Key focus points to guide our session design and execution

Our curriculum was designed to give us a framework of what we believe to be key elements of elite footballers. Without exception, we pay close attention to the following aspects in our training sessions and ensure that we help our children learn these skills both with their home practice and their school practice.

Receiving the ball – As much as possible with our chest facing the goal that we are attacking. As soon as a player receives a ball facing forward, can the first look be to our furthest player? By doing this, they will see all the other closer options, but also the direct option, which may be the best route to goal. 

Providing triangular options – encouraging support in three directions (minimum) to retain possession. Stop it when you don’t see it and plant the seed in their heads to always look for it. 

Ball speed – Always be mindful of the ball speed in our passing practices. In most cases, faster is better. Try to drive the ball speed initially, with an aim on passing the emphasis onto the players to demand the ball snapped in quickly.

Playing between the opposition’s lines – 

Trying to always look for pockets of spaces and passes into space, rather than always straight to feet or keeping possession for the sake of it. This means timing our runs into space and providing support by either running away from our teammate to allow a 1v1, or supporting with passing options if the opposition has a numerical advantage.

Third man movement – Usually in junior coaching, we have player A passing to B, and then B to C etc. Can we encourage a pass from A to D with support coming from B, C and E? When we see this happen, try to point it out as it will hopefully set off some light bulbs in the heads of our players.

Positive Transition – The moment we win the ball, can we offload the ball to a teammate away from the pressure (stretch the opponent) and decide if we are in a position to attack immediately, or do we need to allow our chasing players to recover from their work. We need to coach this.

Negative Transition – When we lose the ball, we must decide immediately, do we have the energy and the numbers to win it back, or do we retreat and delay with as many numbers behind the ball. We need to coach this.

Attacking in droves – Can we encourage all attacks in the box to have 3-4 attacking players in the penalty area to score? This includes hunting rebounds and deflections.

1v1 – Remember to become brilliant at 1v1 situations, you need to fail. A lot. Encourage with guidance so that players don’t fear losing the ball when they can potentially create something for the team.

Defending – Heading (clearances), tackling, interceptions, and physicality are not optional –they are necessary. The hardest to see is defensive cover and verbal organization but it should be praised whenever we see it. Think about Paolo Maldini – minimal tackling, maximal reading of the game.

Creativity – Encourage it. There is a difference between a technical error (right idea but skill isn't executed well and a tactical error (wrong solution for the problem). We would rather lose a match in the development phase but develop creative players rather than win the match but lose the learning opportunity.

Tactical correction – Coach observes, asks player on the go or stopping the play what the alternative could be, do a replay and play (quick intervention)

Technical correction – Coach observes, compliments the right idea (Great idea, Emily), and makes a mental or physical note on what can be covered in the next session or speak to the player after the session or during a drink break.