“There are times not to coach. The urge is to step in and show. Sometimes it’s better to let them make a mistake. Sometimes they learn more from the mistake than being told what to do." - Dennis Bergkamp

Possession Practices: scoreboardsoccer.com/dl/practices Created on TacticalPad®

Knowledge is more than accreditation. In today's world, learning is readily available; it's up to us to seek and apply it. The fact is, good and bad coaches exist at all levels of accreditation.

Youth football is returning to its rightful owners, the children. #HereForIt!

Here’s some possible ways of laying out 3v3 training for up to 24players: - 4 pitches - Various formats from 2v1 to 3v3 on each pitch - Goals (if available) End zone (if not) - 6 players on each pitch - Allow the game to teach #LetThemPlay

#LetThemPlay and they will learn!

Juggling 🤝 Small-Sided Games Coaches rewards effort by sending players to the scoreboard, which in this session is a juggling challenge 🤹 Shares appreciated 🔄 scoreboardsoccer.com

For the last 2 years I have watched youth 🏀games from the elite to starter levels. I’ve noticed a trend: parents/coaches yelling instructions constantly like "Pass! Shoot! Move!" during games. It feels helpful—but it’s holding your player back. Here’s why. A thread 🧵

A recent study suggests grassroots coaches are still lagging behind the curve when it comes to session structure. Research showed coaches devoting a significant amount of session time (41%) to non-decision making activities compared to active decision-making practices (42%).

Keep it realistic by implementing “game within the game”? Normal game with the “if” bonus I.e. “if you can play one touch your team gets a point” Play for duration or up to predetermined score. This should allow players to play within context. - Why? - When? - How? - Where

Agreed! It’s a conduit. A mechanism that organically fuels the very passion that drives players to compete and excel. When the joy is present, the desire to improve and overcome challenges naturally follows.

Link to new post: nicksmallridge.substack.com/p/technique-is… Photos courtesy of Alan Herzberg

🚨 Youth coaches: before you plan another session, read this. Most coaching mistakes aren’t tactical, they’re developmental. If you don’t understand how kids think, you’ll train them like adults. This article will change the way you coach: 🔗 itsjustasport.com/articles/2018/…

Coaching youth players? Keep It Simple! #LetThemPlay #LetThemExplore #LetThemDiscover

🗣️ A coach’s job isn’t to install complexity, it’s to remove confusion. — S. Armstrong 🏆 Before any elite tactic, players must master the actions that support it: 📌 Shift your lens. Don’t plan drills — plan decisions. Don’t script patterns — teach players to solve problems.

Asking for a friend. How do you support the “further developed players” in your group without “sending them away?”

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🚨New Post is Live!🚨 “There is No Attack, there is No Defense” 🔹Rethinking Principles of Play 🔹Interaction-based intentionality 🔹Holistic Focus of Attention ⬇️⬇️⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/nicksmallr…

Youth Coaches! On a match day, you have little to no influence on the outcome of the match. Prepare your players during training.

Ever feel like your team is slipping behind? That’s just the scoreboard talking. The real scoreboard is built over weeks, months, and years. It measures confidence. Decision-making. Resilience. And those don’t come from winning every game. They come from moments that test you.