5 Reason Why 3v3 Can Be Brilliant For Young Footballers
The English FA’s move to 3v3 at U7 from the start of the 2026/27 season is based on a simple idea: younger players develop better when they are more involved in the game. The FA says 3v3 is intended to give children more chances to learn, play, make decisions, score and stop goals. That idea
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10 Street-Style 3v3 Games That Accelerate Young Player Development
The English FA’s decision to introduce 3v3 at U7 from 2026/27 reflects a development-first view of the game. Rather than asking very young players to cope with more teammates, more opponents and more traffic, 3v3 creates a smaller, clearer and more active football environment. The FA’s own wording is telling: it says 3v3 will give
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10 Youth Soccer Coaching Tips I Wish Knew Before I Started
Starting your journey as a youth soccer coach can feel daunting. You might be wondering: What should I focus on? Am I doing the right things? How do I help my players improve? After 22 years coaching grassroots football, I’ve learned that success isn’t about complex tactics or formations. Research suggests it’s often the simple
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The Foundation Age Coaching Starter Guide: 10 Essentials for New Coaches
When I first started coaching 22 years ago, I thought my job was simply to teach football. Over time, I realised that my job was to teach people. The football part became easier once I understood that. I made mistakes early on. Plenty of them. Not because I didn’t care, but because I didn’t know
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5 Reasons Why Post-Match Reflection is Essential for Coach Development
They think about substitutions They replay key moments They question decisions Often, this happens in the car on the way home Then it fades But research consistently shows that structured post-match reflection is one of the most important drivers of coaching improvement Not just reflecting on team performance Reflecting on YOUR coaching This article explores
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Maximising Potential – 3 Ways to Boost Your Players’ Development
“It’s not just about training players, it’s about educating players.” – Brendan Rodgers Most coaches can plan and deliver a session. The level will be variable, but drawing up a training plan is achievable for most. Educating our players on the other hand, is far more challenging. I’m comfortable admitting that I have made a
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“Spread Out!” – Teaching Your Players the Principle of Creating Space
The following article looks at teaching foundation phase players how to maximise space. U8 players learn to move in activities where they see most of the ball, U10 players learn movement through small group activities and U12 players learn to move to create space for themselves and team mates. “How do I teach my players
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