Soccer Coach Weekly Issue 166

Welcome to your latest issue of Soccer Coach Weekly!

We're starting, this week, with a piece I've written about what we can do to support players to get to know each other and build good relationships – the foundation of any team.

It's always important to keep in mind that, particularly when working with younger players, environment and safety – both psychological and physical – must always come before the football.

Hopefully my tips are helpful, particularly as some of you head into the new season and take over new teams or welcome new players.

I’m currently preparing for a season which will see me move age groups at the same club, Girls United. 

I’ll be taking on an older team and therefore working with a set of players I don’t really know. Around 90% of the players were at the club last season, with the rest new. 

I’m aware of the challenges that await – integrating the new arrivals and going back to 11-a-side, after a season at 9-a-side. I’m excited, though!

Elsewhere in this issue, John Allpress looks at a games-based approach to coaching and structuring sessions.

He explores the benefits of both technical and games-based work and how you can integrate the two. As always with John, who is a very experienced coach, it's incredibly useful.

Finally, we’ve got a three-part session from Ohio-based coach Matthew Mountford, which works on playing through the thirds, breaking lines and creating overloads in attack.