SCI 05.11 Bonus AJAX - SoccerCoachingInternational.com

Svetozar Cica, FC ‘AJAX’ Novi Sad
The ‘Cobra’ tactics
SoccerCoachingInternational’s Dusan Petrovic talked to FC
Ajax Novi Sad’s Svetozar Cica about what he calls the ‘cobra
tactics’. Besides supervising and coaching the players,
Svetozar is also the founder of FC Ajax Novi Sad. Here he
talks to Dusan about the spirit of the club, his cobra tactics
and player selection.
supervision of Svetozar Cica. Many famous players have played
for him in Yugoslavia; including Mateja Kezman (PSV Eindhoven
Holland, FC Chelsea England, Atletico Madrid), Savo Milosevic
(FC Parma Italy, FC Aston Villa England, FC Zaragoza Spain),
Dundjerski Ljubisa (FC Atalanta Italy), Leo Lerinc (FC Red Star
Belgrade ).
Dusan Petrovic
Cobra
FC Ajax Novi Sad in Serbia & Montenegro was founded following the spirit of the club in Amsterdam. The club was established in the town of Novi Sad which has a population of about
500.000 people. The founder of the club, Svetozar Cica holds a
degree in training and he established a complete soccer school
(academy) through the club. He is the principal coach for all
age groups (five groups from the ages of; 7-10 years, 10-12
years, 12-14 years, 14-16 years and 16-18 years). He is also
responsible for the organization of the technical staff, the
selection of players as well as selecting the coaching supporting staff.
Preparation of the players in the club is accomplished in particular ways and with individual effort from everybody under the
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No. 11 - october/november 2005
A complete soccer coaching experience
“In order to describe the organization and the system of the
game, the team is symbolically represented as a cobra and as
a snake jumper at the same time. While it is resting, that is in
defense when defending the access to the goal, the team is
twisting and rolling itself, trying to make it impossible to break
through. However, when in possession, the team suddenly dashes out of the coil, blinding and overtaking the opponent with
great speed, approaching the opponent’s goal with the minimum of three, perhaps only two moves.”
Modern Soccer
“The modern game of soccer demands more and more from
players. When thinking about modern soccer we come across
two terms we are frequently confronted with: ‘total football’ and
‘universal player’. In the past sprints during the game were
about 10-26 meters, at the most. Today sprints are across
distances of about 30, 40 and sometimes even 50 meters.
Systems of training have improved from year to year, with constant new and rich soccer tactic in all variations. If we look at
how attackers play nowadays, with frequent moving and changing positions, we realize this kind of play was not possible
until we changed the way we looked at the system of training.”
Modern selection of football players
“This new model of European soccer also dictated a change in
the way we select players. The selection process will be more
effective only when the developed training program and plan is
respected. Those programs and plans must be based on scientific research connected to the first selection factors, the physical demands of a growing young body, its anatomic, physical
and psychological characteristics. Fitness and ability to play is
the first selection principle, then speed and high degrees of
muscle and nerve reaction. The speed ability is very important
and is 95% genetic.”
list in one particular area or field. You cannot categorize coaches as youth coaches or adult coaches. For example, a carpenter who knows how to make small chair also knows how to
make a big chair. The only different is the size. The same thing
applies to soccer, the only difference is the intensity during training and the coach has to adapt the level of intensity and
amplitude to age of the player.”
Stabilization of football habits
“The psychological mechanism of football is quite complicated.
Resistance which soccer players have against new material
should be limited. The resistance is the main obstacle, which
should be treated. Training helps to remove tension and solve
such resistance. Such conflicts could be removed by dynamics
created by training.”
Social surroundings
“Players must be maximally concentrated and psychological
First programmed football steps – Svetozar Cica, FC “Ajax” Novi Sad
Group
Beginning of training
Type of training
First group
7-10 years
Playing-with two goals
Free playing
Free creative training
Second group
10-12 years
Directive playing
Oral direction
Free creative training
Third group
12-14 years
First specialization
Individual training
Free creative training
Fourth group
14-16 years
Second specialization
Confirming gained knowledge
on higher level
Free creative training
Fifth group
16-18 years
Third specialization
- The highest level training
Carpenter
“There are a lot of different systems of training in different conditions. A coach’s role in this is very important, because the
system of training changes almost every year. The coach has
to be knowledgeable in many different areas and not a specia-
prepared for every training; this is basis for elevated levels of
concentration during the game and in turn contributes to the
best possible result of that game. Players need a stable personality and high levels of emotional energy. At Ajax Novi Sad we
work on achieving this level of concentration during every training, and try to elevate the personality of the players to a much
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A complete soccer coaching experience
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of the exercise by the
coach is a way to keep
the level of concentration raised during the
exercise. In addition it
also shows the players
that the coach knows
what he is doing, as we
know actions often
speak louder than
words. Successful training sessions and
games are based on the
authority of the coach
and the trust between
players and the coach.”
Tactics & System
“The opponent should be cleverly attacked
while they are still on their own half
so that the players are not be able
to lead the ball easily.”
higher level. However, another important factor in achieving this
level of concentration and psychological stability during the training and the game is the social setting. As a coach it is sometimes hard to deal with and/or solve problems which arise due
to the social surroundings.”
Trust
“Psychological mechanisms of
soccer players are very specific.
Coaches are often confronted
with resistance from the players
when they have to accept something new. This is difficult and an
important factor to eliminate
during the training. The coach
has to understand that the purpose of training is not to entertain
players, parents and attending
fans. Training is hard work, for
coaches and players alike and it
is not a show. Very important
aspects of training are the dynamics of the exercises and the
work-rest ratios. A demonstration
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A complete soccer coaching experience
“If we want to attain the
best result we have to
use maximum capacity
from our team.
Sometimes only one
great player could be the
foundation for standard of value, and show us the road to
where we have to go. Some time ago it was Johan Cruijff, today
it’s Ronaldihno. Training systems are changing every year and
are being developed to perfection. With this change we create
the possibility to change systems of play, with new and fresh
tactical variants. If we now, for example, analyze the attacking
system of play, with frequent moving and positional changes,
we can conclude that it was not possible without changing the
training system. When we look at tactics, we have basic characteristics by means of which we mark every tactical system.
Those characteristics are going to enable and realize all tactical
systems during the game:
Passport
Svetozar Cica
Date of birth: 01.03.1957 (Duboki Dol, former Yugoslavia)
Player experiences:
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
“Novi Sad”, Novi Sad, Serbia & Montenegro,
“Velez”, Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina,
“Sloboda”, Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina,
“Maribor”, Maribor, Slovenia,
“Leotar” Trebinje, Bosnia & Herzegovina,
“Belasica” Strumica, Serbia & Montenegro
Education:
Graduate: Superior Football Coach, degree obtained in Novi
Sad, University of Physical education in Novi Sad.
Coaching career:
FC “Vojvodina” Novi Sad, first team coach (reaching the UEFA
Cup in 1996).
FC “Vojvodina” Novi Sad youth Coach (no defeats)
FC “Cement”, Beocin, Serbia & Montenegro
FC “Agrounija”, Serbia & Montenegro
FC “Toplicanin” Prokuplje, Serbia & Montenegro
FC “Novi Sad” Novi Sad, Serbia & Montenegro
FC “Al Wahda” Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Svetozar Cica has coached many famous Yugoslav footballers
that play all around Europe and has been equally successful
with adult and youth players. He is an universal coach, and
founder of various football schools in Yugoslavia, including FC
“AJAX” Novi Sad in 1999. Svetozar Cica is known in Yugoslavia
for his work with youth players. He is characterized as a coach
with great football knowledge and has great pedagogical influence on youth.
• Every in advance prepared action must to respond to the
possibilities of every player in the team,
• Every player has to be prepared to change the tactical
system quickly and to adjust this system according to the
opponent. Sometimes without command of the coach.
• Rich with all tactical and technical elements. Team has to be
rich with new elements and technically prepared to use them.
• Abilities to surprise, using unexpected actions at unexpected
moments.
ative, imaginative and interpretative. By means of the tactical
system we are preparing the road, which players use during the
game, but on that road they could find many problems and difficulties. Those problems could be solved only with talent for creativity, imagination and unexpected solutions. The coach has to
find the balance between the tactical system and creativity.
Players with a rich imagination and good preparation could
solve all tactical problems which arise.”
“In accordance with those basic tactical characteristics, we can
see that every tactical operation has a frame, which provides
the players with guidelines and a wide array of freedom in the
interpretation of football. This relation, at first glance, may
seem illogical, because we are asking from the players to play
within a strong tactical system, but also asking them to be cre-
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Training 1
This training is practiced during competition, usually in the
middle of the week with a total duration of 90 minutes.
Work on durability of fast running
Introduction and preparation phase
– 20 minutes
Introduction phase – 10 minutes
- Jogging around the field
- Stretching of main muscle groups
- Complex exercises for flexibility
Objective:
Three players start from the center of the field and cross and
run out on the wing position, finishing with a shot from the
center position. After finishing on goal that same player runs
back very fast and repeats the action two times more. This
exercise asks for very fast running and is repeated nine
times with a work/rest ratio of 1:2.
There are three groups of three players (A, B, C).
Organization:
- Preparation of basic phase of the training
- Duration: 45 seconds
- Fast running with a work/rest ratio of 1:2.
- Player B passes the ball to player A, then player B changes
positions with player C and sprints into the free space.
- Player A passes the ball to player C, and sprints to the first
goalpost.
- Player C passes the ball to player B in free space, and quickly
runs to the second goalpost.
- Players then sprints back to their starting positions.
Organization:
Progression:
- Player B passes to player C, and quickly runs around him
- Player C passes back to player B, who brings the ball back to
the starting position and passes to player A. B and A execute
same exercise again
- Change groups after three attacks
- Three attacks are equivalent to approx. 300 m of sprinting,
- Exercise is repeated 9 times which is a total of approx. 2700
m of sprinting.
Progression:
Coaching:
- Exercises 45 sec. – then rotate player’s positions
- Each player executes the exercise 3 times
- Stimulate action to achieve higher level and let players move
and pass faster
- Control and fix mistakes.
Basic phase – 60 minutes
Final phase – 10 minutes
Preparation phase – 10 minutes
Objective:
- Slow running
- Stretching
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No. 11 - october/november 2005
A complete soccer coaching experience
Training 2
This training is practiced during competition, in the middle of
the week (Tuesday or Wednesday) with a total duration of 70
minutes
Introduction and preparation phase – 20
minutes
Basic phase – 40 minutes
Work on sprint durability
Introduction phase – 10 minutes
- Jogging
- Stretching
- Complex exercises for flexibility
Preparation phase – 10 minutes
Middle intensity sprinting
Organization:
Organization:
- Two players from both sides are starting simultaneously
- Sprinting:
• From starting line up to the middle line and back (100m),
• From starting line up to the 16 m line and back (30m),
• From starting line up to the 5m line and back (10m),
• From starting line up to the 16 m line and back (30m),
• From starting line up to the middle line (50m) where is
the finish.
- Repetition 3 times with work/ rest ratio of 1:1
- Sprinting:
• 1 repetition is: 20m, 20m, 30m, 30m, 40m, 40m, 60m
and 60m
• Total: 20m, 20m, 30m, 30m, 40m, 40m, 60m, 60m x 10
times = 3000 m
- Work/rest ratio 1:1 – 20 minutes
- Players from group A start simultaneously, after they finish
group B will start
Final phase – 10 minutes
- Jogging – 5 minutes
- Stretching – 5 min.
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A complete soccer coaching experience
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Training 3
This training is practiced during competition, usually in the
middle of the week, and with a total duration of 90 minutes
Work on durability of fast running
Introduction and preparation phase
– 20 minutes
Introduction phase – 10 minutes
- Jogging
- Stretching
- Complex exercises for flexibility
Preparation phase – 10 minutes
Combinations with fast and middle fast intensity
Setup:
-
Playing in small space
Man to man with two touches of the ball
3 x 3min, 3 x 4min
Work / rest ratio 1:1
During the resting period use exercise of long passes between
two players
- Have balls readily available on sidelines for continuation of play
Organization:
Setup:
- On one half of standard pitch with combination of fast and
middle fast intensity
- Two groups are covering both halves of the pitch
- In marked space play 4 against 4, with two goalkeepers in the
following way:
• Man to man (in each team one player is free)
• Two touches of the ball
• Team which scores regains possession again
Center shoot and finish action from booth sides
Organization:
- Two teams are playing on one half in the following way:
• Fast intensity – two touch of the ball, only long passes
• Middle fast intensity – passing only with left foot, (right foot
for left footed players)
- Both games are playing without goalkeeper, scoring only with
head
- During the game change intensity with ratio of fast intensity and
middle fast 1:1
Basic phase – 60 minutes
Organization:
- Execute exercise from both sides 1 x left side, 1 x right side,
and groups change positions after several repetitions
- Executed in middle fast intensity
- Work / rest ratio 1:1
- While resting players pair up for long passes
Final phase – 10 minutes
- Jogging – 5 minutes
- Stretching – 5 minutes
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A complete soccer coaching experience
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