1: The only star is the team...
separate the two, but what I can say is that football is not all about the physical aspect, it's about much more than that. In the grand scheme of things, the physical aspect is probably the least important element. Without organization and a talent in exploring the different tactical models of the game, your weaknesses quickly become apparent, regardless of how fit you are. - Jose Mourinho
Football is a team game. The emphasis should be on developing a group of individuals who can perform together to achieve success. However, many argue that we should be developing the individual to achieve, not the team. I understand that we must develop individual creativity, balance, technique and skill however ultimately, football is played with 10 other players (at 11v11) and therefore we must create a club environment that promotes working together, not working alone.
2: Tactics are worked on from day one...
The most important thing in football is to have a style of play, a set of principles that offer organisation to the team. For that reason, my focus is on tactics from day one. - Jose Mourinho
How can the use of tactics be a benefit of a grassroots club? Well, if your talking about actual tactics, then they will have (and should have) very little use. If a coach starts to work on tactics with any players below 16, then the technical development may suffer. However what a grassroots club could use instead of tactics from day one is implementing a style of play or a philosophy that each age group works towards. Too many times I see grassroots clubs having no real identity or way of playing. If everyone was working towards developing skilful, technical players, then the club and players would develop much quicker.
3: The Rui Faria Method...
Have you ever seen a pianist run around his piano before sitting down to unleash a masterpiece? In our methodology we don't send them on laps around the pitch either'. For Mourinho and his right- hand man/physical trainer Rui Faria, the gym is only for recovering from injuries. - Jose Mourinho
I have highlighted this many times on Twitter .
How many times do you see warm-ups conducted of player running laps
around the pitch? Sprinting from one cone and back, second cone and
back. These methods are outdated, unjustified and harmful! A grassroots
club should develop a philosophy that players become fit using the ball.
If we are to develop future technical players, clubs must move away
from old school methods. Educating the coaches to understand the modern day game - the modern player.
4: The ball is obligatory - Training sessions are no more than 90 minutes...
Most grassroots
clubs only have an hour to train once per week, therefore training for
more than 90 minutes isn't an issue. However what is an issue is what
occurs during that one hour period. Too many times club allow coaches to
work on whatever they want - which sometimes means a game. Small sided
games are fine, however there has to be an outcome and a reason as to
why that session was conducted. Was it to develop running with the ball,
attacking, defending etc?
5: A team with no peaks in form...
Grassroots clubs
should never train in order to beat the opponent at the weekend.
Therefore commandment number 5 may not link to a club lower down the
leagues. However what a club could use here is developing players to
perform and enjoy the game week in, week out.
6: Motivation comes from training, not from playing the big matches...
everything
domestically, with the danger of the players only being motivated for
the European ties. Here's how he overcame that potential obstacle. 'With
a 4-3-3 formation, space is perfectly occupied naturally, it isn't
necessary for the players to be intelligent. They don't have to think
too much. With a 4-4-2 they are required to think because the field is
occupied irrationally, no-one is naturally open. With a constant need
for tactical discipline
comes motivation, regardless of the importance of the match.' Real Madrid fans know what to expect there then. - Jose Mourinho
Commandment number
6 is crucial to the development of a player. Coaches should conduct
sessions in an environment that not only challenges the player to become
technically better, but also to motivate them to improve and to enjoy
the session. Even at the highest level, player can become demotivated.
Grassroots clubs should ensure that there philosophy is to develop
player and to allow them to enjoy the game - Not to win trophies or
medals. That will come.
7: Study your opposition, but never play according to your rival...
We analyze our rivals and we try to imagine how they will play against us. Using these thoughts we position certain players in certain positions according to the oppositions strengths and weaknesses. But these are only positional details. They don't interfere with our principles, or even with our system. - Jose Mourinho
Similar to commandment number 5, this may not have a direct influence on a grassroots club. However what could be used here is the use of player analysis. How many clubs record games and allow players to watch themselves and analyse what was good, what they might have done in this situation etc. With the use of camera phones, it's now easier than ever to record games for player development. This would obviously have to be approved with the other team for CRB purposes.
8: The creative players are first to defend...
For me defending well is defending during the least amount of time possible. It's to have the ball among your most creative players for as long as possible. Having the initiative for as long as possible. This takes away the need for defensive actions.
that say the creative players should be
liberated of defensive duties. They know nothing about football. All
players need to know what to do with the ball and what to do without the
ball'. - Jose Mourinho
9: We begin to recover during the games...
After each game I like to give the players a days rest. It may not be the most appropriate thing to do physically speaking, but it allows them to recover mentally. Unfortunately, with so many games during a season this is rarely possible.
If the team plays how I
want them to, the
players will start to recover mentally by having total control of the
ball. Instead of finishing the match mentally exhausted, they would come
off the pitch in a great
frame of mind, raring to go once more.
Therefore as incredible as it sounds, they need to start recovering during the game itself. - Jose Mourinho
Grassroots
clubs must develop a philosophy and structure that safeguards children
from exhaustion or injury through over-playing. The 9th commandment is
how Mourinho allows his players to recover during matches. What's
important for clubs lower down is to ensure training sessions are
appropriately planned, ensuring safety at all times. It's also important
there's enough time for recovery between training and match days.
10: One method fits all. From the first team to the youth team...
'The
basic methodological concepts must be instilled in both the elite and
the base. At Porto I regularly met with the youth and reserve team
directors to explain exactly how all the different teams should play.
That way no player gets lost when making the step up. Everything is
already trained into his mind'. - Jose Mourinho
Thanks for reading, I hope this has been useful. Thanks for reading
