Why attending live games can help player learning

Dr Ceri Bowley looks at the learning opportunities on offer when young players attend live games.

Modern day broadcasting has made watching football easy, with games from around the globe now accessible to the everyday fan.

Indeed, this together with the advancement of technology allows football to be watched on television, smartphone, computer, tablet and games consoles.

As a result, we may become reluctant to spend money attending games. However, there’s nothing quite like the experience of watching live football. This article will aim to articulate some of the benefits that watching live football can have for developing young players.

1. Culture and identifyBeing in a stadium provides a unique experience that cannot be replicated. Any young player exposed to this environment can gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of football. The passion of supporters and the importance of football to them is evident at every level of the game. Engagement with these people can help young players understand the culture of football.

Attending live games will enhance an understanding of the identity of different clubs/teams. The chants and songs heard in the stands are often a figure of representation that reveal many things about who they are and what they stand for. This together with a better understanding of the culture of the game can raise awareness of the importance of players having an affinity with the supporters and wider stakeholders of the club/organisation. Understanding this, players at all levels of the game can generate a stronger sense of belonging, creating a passion for who they represent and what they stand for collectively, often resulting in a stronger bond and cohesion on and off the pitch.

2. The big picture

TV coverage of football presents a zoomed in version of events whereby that which happens on the ball is followed. Watching on TV therefore will not develop an appreciation for the relationships between players. Indeed, nothing aside from being present at the game will do this. In youth development we often hear coaches encouraging their players to ‘look away from the ball’. Watching live football can aid with developing young players’ game understanding which enhances their ability to recognise different pictures and acknowledge what they themselves or their teammates can do to influence and affect the various situations that may unfold during a game.

Being at the game allows for observation of what players do in and out of possession even when they are not in close proximity of the ball. For example, when a right back is in possession where are the other players in the defensive unit positioned and what are they doing? How are the midfield unit supporting the player in possession whilst some players prepare to support the ball in the next phase of the play?

3. The reality

Analysis of football has seen a rapid growth over recent years, both in popularity and functionality. Indeed, masses of data can now be produced which details every action that a player performs in a given game. This information is presented in many forms both in play and following games. In addition to this, video games such as Football Manager and FIFA 17 continually expose young people to an abundance of stats about teams and individual players.

In many ways, access to this information has transformed the way young people now view the game. There’s no doubt that this information can be valuable and allows for specific and detailed examination of the game. However, there is a danger that we can lose sight of the ‘real game’ – the fluidity, intensity, and on times complexity of situations that unfold within it. It is therefore crucial that all stats are viewed in the context of the game, and considered against the effectiveness and efficiency of the player and/or team that they represent.

They certainly do not tell the full story. For example, there would appear to be a fascination with dominating the ball and as a result possession stats for teams and individual players are often scrutinised. It would be quite easy to become fixated on those teams with high possession or players with high pass completion rates.

Without context this information lacks meaning; possession without purpose is pointless. Watching players live is the only way to understand this context fully which includes:an appreciation of the intensity of the game, the type of passes played - opposed/unopposed, area of the pitch, distance, surface used, direction, purpose, impact, speed of play, the speed of movements and actions, skill levels – how easy complex skills are made to look.

An appreciation of these factors can serve to educate young players of the requirements that playing the game at that particular level (depending on the game watched) demands. This in turn can inform and focus effort on specific areas for development.

4. A model

 Being at the game allows for following of an individual player regardless of where the ball is. Watching individual players closely throughout the game can provide a basis from which young players can model their own game. For example, if attending an England game, a young full back may concentrate on Danny Rose in and out of possession. Some of the questions they may seek to answer include:

In possession:

• What position does he take when the team are playing out from goal kicks?
• What movement does he make to create space to receive the ball off the centre back?
• What’s his position when the ball is on the other side of the pitch with the right back?
• How and when does he support the ball in advanced areas?

Out of possession:

• Where does he position himself relative to the centre backs when the ball is in central areas?
• What’s his body position like when defending 1 v 1?
• How does he anticipate where passes will be played to step in and intercept?

When attending games with young players be it international, Premier League, Football League or local league, make the most of the opportunity to help them develop their understanding of the game. It can be an invaluable experience for more reasons than the overall enjoyment and satisfaction of seeing your team win.

Dr Ceri Bowley is a lecturer in sport development and coaching at the University of South Wales. Ceri previously worked as an FA regional coach mentor.