The move from playing on a 7-a-side pitch, with maximum dimensions of 65x45, to a pitch which is rarely less than 95x60 in dimension, is no easy feat. MCFTV visited one of the training sessions of Málaga CF’s Infantil B team to see how the players have been adapting after nearly three months of training, and almost one month of competition.

“It’s their first experience in 11-a-side football and is always a bit of a struggle; in addition, they usually play against older children”, says coach, Álex Ortiz. Rules as common as the offside rule are new to them, they go from defending on the edge of the area to having to do so almost in midfield. “The offside rule is new, it completely changes the notion of space”, he added. To resolve these problems that may occur, maintaining good communication within The Academy is key. “It’s a day-to-day job, talking to the coordinators and coaches they’ve had and to see what needs and problems they may face adapting to 11-a-side football”, explains Álex Ortiz.

Without doubt, as well as the tactical concepts, one of the most demanding aspects is the physical. Samuel López, the team’s physical trainer, explains that they work a lot with the ball as he considers that it is an age in which “talent must be developed. We try to work basic motor patterns and begin strength training, so they have better control of the concepts later”, he said.