FOOTBALL: My Philosophy - Johan Cruyff

(2012)

CHAPTERS
1. The Street;
2. The Club;
3. The Competition;
4. The Joy of Playing;
5. Technique.

• Importance and benefits of abdominal exercises, particularly in

preventing groin injuries.
• Children should get accustomed to stretching before a practice or
game to reduce future muscle and tendon injuries.
• There are five basic elements in football: shooting; heading;
dribbling; ball control and ball mastery.
• Training both legs is extremely important.
• Do not lose sight of the playful aspect when working with youth.
They should also be kept occupied as much as possible.
• It's important for young players to gain as much flexibility as they
can and maintain it. Flexibility ensures good body control (which
is essential in football).
• Poor posture hinders proper body control. Flexibility and
stretching exercises will be very useful for improving flexibility
and body control.
• High studs cause players to sink into the field (increasing the risk
of muscle and knee injuries).
• Young players should be encouraged to have a sense of
responsibility (taking care of their equipment bag and cleats).
They should also take good care of their feet (keep toenails
trimmed and dry them well after bathing).
• Every new season, footwear should be renewed. Shoes should be
thoroughly wet before using them in competition (taking boots
out of the box and using them on a dry field can cause blisters).
The important thing about new boots is that they feel comfortable
to the touch and fit well on the foot.
• Regardless of the level one plays at, always give your best. Do it
not only for ourselves but also for everyone else.
• Football should bring pleasure to the youth to keep them from
quitting. So, it's important to seek joy and reward inspiration
(both in practices and games).

• How each age group functions and what aspects should be

considered:
Up to 10 years old:
1st get familiar with the ball (players with better technical skills will play more
often in the starting team). Prioritize playing (they enjoy it more). Gradually
get them used to playing together. Gently guide those who tend to dribble
excessively and encourage the more reserved ones to attempt dribbling more
often. Try to educate the players and avoid making comparisons.

From 10 to 12 years old:

Boundaries expand. Position players on the field, but also let them play freely.
At this age, work on correcting the most noticeable flaws of young footballers.

Under-15:
Considered the main group (with higher potential). They absorb everything,
making it easier to work on certain details with them. Explain defending and
attacking to them (but always calmly). This group reaches the peak of what
can be achieved during the years of football development.

Under-17:
The most complicated group (also due to puberty). Pay attention to the joy of
the game (if things change in this aspect, it's best to revert to the basics and
emphasize the fun of football).

Under-19:
The final stage. Players start to be seen and treated as adults (there's a
separation between recreational and performance players). While the pleasure
in the game remains a central element of the activity, reference players who
"want more". The starting points should be the desire to play and the will to
improve. These aspects can be stimulated during training, but also through the
introduction of a kind of reward system. For example, rewards in the form of
extra equipment that gives the player the impression of achieving something
more. Creating such conditions is very easy for a club. Provide better balls and
have them play a game on the main team's field. The important thing is for the
player to see that by achieving a certain goal, their improved performance will
be rewarded in some way. The player gave that extra 'something' and wants to
receive 'something' in return. They did it for their own benefit and for the
club’s.

Final Comment:
During development, talented players should always play. If we have two good
Right Wingers, for instance, it's not wise to bench one just to play the other in
that position. Whenever possible, have both play at the same time—one in
their usual position and the other in a different role—because talented players
should always be on the field.
• Young players, whether during practices or games, should above
all have fun while playing their favorite sport. Therefore, technical
aspects should be addressed at all levels (they apply to all
players, regardless of their skill level).
• Football is only enjoyable when everyone touches the ball and
knows what to do with it.
• The simplest thing is for each player to know how to both pass
and receive a ball. The next step is to apply these skills within the
team. Two fundamental aspects of the game: passing and
receiving the ball (where any young player should start). It's the
foundation upon which to build technical prowess.

• Technical training can be divided into two steps:

1st learning the technique, which should improve until reaching a high
degree of functionality. Always based on the basic principle that ball control is
crucial. The more a player feels in control of the ball, the more they can
enhance their technical abilities.

Very simple technical exercises (ball control), which can be quite

useful:
- Receiving, controlling, and circulating the ball: Those who master these
actions can perform them without constantly looking at the ball. This
enhances the overall game vision, speeding up the execution of the complete
action. – Increase the ball's speed and the level of difficulty under pressure
from opponents; – Alternate the exercises by experimenting with both the
left and right legs. (When the ball is in the air, gently control and lower it in
one motion, placing it perfectly for the next action. When done without
looking at the ball, one can direct their gaze to the most interesting area of
the field to guide the ball, with either leg).
- Keeping the ball in the air: Begin with the "good" foot. Lift the ball and try to
keep it in the air for as long as possible. When performing the exercise
 reasonably well, try doing it with other body parts (the "weak" foot, head,
thighs, chest, shoulders, etc.). Starting with the ball stationary on the
ground and lifting it without using hands, this exercise can be done anytime.
Both the speed and distance of sending the ball can be increased. Increase
the difficulty level, for example, by tossing the ball over your head, turning
around, collecting it before it touches the ground, and continuing touches.
Keeping the ball in the air with the foot and/or head can also be done with
two players or in a group. You can even turn it into a game (like soccer-
tennis), where a ball touching the ground scores a point for one team or the
other, and players can only have a maximum of 3 touches on their side of
the court before passing to the opposing side. This game can have various
variations: serving with a volley, first touch with the head, etc. While most
aspects of this last exercise might not directly transfer to the game, they are
very useful for learning to manipulate the ball. If a young player wants to
progress as a footballer, they must have perfect ball control. Without this
foundation, improving other aspects of the game like vision, passing,
combinations, etc., is impossible. It's essential that these seemingly simple
exercises are done regularly, especially as the young player grows
(fundamental to developing a necessary special intimacy with the ball).
These two simple examples can serve as starting points for hundreds of
exercises that can also be a lot of fun.

6. From Formation to Practice

• After adaptation exercises with the ball, training should focus on
the game. It's crucial for young players to be able to play without
fear of losing and to enjoy the game.
• An excellent tool to start with is adopting the 2-winger system
(1-4-3-3). This consists of 1 Goalkeeper, 4 Defenders, 3
Midfielders, and 3 Forwards. This system is ideal for the learning
process as it naturally exposes young players to all aspects of the
game.
7. Dribbling and Ball Control
• Dribbling refers to an action where the player with the ball
maintains possession even under pressure from an opponent. To
practice dribbling, set up a row of cones. The objective is for
players to advance through the row while slaloming with the ball
at their feet. It's essential that with each step, the ball is
alternately touched using the outer and inner sides of the foot.
The idea is not to kick the ball forcefully and chase after it, but to
exit each cone while keeping the ball close to the foot. The
starting point is improving long-term ball mastery. The advantage
of this technical exercise is that all players can progress in their
results. Trying it with the "weaker" foot, increasing execution
speed, and bringing the cones closer together are variations to
heighten difficulty. When the slalom can be executed with the ball
close to the foot without looking at it, a certain level of perfection
is achieved. In all cases, the ball is first kicked using either the
inner or outer side of the foot and then the deviation is corrected
using the other part. Therefore, initially placing the cones one
after another forces a straight slalom. This ensures the player
employs both the outer and inner sides of the foot. If a right-
footed player starts by kicking the ball with the inner side, they
will notice the need to correct excessive deviation to the left with
the outer side of their right foot. Only through practicing this
alternation can the player move forward in a straight line. If they
attempt the exercise by passing the ball from the inner side of the
right foot to the inner side of the left foot, they'll lose speed and
control over their body.
• Practice dribbling with both feet. The key to this action is to
position the body between the opponent and the ball.
• Ball control is performed while running at high speed. Strides
should be longer than during dribbling to maintain control of the
ball. The simplest method to train high-speed ball control is
incrementing: starting from a standstill, gradually accelerate the
ball's speed while making sure it doesn't escape too much.
• A more challenging training method is the 1-on-1 situation. The
attacker possesses the ball and accelerates rapidly towards the
opponent. This exercise can also be performed near the sideline,
alternating between the right and left foot and passing the ball
from one foot to the other.
• Messi and Maradona excel in mastering these actions.

8. Shooting and Passing

• Like with other technical elements, basic technique is crucial in
shooting and passing. The more relaxed the execution, the better
the technique. Shooting with power isn't always about strength.
Proper posture and body balance are essential. Two things are
particularly important:
1st) The supporting leg should always be parallel to the ball, so when
leaning on one leg, using the arm is important. For someone shooting
with their right foot, the left arm should be aligned with the supporting
leg, down by the side. During the shooting motion, the body should lean
slightly forward, or else it will fall. Shooting can be developed primarily
through practice, with many hours of repetition and shooting with both
left and right feet. It's the same whether these exercises are done by
rebounding the ball against a wall or on a training field with one or more
teammates. Shooting can be classified as offensive or defensive. If a
defender wants to send the ball over a long distance, they need to shoot
 with power. However, the force applied differs from that of a forward
shooting at the goal. In a long-range shot/pass from the defense, the
body should lean slightly backward, making contact with the ball slightly
lower than its center. In this case, it's important for the leg to continue
the ball's trajectory after the impact. (Beckham; R. Koeman).
On the other hand), when shooting at the goal, the body should lean
more over the ball. Since more power is required, the ball should be
struck more in the center (C.Ronaldo, Bale, Juninho P.). If aiming to use
the right foot, start with the left foot, then swiftly rotate the body a bit
backward. Next, launch the whole body into the shot. The leg will only
follow the ball's movement after the impact; the shot should be sharp
and explosive.The difference in shooting between a defender and a
forward is also reflected in the head posture. In the case of a defender,
the head slightly tilts backward, while for a forward, the head leans
slightly forward.

• Good posture is essential for shooting the ball well.

• With a good starting posture, a larger portion of the foot can be
placed under the ball, increasing the contact surface and making
the shot more efficient.
• These basic principles can be improved through appropriate and
intense training. Once mastered, you can start training longer
passes, for example. Naturally, the simplest is to send the ball to
a distant location. Once this step is mastered, you can increase
the difficulty by maintaining the distance while lowering the
height of the pass. This exercise can be refined to end with a
ground-level pass, a powerful and long pass that is more efficient
due to its lower trajectory and directness.
• Proper warm-up is necessary for this type of training. The body
must be prepared before shooting. Therefore, it's important to
start gradually. Begin by passing the ball from close range and
 gradually increase the distance. Only when the body is thoroughly
warmed up should you shoot at the goal. This helps avoid
unnecessary injuries.

9. Heading
• Similar to dribbling and shooting, everyone, regardless of their
level, can improve this aspect of the game (example C.Ronaldo).
• It's important to start with care and progress steadily to achieve
good results.
• A good heading technique depends on 4 factors:
1. Proper posture – just before heading, the body should be slightly tilted
backward. This is the same posture used when controlling the ball with
the chest. Then, the body should project towards the ball.
2. Good balance – achieved through effective use of the arms, which
maintain balance.
3. Synchronisation.
4. Ball contact with the head – Headers can be defensive or offensive. In
defensive headers, the ball should go upwards, while in offensive
headers, it should go downwards. Offensive headers are clearly more
difficult.

• The first exercise involves placing one player facing another.

Simply pass the ball back and forth with the head. The ball should
be struck from a point in the front, slightly below its center. These
are defensive headers. If heading hurts, it indicates that it wasn't
done correctly, as when the ball is headed from the center of the
forehead, there should be little to no discomfort.
• If there's progression, the group can be expanded, for example,
to 6 players. Arrange two lines of 3 players each facing each
other, and have players switch positions within the line. Players
 then not only focus on the impact of the ball on the head but also
on synchronisation with teammates.
• This exercise can also be extended to a circle of players with one
player in the center, delivering the ball with the head to a
different player in the circle in a specific direction. The goal of this
exercise is to further master heading technique. This exercise can
be enriched with an intermediate action, where players control the
ball with the head before delivering it with a second header.
• All the exercises mentioned above are performed with players
standing at head-height.
• I must again emphasize the importance of using good balls,
especially at this stage. A ball that's not too heavy or inflated but
bounces is ideal.
• Only in the second phase is the ball projected higher into the air.
Here too, patience is important, and skipping steps should be
avoided. Begin by tossing the ball into the air toward the player
so they can head it back after jumping. Aside from heading
technique, there's also a timing challenge in this exercise. The
participants in this exercise can also increase.
• All the preceding exercises are for practicing defensive heading.
This is a particular type of heading, as the player using the head
to clear the ball behaves like a goalkeeper.
• Offensive heading – the ball contacted with the head shouldn't
rise above heart level, so it should be struck from a higher point.
The head shouldn't be positioned below the ball but at least at the
same level or even slightly above.
• I continue to emphasize that all exercises should be done with
both legs: use both left and right legs to dribble, drive, shoot, or
 pass. As absurd as it may sound, this also applies to heading. A
right-footed player will more comfortably head the ball over their
left shoulder. Therefore, balls should be practiced from both the
left and right sides.
• Offensive heading can be divided into technical heading and the
so-called "hammer blow.”
1. Technical heading – this requires greater technique, as the goal is to
place the ball in an unreachable spot for the goalkeeper, such as the far
corner. The aim of heading towards the goal is to score!
2. Hammer blow – striking the ball with so much force that it seems like it
could pierce the net. It's impressive to watch and is a unique skill.

• To excel in these specialties, players must perfectly master the

basic principles of heading: proper posture, a balanced body,
flawless synchronisation, and impeccable striking. Additionally,
they must be capable of executing these actions under strong
pressure and scoring.
• The arms play a fundamental role once again, also serving as a
shield to protect the position against opponents.
• Learning to head the ball well is the result of appropriate and
patient practice. Up to age 12, children should learn the technique
of heading step by step. Many games are fun for children in this
age group.
• At 13 years old, they should practice jumping a bit, after which a
lengthy transition phase begins. This is because the young player
must learn to control two actions simultaneously: jumping and
synchronisation. After this, they can start practicing heading to
place the ball in a specific spot. This step can only be taken if the
player has mastered all the other heading techniques. Before this
point, it's not worth doing it, as training such a challenging aspect
 of the game wouldn't make sense if there's not enough mastery of
the basic heading techniques.
• I emphasize again: to learn to head well, patience is crucial. Don't
rush; it's a skill that can only be mastered from solid
fundamentals. Practice regularly and repeat the exercises. Only
then will you have a chance for success.

10. Controlling the ball

• Knowing how to stop the ball is one of the most important skills in
football. Those who can't stop a ball can't play soccer. The ball
can be stopped using any part of the body, with the obvious
exception of hands (except for the goalkeeper within their Penalty
Area).

10.1. Heading Control:

To control the ball with the head, the player has to "follow" the ball in some
way. To capture the ball in this manner, we should almost imagine the ball
replacing our head. To achieve this, we should use our knees while leaning the
upper body backward. The ball should be contacted with the central part of the
forehead.

10.2. Chest Control:

The ball can be controlled with the chest in two ways. First, we have the
normal reception of the ball. The body is in the same posture as when heading
or shooting the ball. At the moment of impact, the belly should be pushed out,
the chest slightly backward, and the legs slightly forward. The body is slightly
pushed by the ball. Second, there's the reception used to give speed to the
ball. This means it's not about stopping and controlling the ball and looking
where to direct it, but rather striking the ball with the chest to quickly put it
back into play. At the moment of contact, the head should be almost over the
ball, while the hip and belly should be positioned backward. If the posture is
correct, the ball should go downward, where the legs will give it the desired
direction.

10.3. Thigh Control:

When the ball is directed to the thigh, the most important thing is that the
muscle is relaxed. Otherwise, the ball will bounce away. The thigh shouldn't
project in the opposite direction of the ball's trajectory but should simply
reduce its speed.

10.4. Foot Control:

If we want to completely stop the ball, we need to do so with the sole of the
boot. The ball will be less static if we stop it with the instep of the foot (with
the shoelaces of the boot). The body should lean slightly forward, and the ball
should be oriented in the same direction as the player's run, allowing them to
continue advancing with the ball. This allows considerable time to be gained.
Stopping the ball with the inside of the foot is the most common. The knee
should turn so that the leg is sideways and the ball is in front of the foot. The
upper body should lean slightly forward, preventing the ball from escaping too
far. Once both legs regain their normal orientation, the ball can be played.
Stopping the ball with the outside of the foot is interesting, especially when an
opponent is behind or when we want to add speed to the play. To control the
ball in this way, it's essential that our body is positioned between the ball and
the opponent. Thus, when the ball is in play, it will be shielded from the
opponent by the upper part of our body, which projects backward. To prevent
the ball from escaping during the reception, the foot should be completely
relaxed, as otherwise, the ball would bounce against it.

• These are the golden rules. The better players master them, the
faster and more efficiently they can continue the play.
• Both legs should be trained for ball control. After gaining control,
the ball can be played to either side, a necessary condition for
effective positional play, for instance.

• Exercises:
1. Throwing the Ball
Start with the simplest method. Throw the ball with your hands with some
accuracy for your teammate to stop it, with the difficulty level minimised.
Naturally, the ball can be thrown at head height, chest height, thigh height, or
foot height.

2. Throw-in
This is a 2-player exercise where one performs the throw-in to the other's
chest, who must control the ball. It's training for both, as the player making
the throw-in adopts the same posture as the player controlling with the chest.

3. Pass with the Foot

Practice indicates that controlling the ball with the foot is easier from a strong
pass. Most fields are uneven. In those conditions, a ball that arrives too softly
will bounce irregularly, making control difficult. A ball passed with force will
rebound slightly against the receiver's foot, making it easier to control.

4. Game Tempo
Stop and shoot. It's best to do this in 3 steps. This exercise requires disciplined
execution. Stop the ball, take a step to the right, pass with the left, and then
reverse. Speed should be imparted to the ball, and if not done this way, the
exercise won't have a rhythm.

Receive and Play

The basis of this exercise is to touch the ball only twice. Once to receive and
once to pass, and both actions are done while in motion. Create the
opportunity to immediately circulate the received ball. To practice this kind of
play, it's ideal to organize 4v2, 4v3, or 5v3 games. The quick play is,
therefore, the final phase of ball control. This covers all aspects of this chapter.