance in the nal third Recovery
whilst working to understand the patterns and
movements required to successfully play out from the
back under pressure, these two key training areas should then be enforced
into the weekends game to ensure that the transferability between training
and games is high and this way the coach can ensure the game model
being implemented is obvious within the players.
As the training week above shows, the week is slightly different due to the
implementation of the rst tness testing session of the season. The
players will recover on Monday as part of their two day recovery plan.
Following that they will take part in a tness testing session. This will then
be followed by training the following day. The players will then receive a
day off before training on the Friday. Saturday, is game day and Sunday is
a day off.
This setup should allow us to gain an understanding of our players physical

condition and then allow us to measure their progress and performance
over the coming season.
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Week 2 - wednesday

WEEK 2 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
This rondo provides an opportunity to practice the principles of playing out
from the back, within an end-to-end rondo, in possession, the game is
created as a 5+2v5 for example the reds play out with the greens so they
must look to get the ball from end to end with out a blue touching ti, they
must use rotations to play out with only one full back on the outside
available.
Progression:
In order to progress this, the opponent can be overloaded to make
possession of the ball more dif cult
Player Detail:
Challenge players to be quick with the ball and make passes over a short
distance
Intervention Style:
The intervention should not stop the practice allowing Size:
the players to work physically hard, the information 25 Yards Wide
should be very direct as the opportunity for learning 20 Yards Long
within this practice is signi cant.

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WEEK 2 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
Reds play greens in a 30x30 space, there are two outside players in the
attacking half, the team in possession must play out through the rst third
before playing into the second zone to score, 4v2 overloads should allow
players to play out with reasonable pressure, whilst two high and wide
attackers force the opponent to defend realistically to the problem they
see
Progression:
In order to progress this, the session can remove the central area to allow
the team out of possession to overload the team in possession. The wide
players could also be allowed inside the square once the ball crosses the
halfway line to create a 4v3 overload and create issues for the defending
team.
The team in possession can also be limited in touches to ensure that

passes are short in length and quick in time.
Player Detail:
Challenge players to receive between the lines, be aware of the space
around them and, look to play forward with intent.
Relay the importance of looking to play forward when Size:
layout out from the back.
40 Yards Wide
Intervention Style 40 Yards Long
Interventions should not interrupt the ow of the
practice, and coaches should refrain from stopping the
practice, but the information should be in-depth and detailed during the
recovery time.

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WEEK 2 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
The small-sided game has taken part as more of a half-pitch practice
to allow the relaying of information during a week where one session
is lost due to tness testing. The teams play 1-4-3-1 v 2-2-3. The
team in possession is challenged to play out using all ve attacking
lanes. The rotations will be speci c to your game model but should
look to combine and allow the team into the attacking phase.
Progression:
To progress this, open the practice up to 9v9
practice.
Size:
50 Yards Wide
Player Detail: 60 Yards Long
Work with the centre back at the movements to
receive the ball and the lane position. Do they go outside lane or
inside lane to receive
Intervention Style
This block requires more
stop-start and more
information to ensure that
players are aware of their
tactical needs in the session.
Try and ensure the

intervention at times looks to
coach groups, not just
individuals. This way
information can be shared
across units and understand
and expectations will be clear
with players

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Week 2 - Friday

WEEK 2 - FRIDAY
Description:
Low-intensity attacking combinations
1.) Red runs forward and shoots from outside the box
2.) Red then goes short to blue and sets blue through to score
3.) Red then runs across to play a 1-2 with Yellow, who then gets the
passed to him in the channel from red, and the next red and blue in the line
run into the box to receive a cross from green.
Size:
25 Yards Wide
50 Yards Long


WEEK 2 - FRIDAY
Description:
The game is played in the top half 4 blacks v 3 reds, however when in
possession the blacks also have the greens and yellows, the challenge is
when playing out the blacks must get the ball from a yellow to a yellow or
green to a green, in order to be able to pass into their two strikers who can
attack in the 2v2 situation in the other half.
This will force the team in possession to be playing diagonally across their own
box, and so give the reds an opportunity to steal possession and counter quickly
as if they were pressing a team playing out from the back
Progression:
• In order to progress this, an extra black can be added to make it a
more dif cult pressing challenge for the team in possession
• The yellows and greens can also be changed to blacks to create a
realistic numerical game
• The outside players can be limited to two touches.
Player Detail:
Challenge individual players to press the ball wide to cut the playoff and
increase the opportunity to win possession earlier.
Intervention Style
Don’t be afraid to stop the session and provide walk-throughs on tactical
detail and what speci c game model information could bene t the players
Size:
30 Yards Wide
45 Yards Long

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WEEK 2 - FRIDAY
Description:
The 11v11 game must be very very low intensity, this will almost be a
walk-through, just reinforcing some of the tactical ideas or structures
being transferred into the game, This part of the Friday session will
very rarely change
Progression:
No progression needed
Player Detail:
Size:
No new messages, just reinforce the principles that 50 Yards Wide
you have enforced all week. 70 Yards Long
Intervention Style
Walk through the situations
you coach, let players see the
moment, what is commonly
referred to as the traditional
coaching process, reenact
moments and experience them
again.

Week 3 - Overview

WEEK 3
Training week 3 involves an important

tactical week, the principles of your Week 3
game model should now become
more obvious to your players, and
remaining consistent with this game Monday Recovery
model is key.
Tuesday Training
Training needs to become more
enforced during this week, and more
direct and consistent in how the game Wednesday Training
model is implemented. Training
intensity should remain high as it has
been previously, within the tactical Thursday Recovery
periodisation model, this volume and
intensity should remain fairly
consistent to ensure there are no Friday Training
peaks and troughs.
The week looks at developing the Saturday Game

attacking phase of the game attacking
centrally, penetrating through teams
with combination play and e ective Sunday Recovery
use of the pitch, although this session
will be speci c to your game model,
the session will show Guardiola-
designed sessions that are speci c to his game model.
Out of possession, the week looks to work on

defending deep, and how to prevent a team Timings Activity
from playing through you by getting deep and
forcing play into the wide areas, this is an 0-15 Muscle activation
important part of the 6-week block.
15-35 Rondo
35-65 Session theme
65-120 small-sided game
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Week 3 Tuesday

WEEK 3 - TUESDAY
Description:
This rondo takes place as a 6v6, 3v3 on the outside, and a 3v3 on the
inside. This will practice the moments of the game where players need to
combine centrally and look to play through the team, can the team in
possession build-up from the bottom of their practice, through the central
players and into their end player. This will replicate the combinations from
the centre-back to the striker.
Progression:
To progress this, a neutral defender can be added to make it more dif cult
to play through 
If the teams are struggling to play through, then an attacking player can be
added to create a 4v3 in central areas.
Player Detail:
Outside players need to be quick with the ball, limiting their time in
possession to ensure the movement of the ball is quicker and the players
are able to play through space quicker.
Intervention Style:
The coach should be vocal, encouraging the players to play quickly with
intensity but should try to avoid stopping the session to allow physical
returns.
Size:
30 Yards wide
25 Yards Long

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WEEK 3 - TUESDAY
Description:
Both players will shoot one after the other. On the second shot, 3 blue
players break out to create a 2v3. When this breaks down 2 reds break
out, creating a 3v4, followed by 2 more blues, to create a 5v4 until there
are no players left. This highly transitional phase will allow players to be
direct and attack through central areas. This task will be highly transitional
and will expose players to the situation of attacking in central areas. This
suits the early part of the training week to the high amounts of directional
change.
Progression:
To progress this drill, the progression can become physical, this speci cally
means making the practice end to end, so instead of 2v3 then 3v4, then
the practice can become 2v2, in a consistent practice, for that period of
time required.
Player Detail:
Challenge players to make decisions under pressure, challenge players to
be positive in their decision-making processes.
Intervention Style
The coach needs to be
very in uential in how
they speak, be willing
to encourage and
enforce positive e ort,
when a player works
hard, reinforce that,
remind them that hard
work is part of the
process but do not
stop the practice.
Size:
30 Yards wide
30 Yards Long

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WEEK 3 - TUESDAY
Description:
The game is set up in a 5v6 situation with the greens with a GK
defending a central goal, whilst the reds attack with an overload, as
soon as possession breaks down, the teams must sprint back to
position and begin the practice from the end where two goals sit.
Progression:
In order to progress this, an additional green can be added to create
a more realistic challenge in possession for the reds
Player Detail:
The behaviours important for players here are the
urgency to play forward, can you receive between
Size:
the lines can you make movements to open space 40 Yards Wide
centrally 30 Yards Long
Intervention Style
The Small sided game
should have less
coaching allowing
players to self-manage
ELITE COACHING
the technical and

tactical returns as well
as the intensity of the ELITE COACHING
game, coaching can

frame the need for
ELITE COACHING
intensity but shouldn’t

take over in the relaying
of information.
ELITE COACHING

Week 3 wednesday

WEEK 3 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
The rondo-like practice involves a 2v2+1 in central areas with a 2v2 on the
outside the team in possession must look to stay on the ball, and play
through central areas quickly and make quick combinations to go from one
end to the other.
receive a cross from green. 
 
Progression 
To progress this opens the space up to provide a larger physical challenge
Outside players can be limited to one touch to ensure that players in
central areas must move quickly to create passing options.
Player Detail:
Double movements - Can players move away from the Size:
ball before making movements back towards the ball to 40 Yards Wide
create space for the teammate to receive. 30 Yards Long
Intervention Style:
The period of work is
now longer, which
means there is a larger
recovery period, and
the coaching can take
part in recovery time.
More tactical
information is
important, can you link
the larger unit work to
the small unit work
taking place in this
session.


WEEK 3 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
This practice is set up 11 v 8+3 the blues attack the reds, but the greens
only play for the reds when the reds are In possession, this allows the
blues the opportunity to build up and attempt to combine through the reds,
whilst it forces the reds to defend deep as they do not have the players to
apply pressure, this will naturally manufacture a red team that looks to drop
off, defend deep and hit the blues on the counter, whilst it allows the blues
the opportunity to try and play through a block.
Progression:
•As time progresses, the session can become a straight 11v11 to ensure
that players play with realistic pressure in all phases of the game. It will
also teach the attacking 3 what their role is out of possession in the block.
•In addition to this, the pitch can be made more narrow,
this will make the space more compact and make it Size:
more dif cult for the team to play through 50 Yards Wide
•Space can also be made longer to ensure that realistic 60 Yards Long
gaps appear between the opposition lines
Player Detail:
•Tactically challenge players, can the nine come short and leave space
behind for the wide
players to run into
•Can the wide players

come inside to use the THEFOOTBALLCOACH.NET
THEFOOTBALLCOACH.NET
inside channel to allow

the outside channel
for the fullbacks 
Intervention Style
Interventions should
take place during the

player’s recovery time

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Week 3 Friday

WEEK 3 - FRIDAY
Description:
Finishing and recovery session built around playing quickly to attack the
space behind and beside the opponent. 
 
1.) Greens to the right of the practice, play into the green situated on the
white line. This player then holds off the red and bring the two greens into
play.
2.) At this point the game becomes alive and the greens can play into the
front man.
3.) Greens must be quick with the ball because both reds on the outside
can recover as if they were detached full-backs.
4.) This should create a recovering picture from the
Size:
game where the opponent is breaking away quickly and 20 Yards Wide
the reds are recovering to protect the goal. 30 Yards Long


WEEK 3 - FRIDAY
Description:
This nishing session involves large numbers in a tight space, which will
limit the player’s exposure to long-distance running or high speeds. It is set
up with four players in the corner and a 4v4 on the inside. This creates a
4v4+4. The idea is to still be practising the nishing phases of the game.
The outside players are challenged to create crossing opportunities
quickly, which means deep runners are required to nd the wide player’s
cross.
It is important that the player’s energy levels are managed within this
practice to make sure they are not fatigued for the game on Saturday.
Progression:
Size:
• To progress this drill, look to add neutral players. This
35 Yards Wide
will create overloads and ood the defensive team, 35 Yards Long
and create nishing opportunities.
• Create a one-touch rules for
outside players to force the central
players to make early runs into the
box
• Enforce a one-touch nish rule to
make the nishing phase realistic
Player Detail:
• Challenge the outside players to
cross with quality. Grounded
crosses shouldn’t bounce and should
be nishable with good contact.
• Crosses in the air should try to expose
the space between GK and CB.
Intervention Style
Slow the practice down with your
intervention, allow the player’s recovery time, and be calm in your manner. This is
24 hours before the game, if you display an emotional approach so close to the
game, this can make the players uncomfortable, it is vital that the coach displays
an image of con dence so close to the game, relax the players so they feel they
can share your con dence for the game.

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WEEK 3 - FRIDAY
Description:
The 11v11 game must be very very low intensity, this will almost be a walk-
through, just reinforcing some of the tactical ideas or structures being
transferred into the game, This part of the Friday session will very rarely
change
Progression:
• As time progresses the session can become a straight 11v11 to
ensure that players play with realistic pressure in all phases of the
game, it will also teach the attacking 3 what their role is out of
possession in the block.
• In addition to this, the pitch can be made more
narrow, this will make the space more compact and
Size:
make it more dif cult for the team to play through 35 Yards Wide
• Space can also be made longer to ensure that 35 Yards Long
realistic gaps appear between the opposition lines
• Player Detail:
• Tactically challenge players, can the 9 come short and leave space
behind for the wide players to run into.
• Can the wide players come inside to use the inside channel to allow
the outside channel
for the fullbacks  ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING
Intervention Style
Interventions should take

place during the player’s
recovery time, or on the
pitch during the time if the
information is vital to the
game model

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Week 4 overview

WEEK 4
Training week 4 is now well into the

heart of the training programme, Week 4
players have now been exposed to full
back-to-back training weeks and most
Monday Recovery
players will have competed in 80-100%
of a full xture, and will be working
towards that ability to compete at Training
Tuesday
100%.
Wednesday Training
Training week 4 continues with the
same intensity and volume of training
as before but looks to work more out of
Thursday Recovery
possession focusing on the group’s
ability to defend in wide areas, and
force the opponents out wide, and Friday Training
keep them there. In possession, the
aim is to play through mid eld using
wide areas. Saturday Game
This differs slightly from the previous

week and now looks to understand the Sunday Recovery
coach’s game model in terms of how to
affect the game from wide areas, how
does your team defend in wide areas?
How does your team attack wide
Timings Activity
areas? This book will expose the
principles of Guardiola but must be 0-15 Muscle activation
tailored to your game model to ensure 15-35 Rondo
that the session replicates the need of
your players dependent on what you 35-65 Session theme
are asking of them on a game day. 65-120 small-sided game
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Week 4 Tuesday

WEEK 4 - TUESDAY
Description:
This rondo replicates combinations using full backs and the idea of
pressing wide players and keeping play wide.
The reds look to combine and play into the loan red player, once they get
the play into that red player, the reds must transfer to the outside of the
other half of the grid and the blues must transfer over as-well. 
Progression:
• To Progress this requires additional passes in order to cross into
the other side.
• Make the space tighter on one half to challenge ball rotation 

Movement when receiving can you challenge players to 20 Yards Wide
receive and move, the movement maybe behind the 30 Yards Long
opponent to create space
Intervention Style:
Encourage positive behaviours, and encourage a competitive environment
that can build a foundation for an intense and meaningful session.


WEEK 4 - TUESDAY
Description:
4v4 in central areas with 2 wide players, the wide area is split in two, and
the wide player can not carry the ball from one half to the other.
Players are challenged to combine with the wide player to create
opportunities from crosses. Out of possession the team without the ball is
challenged to force the opponent to keep the ball wide and go back
towards the goal and start again 
Progression:
• To progress, the practice open the space up to become a 4v4+2
• To progress add a neutral player to create overloads
• Limit outside players to one touch to force early
crosses
Size:
• Limit players to forward passes only to try and force 35 Yards Wide
forward passes into the unoccupied space for wide 45 Yards Long
players
Player Detail:
Make sure the wide player recognises why they need to use the space lets
behind  
Intervention Style
The coach needs to be very in uential in how they speak, and be willing to
encourage and enforce positive effort, when a player works hard, reinforce
that, remind them that hard work is part of the process but do not stop the
practice

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WEEK 4 - TUESDAY
Description:
This part of the session is a continuation of the theme of the session, using
the same format in a bigger space, the wide area is opened up into a full
strip. This will create an end-to-end practice that challenges players
technically tactically and physically
Progression:
To progress this session you can remove the neutral wide players and
force the team in possession to occupy the space, this will reinstall good
habits that relate to your game model.
Player Detail:
The detail for individuals is important, challenge the wide Size:
player on his/her individual positioning, when to get beyond 35 Yards Wide
the furthest mid eld player, when to receive behind the most 45 Yards Long
attacking player etc
Intervention Style ELITE COACHING ELITE COACHING
Again the coaching on a

Tuesday has to allow a
player
ELITE COACHING
lead environment.
Coach during the break
allows
coaching but make sure ELITE COACHING
the players are

responsible for the
ELITE COACHING
environment
ELITE COACHING

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Week 4 Tuesday

WEEK 4 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
This rondo involves a 2v2 on the inside, and a 2v2 on the outside, players
out of possession are challenged to get tight to the outside player and
restrict a pass inside, it can’t be passed from outside to outside so it is
important out of possession that the team out of possession get tight and
prevent passing lanes and keep play wide 
 
Progression
If the team out of possession nd the session easy then allow switches of
play
If it’s easy out of possession then include a neutral
player
Size:
If it’s too easy in possession then restrict the players in 30 Yards Wide
passing back to the outside players once they receive 30 Yards Long
the ball
Player Detail: ELITE COACHING ELITE COACHING
Reaction to transition
can it be quick and
win the ball early
When defending can
ELITE COACHING
you get tight and

prevent passes
inside  
ELITE COACHING
Intervention Style:
Remain Consistent
ELITE COACHING
with Wednesday
ELITE COACHING

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WEEK 4 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
This is a very di erent practice to nish, just focusing on working the ball
into the wide area and producing crosses against the blues. The reds are
in possession and look to move the ball into the two wide areas. Once the
ball is played wide, the challenge is to attack the box and defend the edge
of the box
Progression:
• Remove wide areas and force a more realistic approach from the
players
• Add goals at the other end to make the counter-attack more

realistic  

• Prioritise playing central when possible. 40 Yards Wide
Whenever we play wide we must be aware of the 40 Yards Long
principle of play we want to achieve, this is to
play through the opponent. We only play wide
because the
opponent has ELITE COACHING ELITE COACHING
blocked the most

central areas.
Intervention Style
ELITE COACHING
- Ensure you are clear in

your approach with the
players.
- Let them be exposed to

ELITE COACHING
the physical detail and
give them clear
ELITE COACHING
messages within the

breaks.
ELITE COACHING

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WEEK 4 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
This is a very di erent practice to nish, just focusing on working the ball
into the wide area and producing crosses against the blues. The reds are
in possession and look to move the ball into the two wide areas. Once the
ball is played wide, the challenge is to attack the box and defend the edge
of the box
Progression:
• Remove wide areas and force a more realistic approach from the
players
• Add goals at the other end to make the counter-attack more

realistic  

• Prioritise playing central when possible. 40 Yards Wide
Whenever we play wide we must be aware of the 40 Yards Long
principle of play we want to achieve, this is to
play through the opponent. We only play wide
because the
opponent has ELITE COACHING ELITE COACHING
blocked the most

central areas.
Intervention Style
ELITE COACHING
- Ensure you are clear in

your approach with the
players.
- Let them be exposed to

ELITE COACHING
the physical detail and
give them clear
ELITE COACHING
messages within the

breaks.
ELITE COACHING

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WEEK 4 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
The small-sided game is shown set up 11v11, the 5 lanes are shown to
allow players to understand what their role is in possession, occupying all 5
lanes will allow better ball rotation. 
Progression:
• Reward goals that are scored by using the 5 lanes with extra goals.
• Out-of-possession reward the team out of possession when play is
regained from the outside channel.
• The space can be adapted to change the challenge.  
Player Detail:
• - Can all 5 lanes be used in
possession quickly
• Can our player prioritise THEFOOTBALLCOACH.NET THEFOOTBALLCOACH.NET
the use of the central

zone, this will support our
principles of play
ELITE COACHING
Intervention Style
Ensure that as a coach you are
willing to provide tactical and
ELITE COACHING
technical detail within the
practice when needed. This will
ELITE COACHING
ensure the players have an

opportunity too understand what
is expected of them and how to
behave with and without the ball.
ELITE COACHING
Size:
50 Yards Wide
60 Yards Long

Week 4 Friday

WEEK 4 - FRIDAY
Description:
Speed reaction nishing practice
Red plays a bounce pass with the inside red who then receives the ball
back and attacks
The goalkeeper, the green reacts and defends, this session is reactive
speed and perfect
Low intensity for a game day -1 session
Description:
Ensure that the players focus on the technical elements of their nishing
and combining. Firstly, the pass into the attacker must be quality. Then the
return pass must be of a good enough quality that then allows the player
that shoots to nish with their rst touch.
Progressions:
- Allow the receiving player to try and pin and spin the
defender to create the goal Size:
- Mov the location of the nish to change the challenge 50 Yards Wide
for the players 60 Yards Long

ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING

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WEEK 4 - FRIDAY
Description:
1.) 2v2 in each half with 4 outside players who look to cross when they
receive the ball
2.) Team in possession can overload the attacking half by putting a third player
in to create a 3v2 
This will create nishing opportunities under reduced physical output,

players on the outside need to be challenged to cross quickly to avoid
creating a practice that is unrealistic
Progression:
• In order to progress this session, the location of the wide player can
be changed to create either a cutback or an out-swinging/ In-
swinging cross
• Creating two neutral players who can attack both

goals can allow more success for the attacking
team/ however these players may nd the practice Size:
taxing, so it is important to manage their workload
35 Yards Wide
30 Yards Long
Player Detail:
• Challenge players in possession to arrive late
• Challenge players to make
blindside runs across
defenders.
• Challenge players to nish
the rst time by going across
the goal back to the side of
the goal they received the
ball 
Intervention Style
The practice can be stop-start
allowing players to recover when
needed but also ensuring that
information can be comfortably
shared without confusing
messages

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WEEK 4 - FRIDAY
Description:
change 
Progression: 
No progression is needed
Player Detail:
• No new messages, just reinforce the principles that you have
enforced all week.
Intervention Style
Walk through the situations you coach, let players see
the moment, what is commonly referred to as the Size:
50 Yards Wide
traditional coaching process, reenact moments and
70 Yards Long
experience them again.

Week 5 overview

WEEK 4
Training week 5 is two weeks out

before the team reaches the rst Week 5
competitive phase of the season.
When the completive season arrives
Monday Training
the expectation to play regular games
will happen. Week 5 is the rst training
week where two games are included. Game
Tuesday
Including two games during week 5

give the opportunity to key players to Wednesday Recovery
compete in over 90 minutes of football
in one training week, as this will be the
Thursday Training
norm throughout the season.
The week is adapted to ensure players Training

Friday
are primed to compete, Mondays
training session is a match preparation
session where the structure is the Saturday Game
same as a Friday training session,
Wednesday is a low-intensity session
where players will focus on recovery Sunday Recovery
On Friday the same session will occur

as normal to ensure consistency in the
training week for the players.
Timings Activity
However, within the week, the focus 0-15 Muscle activation
will still occur, playing out from the
15-35 Rondo
back will be the main focus during the
prep session and the Wednesday 35-65 Session theme
session 65-120 small-sided game
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WEEK 5 - MONDAY
Description:
This is one of the most famous, yet basic Guardiola drills, it’s a brilliant
way of training the skills required to receive and retain the ball, which are
two of the fundamentals for players and units playing out from the back.
Training this way will create players comfortable with the skills required to
play out from the back, they will be more comfortable receiving, retaining
and playing rst time under pressure all skills that need to be harnessed
within your larger game model. 
Progression:
• Force the central player to receive and play
within 1 touch
Size:
• Limit outside players to one or two touches
20 Yards Wide
• Create a competitive practice and reward 12 Yards Long
defending as a greater value

fi


WEEK 5 - MONDAY
Description:
This session is an expanded version of the above rondo, the idea is to
keep the pre-match session simple and to limit the amount of distance
being covered by the players as this is game day -1 and the second of
what will be 3 games in 8 days so at this point maintaining physical
performance levels is the most important part of the training cycle.
4v4+3 will replicate the playing out from the back moments of the game
whilst challenging the decision-making process. 
Progression:
• Limit green players to one touch
• Do not allow outside to outside passes
Size:
• Force players to play forward
20 Yards Wide
• Reduce Size   14 Yards Long
 

ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING
Player Detail:


WEEK 5 - MONDAY
Description:
change
Progression:

No new messages, just reinforce the principles that you 20 Yards Wide
have enforced all week. 14 Yards Long
Intervention Style
Walk through the situations you coach, let players see the moment, what is
commonly referred to as the traditional coaching process, reenact
moments and experience them again.  
 
Player Detail:
•Can you receive under pressure on the half turn
•Can you nd the right time to complete a no-touch turn
•Can we use combinations in close areas to move the ball from one end
to the other. 
  ELITE COACHING ELITE COACHING
Intervention Style
The practice can be stop-

start allowing players to
recover when needed but
also ensuring that
information can be
comfortably shared
without confusing
messages

fi

Week 5 wednesday

WEEK 5 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
change
Progression:

No new messages, just reinforce the principles that you 20 Yards Wide
have enforced all week. 14 Yards Long
Intervention Style
commonly referred to as the traditional coaching process, reenact
moments and experience them again.  
 
Player Detail:
•Can you receive under pressure on the half turn
•Can you nd the right time to complete a no-touch turn
•Can we use combinations in close areas to move the ball from one end
to the other. 
  ELITE COACHING ELITE COACHING
Intervention Style
The practice can be stop-

start allowing players to
recover when needed but
also ensuring that
information can be
comfortably shared
without confusing
messages

fi


WEEK 5 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
This larger rondo-like practice is perfect for game day +1 due to the large
numbers and the minimal distance that needs to be covered. Play is 8v4
on the inside but 8v10 when the outside players are included. The greens
are challenged to keep the ball under 4v8 situations, whilst the reds are
challenged to play out using their 8v10 advantage and their good use of
space due to the place of the 6 outside players that should aid ball
circulation.  
Progression:
• In order to progress this session, the reds must be targeted to winning
the ball back within 6 seconds to make sure that the game principles
are trained and the game model becomes intrinsic with players
• Develop a reward for maintaining possession of the greens
• Limit the touches of outside players
• Limit touches of greens 
 
Player Detail:
• Can the greens manage the ball and the tempo of
the possession Size:
• Can you make sure that the pressing to win the ball 40 Yards Wide
back is of the standard expected 30 Yards Long
•  
Intervention
Style
The intervention should
be slightly different to a
normal Wednesday due
to the need for
increased recovery time
due to the fact the
session falls on game
day +1


WEEK 5 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
A 5v5 in the central area with 4 useable outside players, gives the chance
to play out from the back whilst not having to travel huge distances due to
the locked player zones
Progression:
• Outside players can be tackled to make the practice very realistic
and competitive.
• Forward passes only once the half way line has been crossed 
Player Detail:
- Can the inside players still prioritise forward passes
Intervention Style
More detailed coaching, make sure the 5 lanes are used Size:
and players understand why they need to use the lanes 50 Yards Wide
and the consequence of not using the 5 lanes. 70 Yards Long

Week 5 overview

WEEK 5 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
Combination nishing practice, greens populate the outside of the space,
whilst the reds
And the blues switch between attacking and defending every interval.
Players are challenged to move the ball quickly and shoot on sight, this
drill creates quick
Reaction nishing movements, this will allow players to nish in varied

situations.
Coaching Points:
- It is important that players try to create space with
their body, by pinning the opponent or backing into Size:
the opponent to create space
Penalty Box
- Creating space is critical, once players have space it
is critical that they use it quickly. Within the penalty
area, the pressure around the ball will be instant. So
we must train to play quickly in this area.
- We must encourage players to shoot on sight, as soon as they receive

the ball in a position that allows them to shoot, encourage it to happen.
Use this simple principle ‘Can I score? If not can I nd someone who can
score?’
ELITE COACHING
ELITE C

fi
fi

fi
fi
WEEK 5 - FRIDAY
Description:
The session is a continuation of the rst session, but now the space is
slightly larger to allow more combination play to link to the training week.
6 players continue to play on the outside but the session now opens up
into a 5v5 with twice the length now players can combine and make
runners off each other’s shoulder to run in behind the opponent, or receive
bounce passes from the end players.
 
Progression:
• Progress to one-touch for outside players
• First-time nishes when receiving from a deeper Size:
player 30 Yards Wide
• Reward goals that come from crosses.  35 Yards Long
 
Player Detail:
• Run from deep to penetrate ELITE COACHING ELITE COACHING
the defence
• Make crosses low and hard
across the box to create
ELITE COACHING
dif cult situations to defend

against.
• Out of possession can you
ELITE COACHING
stop the cross by getting out
wide to the crosser, can you
ELITE COACHING
defend the box and make

rst contact. 
ELITE COACHING
 
Intervention Style
allowing players to recover when ELITE COACHING ELITE COACHING

information can be comfortably shared without confusing messages

fi
fi
fi

fi
WEEK 5 - FRIDAY
Description:
The session is a continuation of the rst session, but now the space is
slightly larger to allow more combination play to link to the training week.
6 players continue to play on the outside but the session now opens up
into a 5v5 with twice the length now players can combine and make
runners off each other’s shoulder to run in behind the opponent, or receive
bounce passes from the end players.
 
Progression:
• Progress to one-touch for outside players
• First-time nishes when receiving from a deeper Size:
player 30 Yards Wide
• Reward goals that come from crosses.  35 Yards Long
 
Player Detail:
• Run from deep to penetrate the defence
• Make crosses low and hard
across the box to create ELITE COACHING ELITE COACHING
dif cult situations to defend

against.
• Out of possession can you
ELITE COACHING
stop the cross by getting out

wide to the crosser, can you
defend the box and make ELITE COACHING
rst contact. 
ELITE COACHING
 
Intervention Style
ELITE COACHING
allowing players to recover when

information can be comfortably
shared without confusing

messages

fi
fi
fi

fi
WEEK 5 - FRIDAY
Description:
change
Progression:
• You might chose to add lanes to the pitch as shown as a method of
support for the players. This has previously been used to encourage
control across different lanes of possession.
• Limit timings and space to ensure that the players
get the best experience they can within the Size:
physical limitations of the session. 30 Yards Wide
Player Detail: 35 Yards Long
No new messages, just reinforce the principles that
you have enforced all week.
Intervention Style
commonly
referred to as
the traditional
coaching
process, reenact
moments and
experience them
again.


WEEK 4
Training week 6 is the nal training

week before competitive xtures begin, Week 6
this is the nal phase of what is known
as the ‘preparation period’ the period
Monday Recovery
where the outcome is less results-
based and more process driven before
the results supersede any outcomes. Fitness Testing
Tuesday
Training week 6 see’s a reduction in

training volume to allow for a tness Wednesday Training
testing session, this will allow coaches
to see differences between the rst
Thursday Recovery
tness testing week and the 6-week
point, missing a session at this point is
key as tness testing will work players Training
Friday
to their ‘maximum’ and players are
more at risk of injury during and after
these bouts of maximal effort. Saturday Game
The actual training week revisits the

moments of the game involving playing Sunday Recovery
through mid eld (This can be central or
wide depending on how your game
model has been transferred to players
so far, you may at this point recognise
that the players have adapted to one Timings Activity
better than the other) out of 0-15 Muscle activation
possession players will still focus on
15-35 Rondo
keeping play wide and not allowing the
opponent back inside. 35-65 Session theme
65-120 small-sided game

fi

fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
Week 6 - Wednesday

WEEK 6 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
One of the more obvious Guardiola practices is perfect for the Wednesday
session that is match day +1 a low-intensity recovery day, where there is
still limited load 4v4v4 the reds step out and look to press the opponent
greens look to press in the space left behind  
Progression:
• Allow a red out to press the green
• Allow a green to drop into the space left by the red
•  
Player Detail:
• Can you force-play wide Size:
• Can you nd a pass-through lines 30 Yards Wide
• Can you nd a disguise on a pass 25 Yards Long
 
Intervention Style:
Remain positive but also re ective on the performance from 24 hours ago

ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING

fi
fi

fl
WEEK 6 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
This larger rondo-like practice is perfect for game day +1 due to the large
numbers and the minimal distance that needs to be covered. Play is 8v4
on the inside but 8v10 when the outside players are included. The greens
are challenged to keep the ball under 4v8 situations, whilst the reds are
challenged to play out using their 8v10 advantage and their good use of
space due to the place of the 6 outside players that should aid ball
circulation.
Progression:
• In order to progress this session, the reds must be
targeted to winning the ball back within 6 seconds to Size:
make sure that the game principles are trained and 45 Yards Wide
the game model becomes intrinsic with players 45 Yards Long
• Develop a reward for maintaining possession for the
greens
• Limit the touches of outside players
• Limit touches of greens 
Player Detail:
• Can the greens manage
the ball and the tempo of
the possession
ELITE COACHING
• Can you make sure that

the pressing to win the ball
back is of the standard ELITE COACHING
expected 
Intervention Style
ELITE COACHING
The intervention should be

slightly different to a normal
Wednesday due to the need
ELITE COACHING
for increased recovery time

due to the fact the session
falls on game day +1


WEEK 6 - WEDNESDAY
Description:
This session is a continuation of the last practice, the game takes place
with two wide areas to keep the principles of playing through mid eld, and
challenges the players out of possession to defend the wide areas, and
practice keeping play wide.
Progression:
• The outside area can be removed to create a more authentic
practice
• A halfway line can be introduced and forward passes must be made
in the second half of the pitch
Size:
Player Detail: 50 Yards Wide
- Can the inside players still prioritise forward passes 60 Yards Long
Intervention Style
More detailed coaching, ELITE COACHING ELITE COACHING
make sure the 5 lanes are

used and players understand
why they need to use the
ELITE COACHING
lanes and the consequence

of not using the 5 lanes.
ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING

fi
Week 6 - Friday

WEEK 6 - FRIDAY
Description:
The ball is live at both ends, the outside player plays into the middle player
who then
Passes the ball back to the rst player who then nishes and joins the back
of the opposite
line to make the practice continuous 
Progression:
- To progress this when the ball is passed forward that player can turn and
shoot to make the practice continuous.
- Change the position players receive the ball in, this
will adjust the challenge to the attackers. Size:
- Moving the distance the player has to run on to the 50 Yards Wide
shot will also create a change. 60 Yards Long
- Adding a defender will add pressure and increase
realism.
ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING
ELITE COACHING

fi
fi
WEEK 6 - FRIDAY
Description:
This is a great practice for creating nishing opportunities for players when
in realistic playing moments. In the centre of the practice we can see a 5v5
occurring where the players are looking to combine and play through, once
they play through they can score. However, if they can’t break through the
opponent they can use the yellows once they’ve had ‘control’ of the ball.
Once this happens and the ball goes wide, the yellow has three touches to
get the ball out of their feet, get into position, and deliver a cross. The
practice goes both ways depending on the result of the possession.  
Progression:
• The session can create the realistic and Size:
challenging types of crosses Guardiola creates. 50 Yards Wide
To progress this we can challenge the players to 60 Yards Long
thread the ball between the opponents unit and
into the space behind for the wide player.  
Player Detail:
• What type of cross?
• What type of nish?
•  
Intervention Style
Ensure that detail is given to the players, and time is taken out of the
practice to allow for enough recovery.

fi

fi
WEEK 6 - FRIDAY
Description:
change
Progression:
• No progression needed 
Player Detail:
No new messages, just reinforce the principles that you
have enforced all week. Size:
50 Yards Wide
60 Yards Long
Intervention Style
Walk through the situations you coach, let players see
the moment, what is commonly referred to as the traditional coaching

6V4+4 RONDO PRACTICE
Session Setup:
Attempting to nd the +1 Principle through compact and dif cult

situations in overloaded mid eld situations.

fi
fi
fi
PEP GUARDIOLA
6V4+4 RONDO PRACTICE

Session Setup:


fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi

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DEVELOPING

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An insight in to the attacking tactics of one of

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are

Front cover image by TheFootballCoach.

Book design by TheFootballCoach.

Printed by FootballCoaching, Ltd., in the United Kingdom.

First printing edition 2021.

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Following his departure as a player from Barcelona, he return upon his

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The word microcycle refers to a small period of training, in football, this is

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When developing any football-related training program, it is important to

We know from Premier League data players cover up to 450KM in the

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Tactical Periodisation is effectively a method of planning a training week

Tactical Periodisation is a modern holistic approach to a training

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The fundamental difference between standard periodisation and that of

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Developing a Guardiola approach

Tactical Periodisation is a modern holistic approach to a training

As the title suggests, the core of tactical periodisation is the tactical

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Periodisation as mentioned traditionally looks at how the players are

In order to understand what training must look like, we must have an

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Fractality is an important part of Tactical Periodisation, it is how the game

use of timing, location and addition of

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One of the most important factors within Tactical Periodisation is the

The way we want to play can only be achieved by training

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PLAYER CLUBS NATIONAL

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Four Moments of The Game

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One of the most important aspects of Tactical Periodisation is recognising

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Sub principles represent a cross-unit principle or a principle that has more

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much more unique and speci c information. This kind of information is

This doesn’t have to be speci c to position, it can be speci c to playing

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In possession they might look to create a wide diamond to aid positional

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There is never a session without complexity, the complexity just develops

Principles Of Complex Horizontal Alteration

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Four Moments of The Game 