Football Made Me Series Edition - 4 Principles of the Game

📸 2012 Hamburg, Germany.

The four basics of football, according to my book.

There are four principles of the game that I know, and I believe, if mastered, can produce good results; that is, the principles of numbers, space, shape and time. 

What I mean...

1. The principle of numbers – We play 11 vs 11, and sometimes the numbers can be reduced due to foul play that leads to a red card. The team should always be aware of how they play as a team within the field of play. How to defend and attack is another key issue that also involves numbers; it's a plus-and-minus game within the space.

2. The principle of space – How the team positions itself during different transitions from defending, attacking and keeping the ball (possession). There's a reason why the field of play is marked, and every player must understand every area of the field and play to what is expected. A good example if a player makes a foul tackle inside the box that leads to a penalty and sometimes red card. It is unfortunate there are many players that just play without considering these basic principles. 

3. The principle of time – Every match is played within a time frame. Players should be aware and adjust the style of play considering the time factor versus the scoreline. It is quite tough to win a match by playing the same style for 90+ minutes. 

The coach in particular should be active in the game, which we also refer to reading the game and adjust appropriately. 

4. The principle of shape – Here I refer to the team formation and how the team generally utilise their numbers within the field of play (space) in different segments of the field. 

Have you ever heard of the term V-shape or maintain shape in football? There are many  common phrases used by many that usually calls for playing in a certain way at different transitions. 

Lastly, I would encourage the coaches to develop their own philosophies rather than just copying for the sake of it. Open your mind and attitude to new ways of doing things, and never stop learning from anyone and any source, and most importantly, develop a working philosophy and game plan.