AFL Coaching Manual - Western Bulldogs Football Club

the coach
chapter 5 – team play and tactics
game-plan
Game-plan refers to a
recognisable/predictable
standard of play adopted by
the coach that suits his/her
football philosophy.
A game-plan is simply a plan for
a match consisting of a few major
parts. A good generic game-plan
is based on a direct flowing game,
focused on player movement and
control of the ball in both offence
and defence.
Generally, a coach will start with
a game-plan that best suits the
players at the coach’s disposal and
maximises the team’s strengths.
Game-plans can include one or more of the following examples:
1. Long kicking to key forwards
A team with high marking, mobile forwards will maximise scoring
opportunities by moving the ball quickly out of the centre, kicking long into
the forward line.
2. Running, possession game
The coach of a small to medium-sized team will adopt a running game,
with short passing and handball to maintain possession.
3. Defensive game
A team with a strongly disciplined team working together can move
the ball forward into attack.
The Team-Plan
A team-plan is simply a
game-plan for a match.
It consists of two parts:
BASICS
ppRules and principles that
do not change.
TACTICS
ppThese can vary from week to
week depending upon a variety
of factors – for example, the
opposition, ground size and
condition, weather and players
available for selection.
ppSet-plays are part of a team’s
tactics to win the football or
maintain control of the football,
usually around neutral situations.
BASICS
Every coach should have his own set of basic rules.
Listed below are a few examples of these team basics:
ppPlay in front.
ppUnder pressure kick long down the line.
ppGet back off the mark quickly.
ppGuard the mark.
ppPunch from behind.
ppCentre the ball from the forward pockets.
A coach should clearly outline a collection of basic rules to be followed
by his team.
This is particularly important for coaches of junior and youth teams.
Not only should these basics be clearly explained, they should also be
reinforced both at training and on match-day.
Basics form the foundation of the team-plan.
TACTICS
The implementation of set-plays on the football ground generally revolves
around ‘dead ball’ or ‘stoppage’ situations, e.g. out of bounds, centre bounce
and after a behind has been scored.
planning:
Hawthorn coach
Alastair Clarkson
goes over his
match-ups.
TALKING TACTICS:
Essendon coach James Hird
ensures his players follow the
team’s basic rules.
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