Coaching Tips

Youth football is huge, and with a sport so popular, it’s no wonder so many children find the inspiration to play and develop their skills. It is important to know when the line between healthy involvement in sport and exercise and the reality of unhealthy pressure or expectations from parents or guardians.

A common question we see in the coaching community is how do we deal with having a such varying levels of talent on one team. - well now it’s time for us to chime in and give you a couple of ideas.

Goalkeepers are both an integral part of the team and need to be treated as such and also as individuals with, if possible specialist goalkeeping training.

Phase five – Coaching restarts and set pieces. Whenever the ball goes out of play or the game is stopped for a free kick or a corner, both teams can switch off mentally. There can be a pause in the game. So it is vital that football coaches ensure players are aware of this and don’t mentally switch off, but concentrate.

Phase three – When the attacking team lose possession, presenting counter attack opportunities.

A recent blog , UEFA B Game – Develop finishing from crosses has been a big hit. We have had lots of really positive feedback. Last night Sheffield Wednesday played Birmingham. The second Wednesday goal came about through a bit of link play, a pass out wide to the right, a whipped cross and two great runs from the forwards to attack the cross, resulting in a headed goal. That is why, as coaches, we work so hard on the training ground, to develop and improve players and sometimes, like last night, we see how a game related, rotating crossing and finishing training game, results in all the hard work being worth while.

Fourth in the series of progressive waves, pass, support and finishing games.

Third in the series of progressive waves, pass, support and finishing games.