7 years later and this video is still the best argument against speed ladders:

Johan on the importance of enjoying football as a kid. #TBT

On this day in 1998, Dennis Bergkamp scored this incredible World Cup goal 🇳🇱

In youth soccer, focus on learning—not just winning! Games should be a “check for understanding”, not (just) the scoreboard. Celebrate effort, teamwork, and growth. When kids enjoy the process, they thrive on and off the field! ⚽️🌱 #YouthSoccer #FootballDevelopment

Are there (still) clubs with a truly homegrown identity, relying on “homegrown players” whose style of play, understanding of the game and level of execution are unique and instantly recognizable, and where the progression of academy players into the first team is continuous?⚽️🌱

For real football learning, focus on representative, game-like practice to improve retention, adaptability, transfer, & decision-making. Isolated drills help with basics but shouldn’t be overrated—they offer less transfer & flexibility. Game-like training offers the best benefit!

"We all know that it is just gambling-The Dutch Football Association believes that "selection is impossible" between the ages of 6 and 11. Even later it is "almost impossible... but money rules". child- youth football is now a market-driven enterprise vg.no/sport/i/ny64B5…

Un message important, j’espère qu’il fera réfléchir les formateurs de football Merci Le Meilleur du Football 🙏🏼

“Sometimes the most qualified coaches are those who simply know how to step aside and let joy do the coaching.” ⚽️🌱

Thought-provoking…. ⚽️🌱

Recente inzichten uit het onderzoek van Araújo et al. (2025) tonen wederom aan dat voetbalprestaties voortkomen uit de continue interactie tussen speler & context. Flexibiliteit & het direct inspelen op veranderende situaties zijn hierbij cruciaal.⚽️🌱 👉🏼sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

Clickbait-sites en een deel van ‘t voetbalpubliek smullen van onbekende, dure aankopen—een vreemde reflex. Wat als we in NL gewoon juichen vóór zelf opgeleid talent dat een kans krijgt en die pakt? Dat is pas onderscheidend! Welke clubs durven dit echt en zijn daarmee herkenbaar?

Smarter footballers are made through game-like training, not fixed drills. Modern skill learning thrives on real decisions and perception–action demands—football isn’t choreography, it’s dynamic play. ⚽️🌱 👉🏼 tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…

I'll be on CNN after the current commercial break, talking about The Atlantic piece I co-authored showing kids would be on their phones LESS if we let them go outside MORE.

Fascinating to see how good goalkeepers are on penalties now. Dean Henderson has been one of the best for a while (only 62% penalty goals against). He obviously has mapped opponent penalty takers - but not just WHERE they shoot. Also the TECHNIQUE they use. I'll explain here:

🔝 % of minutes by club-trained players*, 🇳🇱 #Eredivisie & 🇧🇪 #ProLeague (current season) 🥇 #AFCAjax 36.6% 🥈 #ClubBrugge 35.7% 🥉 #AZAlkmaar 34.1% #Groningen #Anderlecht #Excelsior #Standard #Twente #STVV #RAFC *≥3 years in the club between the ages of 15 and 21 (1st training

'"I Wonder What Would Happen'" as a Neurological Catalyst ✅️ The foundation phase isn’t about building perfect technique it’s about building problem-solvers

Isolated drills without the game’s perception–action coupling isn’t real training,it’s just rehearsel. True training happens under competitive &dynamic conditions where behaviors emerge as i/t game. In fact,training may be the wrong word, given how it’s often perceived &executed!

Supporters & media denken vaak nog altijd in een ‘beste 11’. Bv: Wie is DE linksbuiten? Die tijd is voorbij. Moderne teams, managers rouleren voor/tijdens, obv spelplan & intenties icm wisselende krachten & zwaktes vd tegenstanders. Een kwalitatief brede(re) selectie is cruciaal!

"In many sports (e.g., rugby, mixed martial arts), the most specifying informational variables (e.g., interpersonal distance, posture/kinematics, relative velocity values) will be directly related to the movement behaviors of another athlete (teammate