In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor, Dave Wright is joined by Mark Lyons – Pre Academy Co-ordinator and Lead Coach at Leicester City Football Club. In this wide ranging conversation, Mark and Dave dive into the topic of coaching foundation phase aged players. If you work with U7-11 players, this is essential viewing. Mark shares his philosophy, insights into the clubs approach when working with young children, the importance of fun, variety of experiences, session design and more. Mark is a vastly experienced coach, holds…
Interviews
Interviews with experts from around the world of coaching and player development.
Ball mastery and skill acquisition are crucial themes when coaching young players. But how complex should we make our practices when working with younger age groups? And how can we optimise these sessions to give kids the best developmental outcomes? Below, Gabriel Flores, Youth Development Phase Coach at Fulham FC, discusses the importance of technical coaching, its role within the wider context of player development, and how, by manipulating environmental constraints, we can use ball mastery sessions to help develop confident, adaptable players. In This…
The psychological components of coaching have a huge impact on the development of our players — both on and off the pitch. As coaches, we have a responsibility to understand these components, in order to provide supportive and constructive learning environments for the kids we work with. In this article, Dr. Suzanne Brown, Clinical Psychologist and Lead Psychologist at Sunderland AFC, explores some of the most important aspects of psychology in football, as she discusses emotional control, how to develop positive attitudes to mistakes, and…
Coaching youth sport is complex, challenging and rewarding. In this Masterclass Discussion we speak to Founder of Changing the Game Project and youth coaching expert, John O’Sullivan. PDP Editor, Dave Wright hosts John for an in depth discussion which dives into a range of topics including women’s football, John’s work in the youth coaching space, specialisation, organisational culture and creating learning environments for young people. John is a leader in driving change in youth sport, a long time PDP contributor and has some fantastic ideas…
Talent Identification is an essential component of youth football; in order to help players develop, we must identify both their potential and the environment(s) in which they can receive an appropriate variety of challenges. But is our current approach to Talent ID giving kids the best opportunities to enjoy the game and thrive? Below, Nick Levett, former Head of Talent ID at the English FA, discusses competing perceptions of talent, the potential pitfalls of assessing talent in younger age groups, and how we could improve…
Ben Garuccio is an A-League winner with two different clubs. But his career hasn’t been without challenges. In this article, the Western United fullback reflects upon the setbacks he faced in youth football, moving to Scotland as a professional and suffering a major knee injury, and how he consistently overcame adversity to develop as both a player and person — and, ultimately, build a successful and fulfilling career in the game. In This Article From Youth Football to the Professional Game Garuccio’s career can be…
Liam Ridgewell enjoyed a 17-year career as a professional footballer. After making his senior debut for Aston Villa, he went on to play over 300 games in English football before joining MLS side Portland Timbers, where he is now a coach. Below, Ridgewell reflects on his experiences in youth football, the challenges of making it to the Premier League, and the mentality required to compete at the highest level. In This Article Developing a Strong Mindset Competing against Elite Opposition The Importance of Overcoming Adversity…
In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor, Dave Wright sits down with Dr. Suze Brown, a Clinical Psychologist and expert in the areas of identity and attachment theory. Suze outlines a number of strategies as to how we can better understand our players through an empathetic approach, sharing some ideas as to how coaches can utilise an understanding of psychology to improve the environment for players. A must watch for coaches. Dr. Suzanne Brown is a Clinical Psychologist and the Director of Emotionally Connected (www.emotionallyconnected.co.uk). She…
In this Masterclass Discussion, Dave Wright & Dan Wright Co-host a conversation with Danny Barham, Head of Analysis and Data for Birmingham City FC. Danny shares insights into the power of video, practical advice for grassroots clubs looking to apply analysis, shares the approach of Birmingham City’s analysis department and how they individualise analysis for players. This is a fascinating discussion for analytical coaches interested in how performance and development environments are utilising objective analysis and data to support player development in a holistic way….
Michael Beale has had the privilege of coaching some of the best young talent in England from the very beginning of their developmental journey. A UEFA A license holder with 10 years experience at Chelsea FC before making the move to Liverpool FC where he now manages the U21s, Michael gives us an in depth…
Warren Grieve is an AFC Pro License holder and Technical Director at Football NSW in Australia. In this interview, PDP Editor, Dave Wright sits down with Warren to talk coach education, learning environments and more. This conversation covers a range of topics including: This is an insightful discussion for developing coaches, particularly those who have an interest in pursuing formal courses and qualifications. Image Credits: Unsplash
In this Masterclass Discussion, Dave Wright and Dan Wright sit down for a two hour discussion with world leading Sports Psychologist, Dan Abrahams. Dave and Dan facilitate an in depth conversation with Dan on his experience in sports psychology across different codes. We examine the four corner model and the value of breaking down psychology into a component, we talk autonomy, challenge the review process, discuss coach communication and much, much more. This is a fascinating conversation from an experienced expert in the world of sports…
In this Masterclass Webinar replay, we host Director of Coach Education at the Royal Belgian FA, Kris Van Der Haegen for an energetic and in depth conversation on the Belgian model of player and coach development. In this discussion, PDP Co-founder, Dave Wright & PDP Technical Advisor, Dan Wright co-host Kris for a wide ranging conversation on how the Belgian model was dramatically changed following the Euro 2000 tournament. Kris was a key driver of this change, addressing game formats, shifting coaches to a player-centric…
It is difficult to overstate just how much of an influence Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff has had on the sport. From his time on the pitch, starring for Ajax, Barcelona and the Dutch national side, to his time in management at the same institutions, Cruyff has always been at the cutting edge of football development. Player Development Project spoke to Cruyff in 2015 about his coaching philosophy and more. Winner of the Ballon d’Or an incredible three times, Cruyff started his footballing career at…
In this PDP webinar replay, we host Ben Bartlett, a truly world-class coach developer who currently works as Fulham FC Head of Coaching and spent over a decade at The FA as a National Youth Coach Developer. Ben is an expert in the area of session design, specifically a constraints led approach – a methodology which ensures your players use information from within the game to develop. Ben is hosted by PDP Co-founder Dave Wright and PDP Technical Advisor, Dan Wright. Both Dave & Dan…
Paul McGuinness was immersed in the world of Manchester United as a player and coach for 28 years. Paul learnt his craft from his father Wilf, a Manchester United Manager and was mentored by the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Matt Busby, Tony Whelan and more. PDP Editor Dave Wright sits down with Paul to discuss his personal journey, sharing incredible stories of the culture and family values of the club and how he and his colleagues instilled them in the academy. Paul also…
In this Masterclass webinar replay, the PDP team host Western United FC Academy Director, Anthony Frost for an in depth discussion on considerations around session design and delivery. PDP Co-founder, Dave Wright is joined by PDP Coaching Advisor, James Coutts to host Anthony and they cover a range of topics: Become a master of session design. Click here to learn more. Image Source: Unsplash
In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor, Dave Wright is joined by highly experienced Academy Coach, Arthur Brammer for a wide ranging conversation on player development. Arthur is a holder of the FA Advanced Youth Award and the UEFA A license. With over 10 years Academy experience in England at Watford FC and Fulham FC. At the time of recording, Arthur was working at New York City FC and since this interview has taken up a new role as Lead U15 Coach at Brighton & Hove…