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Benefits of using small-sided games

How to design flexible sessions

Execute the high press

Designing flexible practices - modification 2

Designing flexible practices - modification 1

Designing flexible practices - core idea

Why you should reuse practices

Forcing the play

Three-zone movement

How to plan for interactions at crucial moments

Kevin Barrow

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Volunteer coach

You volunteered to coach but have no coaching experience or qualifications. You’re short of time and could benefit from being told what to ...

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Travel / ODP coach

You’ve been coaching a while but are looking for ideas and inspiration to help you take your team to the next level.

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Director of Coaching

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Christmas Ideas

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Five fun Christmas soccer games

Five fun Christmas soccer games

Use these fun Christmas-themed games to put on the ultimate fun, festive session for your players!

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Supporting players through Christmas

Supporting players through Christmas

Whether it’s managing their excitement or understanding their anxiety, Steph Fairbairn provides tips for helping youngsters navigate the festive season.

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Christmas shapes

Christmas shapes

Here, players develop an awareness of where their team-mates are and have some fun too.

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8 Christmas twists to your practices

8 Christmas twists to your practices

Looking to incorporate the Christmas spirit into your coaching? Here are some ways to make sessions more festive and fun

Editor's Picks

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5 tips when starting as a youth coach

5 tips when starting as a youth coach

Remember that it’s not about the winning, encourage the players to be brave on the ball and – most importantly – have fun. By Uefa B coach H...

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How to keep substitutes fully engaged on the bench

How to keep substitutes fully engaged on the bench

Those not starting the game can still be involved, by analysing team-mates and opponents and taking responsibility for equipment.

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How to incorporate your goalkeepers into training

How to incorporate your goalkeepers into training

Goalkeeper coach James Mayley explores the various ways in which you can incorporate your shot-stoppers into training for the benefit of ...

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How to make your sessions appropriate for your players

How to make your sessions appropriate for your players

When designing sessions, it can be easy to overlook the players’ developmental level. Ian Barker sets out a blueprint for what to include ...

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Pre-Season Training

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Complete Pre-season Guide

Complete Pre-season Guide

Pre-season is a difficult time for experienced coaches, let alone beginners. But don’t worry. We’re here with our pre-season guide to help ...

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Week 1: Shaping up

Week 1: Shaping up

The first week of Soccer Coach Weekly’s pre-season plan is all about getting moving and getting some focus on what it is we are aiming to ...

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Week 2: Tactics and techniques

Week 2: Tactics and techniques

The second week of pre-season is a lot more than just shaking off the cobwebs. Now it’s the real thing! Some of your players may not be ...

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Week 3: Create a match strategy

Week 3: Create a match strategy

The basics have been taken care of with passing, possession and fitness, and there has been plenty of small-sided game-play thrown into the ...

Latest

Benefits of using small-sided games

How to design flexible sessions

Execute the high press

Designing flexible practices - modification 2

Designing flexible practices - modification 1

Designing flexible practices - core idea

Why you should reuse practices

Forcing the play

Three-zone movement

Featured Coaches

Ben Bartlett

Head of Academy Coaching

Former Head of Academy Coaching at Fulham FC, Ben spent 12 years redefining the coaching pathway at the English FA.

Ian Barker

Director of Coach Education

Former Director of coaching education at United Soccer Coaches, Ian has an unparalleled knowledge of the challenges facing youth coaches

Michael Beale

Championship Manager

One of the world’s most-highly regarded coaches, Michael has authored a number of books with Soccer Coach Weekly

Samantha Snow

Grassroots Director

Sam is Executive Director of Bluesprings Soccer Association and delivers coaching courses for US Soccer and United Soccer Coaches.

Coaches' Testimonials

Gerald Kearney, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club

Gerald Kearney, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club

"I have been coaching competitive soccer for over 20 years in Las Vegas. I feel like you are my personal club director. My players and myself have learned a lot from your sessions. The exercises from Soccer Coach Weekly are easy to understand and implement. I never run out of ideas and there is always an exercise for whatever problem we need to fix. Thank you!"

Paul Butler, Florida, USA

Paul Butler, Florida, USA

"First and foremost, Soccer Coach Weekly is truly unique and exceptional for its clarity and for explaining the "why?", in addition to the "how?". Soccer Coach Weekly is also professionally managed - any issues, which are infrequent, are resolved in an expedient and courteous manner. I place Soccer Coach Weekly at the top of my recommendation list for any new or seasoned coach of the beautiful game."

Rick Shields, Springboro, USA

Rick Shields, Springboro, USA

"I coach both young club players as well as players at the High School level and both genders. The talent range is wide at times, however with the use of Soccer Coach Weekly I am able to apply the information to all talent levels and player ages and make the session fun and challenging for all players. It has helped spark me at times when I am at a loss for what to do at the next training session or offers a different approach to a current problem."

Tony Green, Pierrefonds Titans, Quebec, Canada

Tony Green, Pierrefonds Titans, Quebec, Canada

"My team and myself are truly enjoying the Soccer Coach Weekly downloads. Pierrefonds Titans are a great group of U16 Females who compete in the Lac St-Louis Association of Montreal, Quebec, Canada."

Coaching Advice

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Benefits of using small-sided games

Young players need as many touches as they can get to help develop their first touch, control, passing, shooting and decision-making both ...

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How to design flexible sessions

If you have fewer players at training than expected, your plans may have to be ripped up. But, as Carl Wild writes, the solution is ...

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Why you should reuse practices

Don’t worry about trying to reinvent the wheel at each practice session, writes Carl Wild – if a drill works for your players, then revisit,...

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How to plan for interactions at crucial moments

Knowing what to say and when can help develop players, says Greg Mannion.

Ask SCW

SCW subscribers can pose their questions here for response by the SCW team and communitymore

Intros

Welcome to the Soccer Coach Weekly Community!more

Small-sided Soccer Games

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Small-sided game: Attack to defence

Small-sided game: Attack to defence

Your team has lost the ball – these practices will help sharpen their reactions to win it back.

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Execute the high press

Execute the high press

Developing players’ ability to work as a unit and apply pressure up the pitch.

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Small-sided game: Attack at top speed

Small-sided game: Attack at top speed

This three-part session encourages players to travel with the ball using power and pace.

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Mastering positioning

Mastering positioning

Helps players understand how to change their position, whether their team has the ball or not.

Practice Plans

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Movements to lose a defender

Movements to lose a defender

This session is designed to improve movement off the ball in order to lose a defender and receive a pass.

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The shield

The shield

This session is crucial to develop a competitive edge in your players. Learning how to challenge for the ball and shield it from an ...

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England’s number one

England’s number one

Goalkeeping is not simply about making eye-catching dives to the top corner of the goal. This session will help improve your goalkeepers’ ...

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Coping with pressure

Coping with pressure

Players can find the game mentally tiring and it is important they retain their composure. This session will help them pass and receive the ...

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