Coaching Techniques

Send us Fan Mail (https://www.buzzsprout.com/247200/fan_mail/new) Episode 126 – Training Session Round Table, with Ben Andreos, Craig Birtwistle, Peter Prickett & Ray Power In this episode we bring together an outstanding panel for a Training Session Round Table discussion, focusing on what is arguably the most fundamental part of player development – the training session itself. Joined by Ben Andreos, Craig Birtwistle, Peter Prickett and co-host Ray Power, we explore how coaches approach the design and delivery of training sessions. The conversation dives into session structure, how sessions connect to a wider coaching plan, and the importance of ensuring transfer from the training ground into matchday performance. The panel share their experiences, ideas and practical approaches to creating engaging, purposeful and effective sessions that truly support both player and team development. It was an absolute privilege to be joined by such an awesome group of coaches, each bringing their own perspective, insight and expertise to the discussion. Please do leave a review, like and share the episode! Connect with our guests • Peter Prickett (The Bearded Coach) – X: @PeterPrickett • Craig Birtwistle – X: @CraigBirtwistle / @SessionShareNet • Ben Andreos – X: @ben_andreos • Ray Power – X: @power_ray Podcast Information X - The Soccer Coaching Podcast - @SoccerCoachCast Email - [email protected] This episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly. Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and advice for all grassroots coaches. Join thousands of youth soccer coaches, just like you, saving time and effort in their goal of having the most effective, enjoyable and successful coaching journey for them and their players. – https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/ Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed the episode! This episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly. Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and advice for all grassroots coaches. Join thousands of youth soccer coaches, just like you, saving time and effort in their goal of having the most effective, enjoyable and successful coaching journey for them and their players. – https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/ Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed the episode!

Send us Fan Mail Episode 126 – Training Session Round Table, with Ben Andreos, Craig Birtwistle, Peter Prickett & Ray Power In this episode we bring together an outstanding panel for a Training Session Round Table discussion, focusing on what is arguably the most fundamental part of player development – the training session itself. Joined by Ben Andreos, Craig Birtwistle, Peter Prickett and co-host Ray Power, we explore how coaches approach the design and delivery of training sessions. Th...

Click here to access Saul's presentation for FREE on MSC Insider: https://forms.gle/nEFQYuyxMMPXo7Vp8 This is one of the most important conversations we’ve had on the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast. Saul Isaksson-Hurst joins Gary Curneen to break down the reality of individual development in today’s game—and why so many players are plateauing despite working harder than ever. We get into the biggest misconceptions in coaching right now, including the idea that practice makes perfect, the over-reliance on game-based training, and the growing tension between club environments and individual training. Saul shares how elite players actually develop their technical level, why 20 minutes of focused work can outperform hours of unfocused training, and why coaches must find a better balance between opposed and unopposed work. We also dive into the explosion of individual coaching, the lack of quality control in the space, and why there is still a major gap in coach education when it comes to developing players on the ball. If you care about player development, this episode will challenge how you think about training. A huge thank you to Zone 14 Coaching for supporting the podcast. Their journals are designed to help coaches and players plan, reflect, and track development with real intention across the season. Check them out and use the code for a discount.

Check Out MSC High School Course Here: https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/challenge-page/46214942-e036-4f32-afa6-8383d4608e2d Check Out Zone14: https://zone14coaching.com/ This might be one of the most important conversations we’ve had on the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast. In this episode, Gary Curneen sits down with Joop Oosterveld, transition coach at BK Häcken and former PSV coach, to break down what it actually takes to prepare players for the highest level of the game. We get into why most training environments are too easy, how underloaded pressing (3v7, 4v6) can accelerate development, and why the best players often stop improving if they are not constantly stretched and challenged. Joop shares insights from his time in Holland, Sweden, and learning from environments like Liverpool, giving a clear picture of what elite player development really looks like. This is a must-watch for any coach serious about developing players who can perform at the highest level. A big thank you to Zone 14 for supporting the podcast. Their coach and player journals are built around intentional development, helping coaches plan, reflect, and stay organized while giving players a structure to take ownership of their progress. If you are serious about improving your environment on and off the pitch, check them out and use the code modernsoccer20 for 20% off. If you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share with another coach.

Free MSC Insider Trial - Sign Up Below: https://forms.gle/cxBipaaJyfMpjGnA6 Most teams say the same thing: “We just need someone to score goals.” But what if the problem isn’t the player… it’s the understanding of the position? In this episode, Gary Curneen sits down with JP Owens (Ireland U17 Women’s National Team Performance Analyst & Shelbourne First Team) to break down the detail behind elite centre forward play. From movement in relation to teammates, to how the best strikers dictate passes rather than wait for service, this is one of the most in-depth conversations we’ve had on the #9 role. We dive into: Why most forwards struggle to impact games The relationship between the passer and the striker How elite forwards “plot” movements before the ball arrives Practical ways to coach striker movement inside team sessions How to build a culture of player-led development using video and feedback If you coach or work with forwards, this will completely change how you see the position. Full Centre Forward Analysis Presentation (FREE): → Enter your details here and get 1 month free access to Modern Soccer Coach Insider https://forms.gle/cxBipaaJyfMpjGnA6

Access full webinar here: https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/pro... Check out Duktig Brand here: https://www.duktigbrand.com/ In this episode, Gary Curneen is joined by Luis Swisher, U18/U19 coach at St. Louis City SC (MLS), to break down one of the most undervalued attacking moments in soccer: throw-ins. Most teams get 25–45 throw-ins per match, yet very few coach them with the same detail as build-up play, goal kicks, or corners. Luis explains why throw-ins should be treated as controlled attacking restarts, not throwaways — and how teaching intentions, space, and decision-making can lead to more possession, progression, and goal-scoring opportunities. We discuss: Why there are more throw-ins than corners — and why that matters Coaching the thrower as the “quarterback” Intentions vs predictable set routines How to train attacking throw-ins without killing session flow Scaling throw-in detail from youth to professional level Access full webinar here: https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/post/how-throw-ins-can-create-goals-free-webinar Check out Duktig Brand here: https://www.duktigbrand.com/ In this episode, Gary Curneen is joined by Luis Swisher, U18/U19 coach at St. Louis City SC (MLS), to break down one of the most undervalued attacking moments in soccer: throw-ins. Most teams get 25–45 throw-ins per match, yet very few coach them with the same detail as build-up play, goal kicks, or corners. Luis explains why throw-ins should be treated as controlled attacking restarts, not throwaways — and how teaching intentions, space, and decision-making can lead to more possession, progression, and goal-scoring opportunities. We discuss: Why there are more throw-ins than corners — and why that matters Coaching the thrower as the “quarterback” Intentions vs predictable set routines How to train attacking throw-ins without killing session flow Scaling throw-in detail from youth to professional level Why risk, bravery, and learning matter in player development 🎥 Free attacking throw-ins presentation (no login required): https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/post/how-throw-ins-can-create-goals-free-webinar ⚽ Modern Soccer Coach Insider — full webinar library, sessions & weekly bonus content: https://modernsoccercoach.mimentorportal.com/subscriptions 🤝 Podcast sponsor: Duktig Brand Duktig produces premium notebooks and accessories for soccer coaches and players, featuring waterproof stone paper and professional designs. https://www.duktigbrand.com/ If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe, and if you’re listening on audio, a quick rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify really helps support the show.

Read Slawomir Morawski's Article FREE Below: https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/post/guest-article-the-art-of-first-touch-collecting-information-in-football Gary is joined by Analyst at Bolton Wanderers Football Club and coach Slawomir Morawski to discuss the first touch in football. Slawomir argues that first touch is not just a technical action, but instead a cognitive one where decision making dictates so much. He discusses the most effective ways to teach this and also some traditional coaching methods that may be out-dated with this approach. Join MSC Insider Below: https://modernsoccercoach.mimentorportal.com/subscriptions

Rick Edwards heads to Brentford’s training ground to speak to head coach Thomas Frank and the club’s psychologist Michael Caulfield. They sit down in the manager’s office to discuss the evolution of psychology in football, dealing with the extreme highs and lows and unique pressures. Thomas Frank was appointed Bees boss back in October 2018 making him the second longest serving manager in the Premier League behind Pep Guardiola. As well as Brentford Michael Caulfield has worked with a number of other football clubs and managers including Gareth Southgate and a wide range of other sports from horseracing to darts.

Gary is joined by Bernat Mosquera, a coach and analyst who has worked at two Spainish tiers and in China, as well as the aspect of individual development. He discusses the complexity of Positional Play, along with ideas on how coaches can teach it more effectively in their own environments. You can follow Bernat here: www.linkedin.com/in/bernat-mosquera/ Please check out the MSC Pre-Season Offer: www.modernsoccercoach.com/product-page…eason-bundle

Jon Mackenzie is joined by Sammy Lander to explore the idea of a substitution coach and the general concept of substitutes. What does the day in a life of a substitution coach look like? What are the edges that can be found in coaching substitutes? Why do certain players succeed as substitutes? What are the things that make coaches good at making substitutes? This episode of the Tifo Football Podcast is presented by Jon Mackenzie, produced by Mike Zimmermann. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jon Mackenzie is joined by Thomas Gronnemark to trace his career trajectory and get a better understanding of the role of throw ins within the modern game. Where did his focus on throw ins come from? How did he end up working with Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool? What does a training session look like? Where are teams lacking the most in terms of their approach to throw ins? This episode of the Tifo Football Podcast is presented by Jon Mackenzie, produced by Mike Zimmermann. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gary is joined by Jack Cassidy to discuss ways that coaches can add a little more detail and relevance to the preparation on their training sessions. Jack's current role is as Senior Professional Development Phase Coach (U21) & Pathways Manager at Cambridge United FC and he recently created a document where he researched all the goals scored in the Premier League. You can access Jack's document below: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/PremierLeagueGoalsTechnicalReport-JackCassidy

Send us Fan Mail Episode 89, Brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly (@SoccerCoachWeek) Episode 89 - Connected Coaching, The Craft of Player Development, a conversation with Ben Bartlett In this episode we talk with Ben Bartlett about his second book Connected Coaching, The Craft of Player Development. Ben updates us on what’s changed since we last spoke (episode #75) and we briefly revisit his first book before taking a closer look at the new book. ...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 80, Brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly (@SoccerCoachWeek) The Power of Personalised Coaching, a conversation with Dion Von Moltke and Mike Semenza from Blayze. In this episode we talk with Dion Von Moltke and Mike Semenza from Blayze. We discuss their background, their approach to coaching, their shared passion for personalised coaching and their work at Blayze We look at how coaching transcends individual sports...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we discuss the benefits of adopting a constraints-led approach to player development with Ben Bartlett, Head of Academy Coaching at Fulham Football Club. Ben talks to us about his coaching journey including time at Colchester FC, Chelsea FC, The FA and now Fulham FC. Ben also explains what a constraints-led approach to player development is, how coaches can adopt it and the benefits for the players. We also discuss Ben’s new book, Constraining Football - a vis...

Gary is back for a new series and is joined by Programme Leader in Football Coaching & Management at UCFB, Chester City Lead Coach (U9s-U14s) and author of 'The Intelligent Soccer Coach' Carl Wild. Carl discusses how coaches can improve their preparation, execution, and review of training sessions, as well as tips on how to improve connecting with players and designing sessions to suit and challenge every age group. 'The Intelligent Soccer Coach' is available now on Amazon on the link below... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intelligent-Soccer-Coach-Player-Centered-Confident/dp/1782552251 Please check out Gary Curneen's new Ebook on Positional Exercises for Forwards on the link below... https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/product-page/25-positional-exercises-for-forwards Enjoy the Modern Soccer Coach content? Please subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/curneen16 Please follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernsoccercoach/?hl=en

Gary is joined by Karl Marius Aksum to discuss a very unique topic. Karl is a current PhD Candidate researching Visual Perception in Elite Football. He has a Master's Degree in Coaching and Psychology and wrote his Master's thesis on visual perception in real football match play on AFC Ajax players, aged 14-20, from where I received the highest possible grade He also has a Bachelor's Degree in Football Coaching. He discusses: - Importance of scanning and visual awareness - Difference between scanning and fixation - Exercises that help develop better awareness - If rondo's actually make scanning worse - How to implement better processes in our youth environments And much more! This podcast is sponsored by our good friends at HEJA. (https://go.heja.app/msc) On Heja’s free team management app, You can see exactly who reads the information you send out and, unlike whatsapp or a group chat, you can organise your training times and details using a separate team calendar within the app that’s easy for everyone to view, meaning those all important dates and times do not get lost in a buzzing group chat. Surprisingly, Heja is actually free-to-use for your whole team, and we recommend you download it now and give it a go to save yourself some time and get your team better organised and all together this season. You can search in your App Store for Heja, or just click the link here: (https://go.heja.app/msc)

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we discuss a new concept, `Scoreboard Soccer` with the wonderful David Baird (@CoachDavidBaird). David explains how Scoreboard Soccer can be used as an evolution to SSG's and as part of a general Games Based approach to training. David describes some of the Scoreboard Soccer games hes used, the benefits and how they can work for individual player and team development. Thank you for listening and we hope you enjoy this episode. T - @SoccerCoachCast E - theso...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we chat to the awesome Paul Barry (PBazza07) about the concept of storytelling in coaching. We discuss how stories can be used as `interventions` to support individual player and team development. Paul is UEFA A licenced , FA Advanced Youth Award coach and a Foundation Phase Specialist who was previously a guest on episode #21 where we looked at an U10 training session. Paul's new book, `Keep the tap on` can be found here. Thank you for listening and we ho...

Gary is joined by former Manchester United, Olympiacos, West Ham and Northern Ireland goalkeeper and now GK coach, Roy Carroll. A Premier League winner and playing experience in Greece, England, Denmark and Northern Ireland, Roy discusses the following: - What did he learn from head coaches at different clubs? - What can a GK coach do to help nerves on game day? - How can a coach help a back-up goalkeeper? - How does a young goalkeeper get help on the mental side of the game? - What was special about the Manchester United environment? And much more! This podcast is brought to you by Nemesis Goalkeeping. They are a goalkeeper business based out of Des Moines, Iowa, who run group, individual sessions and also have camps during summer and winter months. Nemesis also travels to host clubs and provide training for the clubs. In addition to training keepers they are goalie glove distributor for No Goals Against who is based out of Canada. NGA offers top notch Goalie Gloves at affordable prices. Visits them at www.nemesisgoalkeeping.com

Gary is joined by former rugby professional, coach, and coach educator Russell Earnshaw. He has consulted with and delivered for Google, The English FA, Great Britain Hockey, British Triathlon, the Rugby Football League and British Swimming to name a few. He has also delivered to soccer coaches recently both in the UK and in the US at the Mass Youth Soccer Workshop. Rusty discusses a number: - What does a great environment look like? - How can we make learning more enjoyable for young players? - How can we challenge ourselves as coaches to be more creative? - What are some cultural differences in how coaches from UK view coaching to those in US - Should coach intelligence be a higher priority than player intelligence? - How do we challenge and disrupt thinking without being labelled as negative or someone who is continually finding faults? And much, much more!! This podcast is brought to you again by SportsLab360, an outstanding platform designed to empower youth players to increase their Soccer IQ and allow coaches to guide player development outside of training. We have some exciting news at the break on how MSC have teamed up with them and how you can claim a special offer for February. Please check out their work at www.SportsLab360.com

Gary is joined by current Bristol City Women FC (FAWSL) GK Coach, Tony Elliott. Tony has a vast range of experiences as a coach as a player, also with @ngland Blind Football GK Coach, and as FA National Futsal Goalkeeper Coach Developer. He is author of the book, 'A Modern Approach To Goalkeeping’ Tony tackles the challenges of not just incorporating goalkeepers in training sessions, but also in the environment itself. He covers: - Creating both camaraderie and competition between starters and backups - Role of GK coach during the game - Who should pick the starting GK? - How would you hire a GK coach? - If he was Sarri, how would he deal with Kepa incident? - What can we learn from other sports? And much, much more!! COACHES: October's monthly webinar is now available on the Modern Soccer Coach Community Platform. In the 45 video session, Gary takes an in-depth look at ‘Breaking Down a Low block’, and pinpoints 10 ways that a coach can play against a team who "parks the bus" including tactical analysis, session ideas, and a discussion on player development. The monthly webinars are FREE to all MSC Community Platform Members. It's easy to register and once you do, you will receive a free 14 day trial to check it out… after that it’s only $6 a month and you get access to the monthly webinars, weekly content and discussions, along with over 250 video training exercises on there. Please check it out: www.modernsoccercoach.com/community

Gary is joined Jonas Munkvold, UEFA 'B' holder, BA in Football Studies, and author of player development eBooks. He talks about player development, specifically on 1v1 play, focusing on the model that he has put together and the work he has heavily researched. They cover the following topics: - How should you design sessions to focus on technical work AND game context? - Can coaches facilitate decision making more effectively than saying "do this, do that"? - How do you coach 1v1 moves whilst still allowing the player to be creative? - Why are we not developing as many dribblers any more? - Along with a unique look into early specialization from a European perspective This podcast is brought to you by Sportslab360, an interactive Soccer IQ platform that will help coaches get the absolute most out of their players. Please check them out at https://sportslab360.com/ and listen to the podcast to get a special offer!

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we discuss the different types of interventions, how they impact on a session and the difference between using them in training and matches. We also discuss the idea of `counter coaching` as well as the benefits of a 2-2 formation at 5 aside, England FA DNA and collaborative training games. This episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly. Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we discuss a question sent in from Santi (who is coaching in the Philippines) around the difference between ball rolling time (BRT) and Active Learning Time (ALT). We then discuss the idea of Collaborative Training Matches (CTM`s) as a tool for supporting training and providing a bridge between training and matches. This episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly. Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading s...

Send us Fan Mail In our last episode we spoke about the key ingredients that can make for a fun and effective coaching session. We came up with 10 elements that we felt should be considered and tried to explain why we believed they were important. If you haven’t already done so please do listen to episode one and let us know what you think. As equally important as what goes into the training, is what goes into the match days. So for this episode Mark and I are delighted to have the super tale...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we discuss the ingredients that help make for a fun and effective soccer coaching training session. We explore the ten things to consider for your sessions that may help maximise the learning and development potential of the session, and ensure your players are challenged, enjoy and get the most out of the training. 1) PLANNING – Session plans / Structure / Challenges / STEP / Progression / The Unexpected 2) A CLEAR THEME - Coaching points / Curriculum ...

Gary is joined by Saul Isaksson-Hurst, who spent 10 years coaching in Premier League Academy Football, at Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. He is a 1-2-1 coach specialist and works with a number of players on the books of clubs like Fulham, Spurs, Aresenal, QPR, Barcelona, Aston Villa and many more. What does a individual coach do and why do players need one? They discuss the following: Comparison between England and US development model… what did the English DNA do to individual skill development? Creativity and session design… how can we develop better decision makers AND risk takers? What roles do clubs play when it comes to skill development? How can we improve communication with players using technology today?