Our BTEC students at Pompey in the Community showcased both their passion for football and their growing tactical knowledge. The students spent the day researching a wide range of modern football tactics, including high pressing, man-to-man defending, and the increasingly popular relational play. Their efforts culminated in the creation of informative and creative posters, demonstrating their understanding and creativity in presenting these complex strategies.

One of the most exciting aspects of the session was delving into historical football tactics and how they have influenced the modern game. We explored the philosophies of renowned coaches like Fernando Diniz, who made waves at Fluminense  and now leads Cruzeiro, and Inter Milan’s  Simone Inzaghi. Both coaches are known for encouraging fluidity on the pitch, trusting players to adapt to space rather than sticking to rigid, structured systems that can stifle creativity. Whether it’s a left-back drifting to the right wing or center-backs in a 3-5-2 formation stepping into midfield while midfielders cover for them, these innovative movements are key to the dynamic and exciting football their teams play.

The students embraced these concepts enthusiastically, making connections between historical and modern strategies and applying them to their own football development. Their research and presentation skills were fantastic, and their posters reflected both effort and understanding.

Are you or someone you know interested in joining our programme next year to play football and study sport? If so, visit our page and learn more about our BTEC programme by visiting this link.

Fantastic work today by all of our Football & BTEC Education students – keep it up! We can’t wait to see where your football journeys take you next.