HORST WEIN
Horst Wien (1940-2016) wrote two groundbreaking coaching books entitled “Developing Youth Football Players” and “Game Intelligence”, which are the official textbooks of The Spanish Football Federation and he developed small sided games through the concept of FUNiño. The word FUNiño was created from the word “FUN” and the Spanish word “Niño” (child) as he was living in Barcelona, Spain at the time.
Legendary Coaching Mentor Horst Wein believes simplified small games are imperative for the proper development of youth soccer players. “When you do what you have done always, you will never reach any further” – Horst Wein. He was one of the first to strongly argue in favor of smaller-sided games (although he prefers the term ‘simplified games’) for younger players; views that everyone now seems to be accepting and enthusing about but which were considered as idiotic for a long time. He came up with the idea
Wein was one of the deepest and most influential thinkers within the game. He was the first coach to be awarded the title of FIH Master Coach and was considered a coach for the world’s best coaches, Horst Wein has consulted for FC Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Sunderland, Leeds United, Atletico Bilbao, Villareal, Real Sociedad, Bayer Leverkusen, VFB Stuttgart, Schalke 04, Mainz 04, St Pauli, TSG Hoffenheim, Deportiva Cali, Peñarol Montevideo, Santa Fe Bogota, Pumas, Club America, Nacional Montevideo, Universidad Católica, Liga Univeraria Peru, Los Rayados de Monterrey, Santos Laguna, Necaxa, FC Adelaide and FC Kenkre. Wein has also worked with the National Federations of England, Scotland, Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama, Australia, India, and Singapore.
In Search of Game Intelligence – Interview with Horst Wein
When Johann Cruyff set about rebuilding the whole set up at Barcelona, using the Dutch blueprint he had grown up with at Ajax, inadvertently he was also reshaping the footballing philosophy of the whole nation. The link between the modern all-conquering Spanish tiki-taka and the Dutch total-football is too obvious not to notice.
Less noticeable is the German influence on the Spanish game. That comes through Horst Wein, a German “coach of coaches” whose work has influenced thousands of coaches and whose book “Developing Youth Football Players” is the official textbook of The Spanish Football Federation.
Wein is truly an impressive man. Not simply because of his CV – even though that contains working with some of the world’s top clubs and federations as well as authoring 34 sports textbooks – but also because he talks the language of someone who has thought deeply about his work and come up with a level of insight that few can match.
“Who is the best coach in the world?” he asks before promptly replying “we have no doubt, it is the game of football itself”. The message is very clear: coaches are there to facilitate and not act as the main actors.
Not that he doesn’t appreciate the value of coaches. “When you do what you have done always, you will never reach any further,” he says, underlining his belief in innovation.
His journey, however, didn’t start on a football field but rather in hockey spurred by the questions of his young son.
How did you start formulating your theories?
When he was 7 years old my son (who 15 years later became World Champion) questioned my coaching even though at the time I was one of the leading hockey coaches. So, in order to answer his doubts, I became also interested in youth development.
You’re a big proponent of making football fun. How do you achieve that and why is it so important?
Especially for kids initiating their career in football from the ages of 7-9, it is very important that they fall in love with the game. When this happens and football become their healthiest drug then they continue to play the game for a lifetime. Through FUNiño we offer a very unique game format, 3v3 on four goals, which will lead to playing “The Beautiful Game” at 10 years and older as the best teams of the world are demonstrating it. .
Similarly, you say that the best coach in the world is the game of football itself: what do you mean by that?
In times gone by, Street Football helped to develop naturally skillful and creative players, simply because the games were simplified, with few players around and what’s important with no interference from any coach. I have studied the way kids play and then have captured the same essence and added some structure in the development of these games without the overuse of drills which is still very prominent in many football academies around the world. Instead of listening the players to the constant instructions, any academy coach should use guided discovery questions to encourage the kids to discover the problems inherent in the game in an interactive way.
What did street football teach children that has been lost today?
Street football was a natural environment for children to explore the game of football the natural way. Children played almost daily for many hours around the corner, they didn’t need any transport nor specific sport equipment, no registration at a federation which today treat all children like adults, who with their too complex competitions limit the natural development of our youth in football.
You were one of the first to argue in favour of small sided games for young children. Is it pleasing to see so many people now agreeing with you? And why is it so important?
Yes, thankfully the idea of small sided games (I prefer my term of simplified games) has become widespread in the last decades. However, I would personally still prefer if the competitions kids were asked to play world-wide were age-appropriate i.e., 3 v 3 for 7-9 years; 5 v 5 for 10 years; 7 v 7 for 11 and 12 years and 8 v 8 for 13 years, before, eventually playing 11 v 11 at 14 years of age. None of the FIFA member countries has yet applied an optimal structure for their youth competitions! So, imagine if there would be countries which would implant my optimal, age-appropriate competitions (which as I said above are the best teacher) how much space there would be for improving the playing capacities. A lot in youth development is still to be discovered by almost all football clubs in the world. Football will soon improve considerably as other ball games like hockey, volleyball and basketball have done. Football is still an undeveloped sport and far behind others, especially in developing young football players.
At what age should competitive leagues start?
Experiences have shown 12 years is about right, as the kids will probably demand that.
Are kids over-coached?
Most definitely, many coaches today still regard young players as “empty vessels” that have to be filled, instead of young people with amazing potential and intelligence to be stimulated and tapped into. Imagine, FIFA is still using the term “instructor” which is a term from the last century which should only be used at Military Services!
What is a coach’s role? Is it that of a teacher?
When we say, “the game is the teacher,” we mean that quite literally. Coaches should facilitate the stimulation of game intelligence and creativity through the use of simplified games in which children should discover for themselves as often as possible all secrets of the game. The coach’s role is to create an environment where the young players flourish naturally.
What is the most important skill in a young player?
Today most players have good technique and physical preparation so what separates the very best players is their level of game intelligence. It has to be considered the most important ability on the football field. Therefore, young players have to be systematically exposed to games like FUNiño , which unlocks and stimulates their creativity and game intelligence from 7/8 years onwards.
Do you, as a coach, give any importance to physical attributes like height or strength in a young player?
The strongest, fastest player without game intelligence will waste most of his potential, but the smallest intelligent player can overcome any opponent.
What is game intelligence? And how do you coach creativity and intelligence if that is at all possible?
Game Intelligence is that ability to “read the game” and make good decisions as quickly as possible. The game of football is a constant flow of changing game situations and becomes very complex when playing the adult game of 11 v 11. From the earliest ages, players must be exposed to game situations in ever-increasing complexity but starting with simple games first. In FUNiño, 3v3 with two goals out wide at each end, there is always options available, as one goal is usually less defended than the other. This facilitates greater perception, understanding and decision-making. In subsequent games in our development model, the game situations become more complex. Also using the guided discovery coaching method helps to develop greater understanding and retention of game situations and ultimately better decision-making. Playing games rather than isolated drills is another key factor in developing “game intelligence,”
You’ve worked in many countries and influenced a lot of people, but it takes time for new ideas to be absorbed. How long does it normally take to change mentality of people?
In some countries people are ready for new ideas, especially the “newer” soccer countries where there is no tradition. In others it may take many years. Usually, it takes 10 years for changes to take place. Thankfully through the internet, knowledge spreads much nowadays more quickly than in previous decades.
And finally, what is next for you?
My method is more or less used in all Spanish Football clubs since the Spanish Federation published my textbooks more than 20 years ago. Actually, they are all sold out … and probably a new edition is on the way for 2014 with the newest updates.
FUNiño is the first building block in an age-appropriate soccer development model. It is especially designed for children under 10 years of age and is much like “street soccer” played by children in years gone by. It is designed around the same concept as Little League Baseball or Basketball, both of which use equipment and playing areas and rules scaled down to match the size of the young children. This small-sided game allows kids to achieve immediate success – and further their achievements as their skills develop and their confidence grows.
FUNiño, with its rules perfectly adapted to the physical and mental capacities of children under 10, is critical to the long-term growth of the game of soccer, and ultimately to the development of generations of even better players and future champions.
In FUNiño children play three against three on a smaller pitch, with a fourth player who rotates in and out of the game systematically. There is no goalkeeper, but there are four goals – two to attack and two to defend. One of the two goals that are defended is always defended by less players than the other. This goal is attacked by the player in possession with his or her teammates – allowing the players to learn how to attack with more players than the defense. Each child often has possession of the ball, has to constantly make decisions, and has to run more. Because of this, FUNiño teaches children to control their bodies and to act quickly, meaning that players who train in this way have an advantage that goes beyond pure athleticism: a team with players who can anticipate scenarios quickly and make the right decision and are particularly good at controlling their bodies and the ball is better than a team that relies solely on power and stamina. These are the skills that FUNiño promotes in 6 to 10 year old children.
The smaller pitch, and more especially, the two wide goals at each end, encourages young players to play the game first in their head before they finish their actions with their feet. Reading the game situation and knowing which goal to attack demands good perception skills in order to make good decisions. This game set-up brings the fun back to soccer and keeps the children wanting more.
The pitch size, 30m x 25m for all competitive games for 8- and 9-year old’s, allows the players to reach a teammate anywhere on the pitch with a size 3 or 4 ball. This helps them to improve their perception and decision-making skills. Moreover, the players touch the ball much more often than in Futsal or 5-a-side or 7-a-side soccer.
FUNiño fosters correct technique, enhances better tactical play, and ensures full participation of all players both physically and mentally – all key components for success in competitive play.
Because the game does not require much space, eight mini pitches could be set up on a regular soccer field with 64 boys and girls between 8 and 10 years of age, all playing at the same time. This also makes organizing competitions much easier and inclusive as more small teams are involved. Plus, there are more opportunities to face different opponents.
There are 33 FUNiño games and many variations to be discovered by the kids before they move on to play 5-a-side soccer or Futsal at 10 years of age. Many parents agree that scaling the game of soccer down to the size of these young children and keeping the size of the team to just three players plus a substitute, will promote greater participation among school-age children. It will also help children to develop confidence, self-esteem, communication, teamwork, and effort, thus contributing to the character formation of these future citizens.
From the earliest exposure to the game, FUNiño introduces the concept of Game Intelligence. Not only are these players thoroughly enjoying themselves, but they are (often, unwittingly) developing aspects of the game previously ignored – which would not have happened in random street games.
As FUNiño is played in a small space with few players, the same basic game situations (especially the 2v1) appear again and again, ensuring plenty of opportunity to learn and master them. The game promotes much greater spatial awareness – the appreciation of both width and depth – than in any other game. Because of this greater awareness, FUNiño helps to develop “off-the-ball” play.
FUNiño is easy for players to understand and learn. Due to the smaller teams and fewer rules, it is much easier to see everything and analyze situations. Smaller teams mean a less difficult, less complex game for young players. Learning to attack and defend comes naturally within this game. Players have more time and space to think and act than in 5- or 7-a-side soccer, and they experience a greater feeling of competence due to making good decisions and fewer mistakes.
Smaller teams also mean more touches on the ball, improving technical and tactical play, dribbling, passing, receiving, beating a man, tackling, and more. Each of the players participates fully in the game, physically and mentally, in attack as well as defense. Their efforts are usually quickly and frequently rewarded with a goal, much more so than in the traditional games for this age group.
The use of frequent rolling substitutions gives all the players on the team plenty of, and more or less equal, time on the pitch. Substitutions are simply a matter of taking your turn, rather than a “punishment” for poor play, and this is a very significant psychological factor for young players. Because of this, each player has plenty of opportunity to «be in love with the ball,» to improvise and to take risks without fear of making mistakes.
Additionally, with only three players on each team, players start to tire after a short time; this reduces crowding of players around the ball, a characteristic of this age group. As the children slow down, they start to play more simply, and the game becomes even easier to understand. Also, as there are no long clearances, FUNiño becomes a safer game.
FUNiño requires the players to use all their muscles, especially that most important muscle: the brain! Because there are always two goals to attack or to defend, the smart player can compensate for his lack of strength and height with good perception and decision-making skills. Even the less technically competent players will gradually improve their technique through frequent contact with the ball as they participate increasingly more in the game than in 7-a-side and 11-a-side soccer.
Because FUNiño uses four goals instead of the two traditional centralized goals, it encourages the players to look and think more before they act. Thus, the players rapidly learn how to use space optimally in the different phases of the game. Players come to learn to always attack the least defended goal. This encourages them to use their creativity, spontaneity, and improvisation.
FUNiño also helps to attract children who generally do not like sports to the game, as there is no real barrier to entry technically or tactically. Most importantly, there are plenty of opportunities to score goals! There is such a great variety of FUNiño games and their variations that there is always some game for any child to enjoy. The games and variations of FUNiño, more than any other form of soccer, promote essential life-skills such as perception, decision-making, intelligence, imagination, innovation, creativity, and endeavor.
Perhaps one who has accomplished so much has wisdom others should discover, understand, and possibly learn from. Horst Wein often asks, “Who is the best coach in the world?” and he answers, “the game of soccer itself – so let the kids play and discover the beauty of the game.”
10 CRITICAL CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP CREATIVE POTENTIAL IN YOUNG FOOTBALLERS BY HORST WEIN
In the “big game” on a regular field, the young player is generally condemned to become passive, participating very seldom in plays where he can exhibit his creative skills. The great Brazilian World Cup Winner Juninho did not play 11-a-side until he was 13 years of age and the same is true of many great players around the world today. The game must be tailored to suit the young players, not the other way around. Games like Mini Football (3v3 with 4 goals), 5-a-side, 7-a-side and 8-a-side should be used before kids play 11 aside at 14 years of age, ideally.
2. MORE GAMES AND LESS ANALYTICAL EXERCISES (DRILLS)
The “global method” of coaching using simplified games is far more productive than drills. Children should be exposed to more game plays (global method) and less practice with the analytical method. The practice should happen in the game.
3. LET THE KIDS PLAY
Playing uninterrupted games exposes the kids to the unpredictable nature of football, which is essential for both fun and learning and especially creativity. We should give children the opportunity to explore and to discover through “playing”, to infect them with the creativity shown by their teammates and opponents and without having the coach interceding frequently.
4. PLAY IN ALL POSITIONS AND IN REDUCED SPACES
Young players up to 13 years of age should play in a variety of positions in order to stimulate their creativity. Smaller, simplified games give them frequent exposure to the different roles within the game: attacking, defending, possession etc.
5. YOU MUST ENJOY THE GAME TO BE CREATIVE
Players must experience variety and not rigidity in their games, this leads to fun and enjoyment which awakens their creative instincts. Rigidity only inhibits creativity. When the children play, they should have fun and be keen on the game. If the young player does not identify himself with the proposed game that the coach has designed, the creative capability will remain asleep.
While the many variations of mini soccer help to broaden their learning experiences, from time to time, the coach should allow the kids a time to play freely and make up their own rules. This freedom helps to encourage responsibility, initiative, and improvisation, risk-taking and even leadership, traits that will serve them well into the future. Frequent rule changes, introduced by surprise during the practice of the game, force the players who want to win to adapt to the rule changes, using their creativity
7. DARE TO TAKE RISKS AND TO IMPROVISE
Younger players should be allowed to express their natural experimentation without having to fit into the rigid adult way of playing, even if this means not playing the right pass when it is on, or not playing safe to ensure the win. There will be plenty of time for such rigidity later in life. The young players, especially those of 7 to 12 years, should not be pressured by their coach to quickly pass the ball in order to allow a better team-play and winning. They should frequently have the opportunity to “be in love with the ball”, to dare to improvise their play and take risks, without fearing the possible consequences of having committed a mistake or to have lost the possession of the ball.
8. TRAIN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAIN
The left side of the brain is for logical thinking, learning by rote (memorizing) and typically answering closed questions (with fixed answers), the coach should create situations to stimulate the right side of the brain, where open, flexible answers or multiple solutions are required to stimulate creativity in his players. Instead of the coach being the main character in the teaching and learning process, he should often transfer responsibility to his young pupils and ask them, through systematic questioning, to solve most of the situations that he presents. A true master in teaching never gives the answers to the problems but helps his pupils to find and discover them on their own, guiding them to correct results.
9. CREATIVE COACHES = CREATIVE PLAYERS
Creating a more informal environment without fear of punishment for their “mistakes” (not conforming to the norms of the coach) allows players to experiment and try new moves that occur to them spontaneously – much like the “street football” that we all hark back to. Creative play or creative answers should be recognized and encouraged. The global method of playing games is preferred to drills which offer only closed experiences. Any flash of creative behavior in a player should be recognized by the coach who should do everything to encourage his players to be different and to look out for original solutions to the problems inherent in the game.
Our kids live in a very strict, closed learning environment where adults incessantly demand that they conform to the norms and the answers that are already pre-determined for them. Learning by rote is the predominant mode in schools. The environment of the young player is an enemy of his creativity. Nowadays most of our young talent grows in an atmosphere which is noticeably hostile towards creativity. Their familiar and scholastic surroundings, especially between the ages of 7 and 14 years, are characterized generally by a “intentional direction” of learning (with strict norms), which is limiting personal initiative, independence, originality, and the value of trying to do things in different ways. Basically: “instead of presenting fishes to the children, the students, or the players, the parents, teachers and coaches should teach them how to fish.” In football they are also dominated by the strict instructions of coaches who demand total control during training. On match day when winning the game is at stake this anxiety is even more heightened. This environment inhibits creativity as the players fear chastisement from their coaches and also other adults present and often their team-mates. As coaches we need to address this by creating less-formal learning environments during training and on match days for our young players – to create a haven where they can safely express their innate creativity.