The conceptual principles explored in last month’s column (SCW Jun 3) provided a backdrop to how we can encourage the development of adaptable skill through environment design, particularly in training.

Those principles were embodied within smaller-numbered practices. However, they don’t need to get lost in bigger games.

We can continue to be thoughtful about how we position certain players, both relative to their team-mates and direct opponents.

Let’s first look at a 9v9 game (fig 1, below) on a large pitch, split into three thirds. Two different formations are used - the Reds in a 4-3-1, to retain the defensive and midfield units of a 4-3-3, along with a lone forward, and the Blues in a 3-2-3, to reflect the defensive and forward units within a 3-Box-3, plus two from that midfield box of four.

Organising the players in these ways in practice helps them experience games more representative of competitive fixtures.