GAME
MODEL TEMPLATE
What is a Game Model?
The Game Model is a level of organization that the team achieves in the game as a consequence of pre-determined behaviors that coaches want their players
to adopt on each moment of the game and in different situations. As a result, it gives more order and predictability to the unpredictable nature of football so
the team can ultimately try to influence the result of the game. The consistency and frequency that these desired behaviors occur from game-to-game is
what determines the identity of the team. The Game Model is never a finished product, it is a never-ending process, constantly evolving and improving
through game and team analysis (Tamarit, 2015).
There are 3 categories that help us structure the Game Model in an organized way: the moments of the game, the scales of the team, and the principles of
the Game Model (Oliveira in Farias, 2016).
Four Moments of the game
The four moments of the game are: Attacking Organization, Defensive Transition, Defensive Organization, and Attacking Transition. (Oliveira G. in Farias,
2016). It is essential to understand and define when each moment of the game occurs and to understand the interaction betweenour team’s moments with
the opponent’s moments. All these relationships should be observed within the contexts of the game-day strategy.
Attacking Organization: the moment where a team is in possession of the ball, and the opponent is in their organized defensive shape. This moment can start
anywhere on the field and lasts until the team loses possession.
Defensive Transition: the moment where a team has just lost the ball and is not yet organized defensively. This moment lasts until the team becomes
organized defensively. The counterattack is part of this moment, if the opponent takes advantage of the situation while the team is unbalanced.
Defensive Organization: the moment where a team is not in possession but is in their organized defensive shape. This moment can start anywhere on the
field and lasts until the team regains possession.
Attacking Transition: the moment where a team has just regained possession and the opponent is not yet in their organized defensive shape. This moment
lasts until the opponent becomes organized defensively. Not every attacking transition moment is a counterattack, but rather,the counterattack is part of
this moment, a team can choose to explore this option or decide to take the ball out of pressure and start an organized attack.
Ref - https://spielverlagerung.com/2020/05/23/understanding-the-tactical-periodization-methodology/
Scales of the team
Scales of the team are important to differentiate within the Game Model and when we plan our training session, to know exactl y which players the
principles of the game model apply. The scales of the team are split into collective, inter-sectorial, sectorial, group, individual. (Oliveira G. in Farias,
2016).
Collective involves the whole team or “all the lines.” Individual is about only one specific player on the team.
Sectorial involves only one line of the team, for example, defense, midfield or
forward.
Inter-sectorial usually involves the relationship of 2 lines of the team. For Group is certain players that play close to each other but can be of
example, the midfield and offensive lines or the defensive and midfield different lines, for example, center backs and defensive midfielders, full
lines. backs and wingers, attacking midfielders and forwards, etc.
Ref - https://spielverlagerung.com/2020/05/23/understanding-the-tactical-periodization-methodology/
Principles of the Game Model
Main principles involve the collective or inter-sectorial scale of the team. These are the principles that show the identity of the team and are
usually trained with large numbers: 11v11, 10v10, 10v9 etc (Oliveira G. in Farias, 2016). The main principles normally don’t change from game-
to-game, maintaining the team’s identity. If we take as an example a possession-oriented team, their main principle during attacking
organization could be – possession and rapid ball circulation, to unbalance and disorganized the opponent and play through their lines, in order
to create scoring opportunity. No matter the opposition, a team should not change this principle because they risk losing their identity, which
could lead to confusion of the players on the field and most likely negative results.
Sub-principles usually involve the inter-sectorial, sectorial, or group scale of the team. Although it is important for these principles to remain
consistent from week-to-week, some flexibility can be allowed to adapt to an opponent (Frade in Oliveira R., 2014). When planning strategy,
based on the analysis of a specific opponent, the behavior of certain players in a group, sector, or inter-sector may change. Therefore, a new
sub-principle needs to be trained, during the team’s morphocycle leading up to the game. Continuing with the same example of a possession-
oriented team, a sub-principle that might change from one game to another is the way the team plays out of the back. In one game, they might
use the “Salida Lavopliana” approach (defensive midfielder dropping between center backs, center backs go wider and full backs move higher)
against a team that presses high, but in another game, against a team that doesn’t press high, the defensive midfielder doesn’t drop but
instead provides an option to break the first line of pressure higher up the field. In this way, the identity of the team will not change, but the
way the team progresses with their possession might change due to the different opponent.
Sub-sub principles involve only the individual or a very small group. For example, the two center backs, two center forwards, etc. These
principles determine the specific behaviors of the individual or the small group in different situations. As in the sub-principles, the sub-sub
principles are even more flexible and can be adapted to a specific opponent in order to prepare for a game (Frade in Oliveira R., 2014). For
example, a center forward who usually tries to make runs in behind the opponent’s defensive line has to change that approach against a team
that sits deep where there is no space behind. Usually, the space when facing a team sitting deep is between the defensive and midfield lines.
The center forward must adapt the style and look to drop and receive the ball in between lines. Therefore, the desired behavior for that player
needs to be trained in the morphocycle leading up to the game.
Ref - https://spielverlagerung.com/2020/05/23/understanding-the-tactical-periodization-methodology/
Principles and Style of Play
Defensive Transition
Attacking Organization
Defensive Organization
Attacking Transition
Attacking Principles - Overview
Objective:
Attacking Third
Middle Third
Defensive Third
Attacking Principle – Defensive Third
Objective:
PRINCIPLES SUB PRINCIPLES SUB SUB PRINCIPLES
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Attacking Principle – Middle Third
Objective:
PRINCIPLES SUB PRINCIPLES SUB SUB PRINCIPLES
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Attacking Principle – Attacking Third
Objective:
PRINCIPLES SUB PRINCIPLES SUB SUB PRINCIPLES
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Defending Principles - Overview
Objective:
Attacking Third
Middle Third
Defensive Third
Defending Principle – Defensive Third
Objective:
PRINCIPLES SUB PRINCIPLES SUB SUB PRINCIPLES
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Defending Principle – Middle Third
Objective:
PRINCIPLES SUB PRINCIPLES SUB SUB PRINCIPLES
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Defending Principle – Attacking Third
Objective:
PRINCIPLES SUB PRINCIPLES SUB SUB PRINCIPLES
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Defensive Transition Principles - Overview
Objective:
Attacking Third
Middle Third
Defensive Third
Defensive Transition – Defensive Third
Objective:
PRINCIPLES SUB PRINCIPLES SUB SUB PRINCIPLES
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Defensive Transition – Middle Third
Objective:
PRINCIPLES SUB PRINCIPLES SUB SUB PRINCIPLES
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Defensive Transition – Attacking Third
Objective:
PRINCIPLES SUB PRINCIPLES SUB SUB PRINCIPLES
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Attacking Transition Principles - Overview
Objective:
Attacking Third
Middle Third
Defensive Third
Attacking Transition – Defensive Third
Objective:
PRINCIPLES SUB PRINCIPLES SUB SUB PRINCIPLES
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Attacking Transition – Middle Third
Objective:
PRINCIPLES SUB PRINCIPLES SUB SUB PRINCIPLES
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Attacking Transition – Attacking Third
Objective:
PRINCIPLES SUB PRINCIPLES SUB SUB PRINCIPLES
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Principle
Sub Principle
Sub Sub Principle
Example
Positional Profiles
Individual Fundamentals
Player Characteristics
Characteristic
1 2 3
1 2 3
I want my players to be…
1
2
3
#1 Goalkeeper
ATTACKING
Defensive third:
Middle third:
Offensive third:
TRANSITION D > A TRANSITION A > D
Defensive third: Defensive third:
Middle third: Middle third:
Offensive third: Offensive third:
DEFENDING
Defensive third:
Middle third:
Offensive third:
#2, 3 Full Backs
ATTACKING
Defensive third:
Middle third:
Offensive third:
TRANSITION D > A TRANSITION A > D
Defensive third: Defensive third:
Middle third: Middle third:
Offensive third: Offensive third:
DEFENDING
Defensive third:
Middle third:
Offensive third:
#4, 5 Center Backs
ATTACKING
Defensive third:
Middle third:
Offensive third:
TRANSITION D > A TRANSITION A > D
Defensive third: Defensive third:
Middle third: Middle third:
Offensive third: Offensive third:
DEFENDING
Defensive third:
Middle third:
Offensive third:
#6, 8 Center Defensive Midfield
ATTACKING
Defensive third:
Middle third:
Offensive third:
TRANSITION D > A TRANSITION A > D
Defensive third: Defensive third:
Middle third: Middle third:
Offensive third: Offensive third:
DEFENDING
Defensive third:
Middle third:
Offensive third:
#7, 11 Wingers/Wide Attackers
ATTACKING
Defensive third:
Middle third:
Offensive third:
TRANSITION D > A TRANSITION A > D
Defensive third: Defensive third:
Middle third: Middle third:
Offensive third: Offensive third:
DEFENDING
Defensive third:
Middle third:
Offensive third:
#8, 10 Center Attacking Midfield
ATTACKING
Defensive third:
Middle third:
Offensive third:
TRANSITION D > A TRANSITION A > D
Defensive third: Defensive third:
Middle third: Middle third:
Offensive third: Offensive third:
DEFENDING
Defensive third:
Middle third:
Offensive third:
#9 Forward
ATTACKING
Defensive third:
Middle third:
Offensive third:
TRANSITION D > A TRANSITION A > D
Defensive third: Defensive third:
Middle third: Middle third:
Offensive third: Offensive third:
DEFENDING
Defensive third:
Middle third:
Offensive third:
