Jamaica’s Under-17 football team head coach Andrew Edwards has moved quickly to not only defend and explain his team’s style of play, but also invite criticisms with the hope of moving the discussion to the public sphere as part of the overall development of the game.

Edwards’ team lost out to a place at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup after being defeated 5-4 on penalties by the United States of America on Sunday in Honduras.

The coach explains below:

“In the aftermath of our failed FIFA U17 World Cup qualification campaign I have resolved that as a part of the developmental process for Jamaica’s football I will share my idea of play and invite criticisms and discussions. According to Jonathan Wilson in Inverting The Pyramid, A History of Soccer Tactics, the development of ideas of play, tactics in the game have a lot to do with intellectual debates and discussions about how the game should be played. The time is right for us to embrace a similar approach in public spaces.

As a coach I want to have my ideas being challenged, critiqued and discussed so that it can evolve into something better. Other coaches, too, should defend or explain their ideas. The public, too, has a role to play as they themselves become more educated and in touch with what is happening or being attempted.

It is my belief that football should be played on the front foot. Meaning that the game should always be played with a positive impetus to go forward and win. Consequently, the idea of play or philosophy at the heart of my work is “one touch football”, characterised by many fast actions going forward and active ball oriented defending. Contrary to popular perspective Jamaican football as a consequence of our culture, physical capabilities and natural tendencies will never be at its best if all we do is try to copy other countries and top professional clubs. Obviously, we will of necessity copy ideas, styles and methods. The key is to tweak these to fit our culture, abilities and natural tendencies.

The Jamaican player is naturally athletic, fast and strong. Our culture and natural tendencies are not steeped in patience and gradual success. The modern game suits us quite well because it is being played at an increasingly fast pace. My limited global interactions and research, points to the Jamaican player being a natural prototype with the athletic profile of the footballer of the future (harder, faster, stronger — creating tomorrow’s footballer, by Alec Fenn www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/29647841). In other words athletically the Jamaican player is advantageously placed to dominate the game the sooner we are able to add tactical acumen, fortitude and adeptness to his arsenal.

Recent statistics from FIFA and top flight professional clubs in Europe suggest a declining trend in “possession football”. Teams are becoming increasingly more adept at “effective possession”. The consequence is that teams are attacking with greater speed and efficiency.

The key concepts of the idea of play being postulated are “ACTIVE BALL ORIENTED defending and COMBINED SPEED, POWER and ARTISTRY in attack. Eighteen principles form the foundations for training and player development, and the way of play.

1 PLAY DIRECT WITH PLENTY OF FAST ACTIONS — The MOST important thing in our play

a Force play in opponents half of pitch: in possession distance to goal is short, if ball is lost plenty of space and time to recover

b Direct play in opponents half, when superior or equal. This is for both ATTACK and DEFENCE

i In the opponents half you are nearer to the goal, playing direct means the shortest route to goal

ii If possession is lost there is plenty time to recover

iii The opponent plays under constant pressure and will make mistakes

c Drop deep against stronger opponents or stubborn defence to create space behind defenders for fast breaks

2 ACTIVE BALL ORIENTED DEFENDING

a The whole team (ALL 11 players) NEED to work to get the ball back ASAP (3 passes or five seconds rule)

b Most important thing is to pressure opponents to make mistakes; TACKLING is NOT the main focus

c The closer to the opponents’ goal we win the ball the easier our passage to goal

d Counter pressing, High Pressing, Low Pressing

3 PLAY WITH SPRINTS, SPEED and POWER

a Aim to score within 10 seconds of winning ball possession

b Get behind opposing defence lines quickly

c Maintain tempo for as long as possible (90 minutes)

4 SWITCHING POSITIONS (ROTATION)

a “We are defenders who attack. We are attackers who defend” — Unknown

b All players Must be comfortable playing in any position

c Rotation creates dynamic balance for us and confuses the opponent

5 HIGH DEFENSIVE LINE

a Try to squeeze opponent in their half of the field

b Well-coordinated, with excellent communication and understanding

c Offside is a weapon

6 MAKE the field SMALL and BIG

a When defending we make the field as SMALL as possible — squeezing the opponent

b When we win the ball we spread out and make the field BIG

c Bring the ball back — use the back pass to keep possession and stretch the field — patience

d Play direct, keep the ball, switch sides and make opponents chase the ball

7 GOAL KEEPER who is comfortable with the ball

a GK should be as comfortable with the ball as the outfield players

b Modern Sweeper-Keeper; integral to build up and possession play

8 SHORT DIRECT BUILD UP

a Always start with a PASS to player nearest opponents goal

b Long or Short Goal Kick

c Deliberate actions by PLAYMAKER, PACEMAKER and TRIGGERMAN

d Play through opponents’ defensive lines; deep passes preferred

e No square passes except where very safe

9 SHORT CORNERS and INSWINGING CORNERS

a Increase control of outcome

b Exploit opponents’ weaknesses and lapses

c Accurate delivery into danger zones for target players

10 CREATING SPACE FOR TEAMMATES

a Always MOVE to create spaces for teammates with and without the ball

b Decoy running to upset opponents defensive shape and organisation

c Anticipatory runs to optimise options for player with ball and to take advantage of opponents’ errors

11 ATTACKING DYNAMISM

a MUST adapt attacking play (fast/patient/counter attacking) to game circumstance and opponent capability

b Individual expression MUST be deployed responsibly in the interest of the team

c Attacking play should vary according to stage of game and place on field

12 DOMINATE MID-FIELD and ATTACK as a UNIT

a Plenty of ROTATIONS

b Striker MUST drop deep to help keep possession;

c Midfielders MUST impose themselves on the game physically, technically and tactically

13 PSYCHOLOGY

a TEAM FIRST MENTALITY

b COMMITMENT

c DISCIPLINE

d LEADERSHIP

e HARDWORK

f NO EXCUSES

g PLAY WITH SWAGGER (Enjoy the game)

14 FORMATIONS

a 4-4-2 ******

b 4-3-3

c 4-2-3-1

d 3-4-3

15 PLAYING IN ATTACK

a Direct Play with Fast Actions; counter attack; one touch play

b Deep Short Deep/ Klatch pass

c Attack through centre

d Cross from half zones

e Attack in numbers, without fear

f Flexible formations

g Target weak link/player

16 TRANSITION FROM ATTACK TO DEFENCE

a Counter pressing immediately

b Recover behind ball

c Get into defensive shape and formation

d Channel opponent play toward ball winners

17 PLAYING IN DEFENCE

a Counter pressing; High press; Low Press

b Defend as a team; all 11 players MUST work to regain possession

c Double teaming; hunt in packs/gangs

d Hunting

e Maintain shape and organisation; Flexible formations

f 5seconds/ 3passes rule

g Deny space and penetration

h Force errors

i Channel opponents into pressing zone; towards ball winners

j Consider subsequent action when ball possession is gained

18 TRANSITION FROM DEFENCE TO ATTACK

a Penetrating pass towards opponents goal

b High speed dribbling towards opponents goal (if open space in front)

c Fast short passes and ball receptions ( 3-5 at most for Counter attacking)

d Avoid unnecessary actions

e Play in centre (if possible)

f Force opposing defenders to react

g Coordination of running distances & angles, and passing actions.

Having this grandiose idea or any other idea is no guarantee for success. What it does however, is provide a clear path for success to be achieved. Without the players to make it work however, this idea, like all other ideas will be nothing more than that, an idea.

This is the basis of the work done with the Jamaica U17 men’s team 2014-2015; it was first attempted at Munro College.

In subsequent pieces I will provide a breakdown of the ideal player profile for each playing position and the tactical demands within the idea. Your frank and unconditional feedback is being anticipated.