Coaching Resources

Looking for guidance on planning your sessions? Unsure how to properly warm up your team before the match?

Below, you'll find a variety of resources designed to support both new and experienced coaches, helping you create effective training and game strategies.

Publications

Making Football Fun

“Children play football for fun. If you take that away, you take away their reason to play.” – Johan Cruyff

“Let the kids enjoy the game. Don’t rob them of their joy.” – Arsène Wenger

For tips on how to make football fun view the Making Football Fun doc.

The primary objective of the coach is to provide a relevant and match realistic learning/training environment that is safe, challenging and enjoyable for ALL players. For tips on how to plan and execute a training session view the Planning a Training Session doc.

Pre-match Warm Up - Part 1 and Part 2

At all levels of football, a warm up is necessary not only to prepare the players for the game physically but also to prepare players psychologically. Junior players can be excited and energetic on match day; this excitement is a good thing and needs to be managed rather than discouraged. For tips on guiding pre-game warm ups view the Pre-match Warm Up - Part 1 doc and the Pre-match Warm Up - Part 2 doc.

First Touch (controlling the ball)

First touch can also be described as ‘control’ or ‘receiving’ the ball. During the match, players are required to receive the ball in a variety of circumstances and under varying degrees of pressure. For tips on coaching first touch view the Coaching First Touch (control) doc.

Striking the Ball - Part 1 and Part 2

The ability to strike the ball is fundamental to football. The wide range of forms that striking the ball takes further emphasises the need to develop the core skill at training. For tips on coaching striking the ball view the Coaching Striking the Ball - Part 1 doc and Coaching Striking the Ball - Part 2.

Running with the Ball

Running with the ball (RWB) occurs when a player travels with the ball at speed. This includes both travelling into space as well as in tighter areas. For tips on coaching running with the ball view the Coaching Running with the Ball doc.

1v1s - Part 1 and Part 2

A 1v1 involves one attacker (the player with the ball) and one defender (the player attempting to win the ball or prevent the attacker from progressing). For tips on coaching 1v1 view the Coaching 1v1s - Part 1 doc and Coaching 1v1s - Part 2 doc.