PTE & FA Phase Development
Phase Overview
The FA's new Play Phase initiative is designed to inform and more importantly, support, all grassroots teams and clubs that recruit children from the age of 5 years upwards. Placing the child at the centre means that the environment is conducive to the holistic development of all children and the newly designed Play Framework gives the adults organising the activities a really useful framework to consider in order to work across all areas of development. The activities will ensure that a child's social, physical and psychological development, as well as their sporting development, forms part of the actual activities and how they are structured and delivered. It is a really exciting initiative in a world where play is now being recognised as so important for the health and well-being of everyone, young or old.
Phases:
Foundation (Ages 5 to 11)
Youth (12-16)
Professional (16-21)
Foundation Phase
Love The Ball, Love The Game: Age Phase Priorities
In the Foundation Phase, the emphasis is on enjoying playing, really putting in the FUNdamentals and developing a love for football and creating an environment that is exciting, memorable and one that keeps children coming back.
• The priorities outlined are a set of guiding principles for coaches to focus on in each of the age phases. • In-Possession:
• Stay on the ball, master the ball
• Excite with the ball and seek creative solutions
• Connect and Combine creatively with others
• Out of Possession:
• Positive and enthusiastic defending
• Intelligent defending
• Master a variety of defensive techniques and roles
• Transition:
• Instinctive decision making
• Positive and intelligent attacking reactions
• Positive and intelligent defensive reactions
• Consistent headlines throughout the age phases, with additional descriptive detail for each age phase.
Youth Development Phase
The Development Phase covers players and teams between the Foundation Phase and the Professional phase (ages 12-16). This stage focuses on developing young players and working on the technical and tactical understanding of the game.
They will learn how to transfer skills to the bigger pitches, how to technically create space on the pitch, how to manage time and opportunity and work on their decisions to pass.
In possession
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Stay on the ball, master the ball
Look to receive the ball in all areas of the pitch and be prepared to stay in possession.
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Excite with the ball and seek creative solution
Seek creative solutions to game situations particularly when outnumbered or in congested areas.
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Connect and combine creatively with others
Stay connected with the ball and your teammates to retain possession, open up compact defences.
Out of possession
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Positive and enthusiastic defending
Be prepared to defend 1v1 and be confident without cover or support.Stay on the ball, master the ball -
Intelligent defending
Outwit your opponent with excellent patience, timing and intercepting skills. -
Positive and enthusiastic defending
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Be prepared to defend 1v1 and be confident without cover or support.Stay on the ball, master the ball
Transition
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Instinctive decision-making
Dominate transition: react quickly and positively to the first individual action when attacking and defending.
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Positive and intelligent attacking reactions
React instinctively and intelligently when possession is regained,
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Positive and intelligent defensive reactions
Prevent progression by disrupting or destroying momentum, forcing errors and protecting the goal.
Professional phase
The Professional Development Phase (Under-17 to Under-23) bridges the gap from youth to senior football with a range of competitions between elite academy sides from England and against teams further afield,
In possession
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Stay on the ball, master the ball
Retain possession with intent: both individually and as a team.
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Excite with the ball and seek creative solutions
Open up compact defences with outstanding individuality and teamwork.
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Connect and combine creatively with others
Use clever combinations to create and score goals.
Out of possession
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Positive and enthusiastic defending
Dominate individual defending scenarios to regain quickly and cleanly in order to start attacks.
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Intelligent defending
Defend in an appropriate manner in relation to the state of the game.
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Master a variety of defensive techniques and roles
Work individually and collectively to dominate defending scenarios and nullify opposition attacks.
Transition
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Instinctive decision-making
React instinctively to transitions – both individually and as a team
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Positive and intelligent attacking reactions
Recognise opportunities to penetrate the opposition quickly, whilst also understanding when to retain possession.
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Positive and intelligent defensive reactions
Recognise, understand and react to potential danger.