"The coach should encourage young players not to play safe when forward passing, but to take risks and by taking risks find out how good they can be and what they can or cannot achieve" John Allpress on how to develop young players' forward passing skills

“Impression management is one of the biggest problems for coaches. I use a phrase with the university students studying sports coaching which is: be prepared to look stupid; the more you are, the less you will." Andrew Abraham PhD on developing autonomous and curious coaches

“Our players might press from the front in academy games, but they might not always get as much exposure to the importance of defensive headers, winning second-balls and winning 50-50s" James Barlow on using non-league loans to expose players to different styles of play

"The key message is the pedagogical principles - that is the way of coaching and teaching the players - stays the same. The principles are the same, but they're adjusted based on individual needs” Prof. Keith Davids on the coaching principles that apply at all levels of the game

Since Technique launched in June 2021, we have published 115 exclusive articles with some of the best coaches, educators and academics involved in young player development. You can find all 115 articles organised, listed and linked here:

[Open access] “From a very early age, children are divided into teams based on current performance with 'better performing' children put into the top teams. Often this is with more qualified trainers in better facilities. It can only increase the possible difference" Jorg van der Breggen

[Open access} “‘Age-mixing’ benefits younger players by providing models for them to copy. It allows the younger players to collaborate with older and more skilled players, as well as encouraging that additional care, protection and support between them” Paul McGuinness

[Open access] “Traditionally we think programmes first and individual second. I guess I'm trying to flip that on its head slightly and think individuals first and then programmes second,” England Cricket's Mo Bobat discusses an individualised approach to player development

This article with Pete Glynn from Technique is based on personal experience & educational research - but we all benefit from mixed age learning from the day my we are born - just look at any family gathering the youngest latch on to the next oldest coping their every move

“Football is a very dynamic, uncertain environment. So the opportunity to perform an action in precisely the same way very rarely occurs twice. That opportunity may not even happen in a game or a season, there's always something that's slightly different” Professor Keith Davids

‘Understanding football as a ‘dynamic and uncertain’ game that requires adaptable skills’ ~ Professor Keith Davies ⁦Technique⁩ techniquejournal.com/gated/technica…

Prepare for the new season by accessing our archive of 115 exclusive coaching and player development articles. Our content has been developed in collaboration with some of the most well established player developers in the game. Learn more here: