STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT BY AGE GROUPS (U14 to U19) (Patreon)

By NATIONAL TECHNICAL STRUCTURE OF U15 to U20 (Portuguese FA)!

Perfecting the Basics of Football and Starting Performance (U14-U15)

Main Characteristics:

• Radical changes in the person, with the onset of adolescence;
• They tire more quickly, due to the fact that energy is channeled into growth;
• Decrease in the manifestation of coordination abilities;
• Sensitive period for starting the development of conditional abilities (strength, speed, endurance and flexibility).

Main Objectives:

• Stimulate resilience ability;
• Enhance individual techniques;
• Develop collective tactical behaviors at different moments of the game;
• Start defining specific position;
• Develop individual tactical behaviors.

Development of Performance in Football (U16-U17)

Main Characteristics:

• Age of romance;
• Great emotional instability;
• Sexual maturity/stabilization of growth;
• Search for one's own identity and independence;
• Greater camaraderie with peers of the same age;
• Desire for affirmation/power/physical value.

Development of Performance in Football (U18-U19)

Main Characteristics:

• Emerging adult values and behaviors;
• Stability of identity;
• Social stability;
• Improvement of relationships with family;
• Definition of sports goals.

Under 16-17-18-19: Development of Performance in Football: Game at the highest level in formation, higher game speed, increase in competitive pressure (need to play well, to be effective).

Main Objectives:

• Build a solid mental structure;
• Improve different individual techniques;
• Develop collective tactical behaviors in different moments of the game;
• Define specific position;
• Develop and improve individual tactical behaviors;
• Increase the complexity of training exercises.

Sub 14-15-16-17-18-19: Start and Development of Performance in Football:

Structural Dimension:

• 11v11 Game and Variations (9v7; 6v6; 4v4 with supports,...)

Functional Dimension:

• Maturing of the cultural principles of the game (penetration, offensive coverage, mobility, width, contention, defensive coverage, and concentration,...);
• Progressive positional specialization;
• Progressing in complexity of behaviors defined for different moments in the game;
• Enhancing specific motor abilities;
• Emotional control in high-pressure contexts;
• Development of specific positional technique;
• Development of tactical-strategic dimension.

Example of Exercises:

1# Objective: Collective Offensive Organization

Exercise: 10v0+GK game. One team attacking each goal. Perform one at a time. 

Space: Formal field.

Duration: 15'.

Progression: Progressive opposition by sectors.

2# Objective: Offensive and Defensive Transitions

Exercise: 10v(5+5) game. The team that recovers the ball tries to connect on the opposite side and regain possession. The team that loses the ball puts 5 players on the opposite side to try to recover the ball. 

Space: 2x 15x40m. 

Duration: 4x4’+ 1’ break = 20’.

Progression: Progressive opposition by sectors.

3# Objective: Offensive Organization and Defensive Sectorial - Middle Sector

Exercise: (3+3)v(3+3) game with 4 mini-goals. 2 Supports in width and 1 in depth. 

Space: 20x40m.

Duration: 4x3' + 1' break = 16'.

Progression: Integration of 1 Wing for offensive superiority.

4# Objective: Offensive Organization & Inter-Sectoral Defensive Organization with Transitions

Exercise: GK+2v3 & 8v7+GK - 2 distinct spaces.

Space: 2/3 of the formal field.

Duration: 4x5' + 1' break = 25'.

Progression: Progressive integration of players to defend and attack in each of the spaces.