Communication is a crucial element of effective coaching. In this article, Professor Stephen Rollnick challenges traditional methods of coach communication and offers some practical solutions for coaches to improve player relationships. I went on this 4-year journey through sport to get a feel for how people communicate. Giving feedback and advice to players sprang out at me from all corners of football. From having a quiet word, to looking at technical data, conducting player reviews, having heated exchanges in the dressing room and beyond, I…
Talent Development
Uncovering the pathways which help players develop and continue to thrive in sport.
In this Masterclass, we share a replay of our live and interactive webinar with UEFA A licensed academy coaches Dave Wright and Dan Wright. Dan and Dave discuss practice design in the final third, considerations when planning your session and share a number of small sided games to help you work on attacking themes with your players. We cover the practice spectrum, talk about the ‘3R’s’ and Dan and Dave share some of their favourite small sided games for developing attackers. Image Source: depositphotos.com
In this Masterclass Discussion, FA National Women’s Coach Developer, Amy Price shares her unique approach to player development with Dave Wright & Dan Wright in a highly engaging conversation. Amy shares research on how coaches can use the principles of video game design to engage young players in their own development, setting challenges, designing tasks and encouraging problem-solving. Amy outlines how players can take ownership of the task and you can ‘level’ up the challenge as you go. This is essential viewing if you want…
The question this week comes from John via Facebook. I always focus on the process over results, but I am wondering if I should change my approach to help my girls win a final? Your Turn: Ask PDP Anything Do you have a coaching question that we might be able to help with? We would love to hear from you! Here’s what you can do: 1. Tweet your questions to us @playerdp, or contact us on our Facebook page.2. PDP Members can chat directly with the PDP team…
In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor Dave Wright is joined by Head of Specialist Coaching & Lead In Possession Coach at The FA, Aaron Danks. PDP Technical Advisor, Dan Wright also joins the discussion for a fascinating conversation on youth development. Aaron is a holder of the UEFA Pro License, he spent over a decade at West Bromwich Albion Academy and was part of the England U20 coaching staff who led the team to World Cup success in 2017. We dive into Aaron’s personal coaching…
Problem-solving is crucial in player development. In this article, Founder of Changing the Game Project, John O’Sullivan shares an excellent article on the importance of guiding children towards solutions and creating autonomy in learning environments. Imagine you went to your child’s algebra class and got to be a fly on the wall. Imagine the teacher was being assessed on your child’s test results in two days. Now imagine that instead of teaching your child how to problem solve, and the concepts behind doing algebra problems,…
The question this week comes from Mark, via Facebook. “When are players ready for a set playing position?” Your Turn: Ask PDP Anything Do you have a coaching question that we might be able to help with? We would love to hear from you! Here’s what you can do: 1. Tweet your questions to us @playerdp, or contact us on our Facebook page.2. PDP Members can chat directly with the PDP team to ask questions, share ideas, and support each other on our exclusive Coaching Community. Start your…
In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor Dave Wright is joined by Reed Maltbie for a fascinating and wide ranging conversation on youth development. Reed is a TEDx Speaker, has a Masters in Sports Psychology & Early Childhood Education and is founder of Coaches Realm & Raising Excellence. In this conversation, Reed shares some excellent insights into the challenges of organisational culture and how program leaders can make change, the importance of parent education and how coaches can build stronger relationships with parents. Plus, Reed and…
In this Masterclass Discussion, we’re joined by experienced Academy Coach & Co-founder of My Football Development, Gabriel Flores for a fascinating conversation on developing youth football players. PDP Editor, Dave Wright hosts Gabriel for an in depth conversation on skill acquisition, individual learning, how to adapt your session design to ensure you stretch your players and much more. This is a must watch conversation, particularly for coaches working with players in the foundation or skill acquisition phase of youth coaching. The conversation features some great…
The question this week comes from Paul via email “What are the benefits of my players being exposed to mixed experiences against players at a better level or older ages?” Your Turn: Ask PDP Anything Do you have a coaching question that we might be able to help with? We would love to hear from you! Here’s what you can do: 1. Tweet your questions to us @playerdp, or contact us on our Facebook page.2. PDP Members can chat directly with the PDP team to ask questions, share…
Dan Robinson is the Academy Manager at Burton Albion FC in England and a former Assistant Coach & Goalkeeper Coach with the New Zealand Women’s team. In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor Dave Wright sits down with Dan to discuss his coaching journey and some of the challenges of taking on a major role at a small club. Dan discusses some of the lessons he’s learned in leadership, the player development philosophy at Burton Albion, his experience on the world stage with international women’s teams…
Ken Lynch is a High Performance Athlete Development Consultant at High Performance Sport New Zealand and works with sports people across a range of codes. Originally from Ireland, Ken is an expert in high performance athlete pathways, athlete talent identification and high performance strategy. In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor, Dave Wright hosts Ken for an informative conversation about the role of HPSNZ, talent development pathways, sports science in youth sport and ensuring the athlete sits at the centre of the learning process. A fantastic…
How can coaches develop healthier team dynamics? Rugby coach and blogger David Sharkey shares an insightful article on the value of understanding your why and the benefit of being vulnerable as a coach and leader. A man who knows his ‘why’ can bear almost any ‘how’ – Viktor Frankl After a bruising fixture over the weekend in which we suffered a heavy loss, it was important for us as a coaching team to reinforce the huge steps forward the team had made. We did some…
Cameron Knowles has been part of the Portland Timbers organisation for well over a decade. Following a 7 year professional playing career at Real Salt Lake, the Timbers and Montreal Impact, Cameron made the move into coaching where he worked as an Assistant Coach with the first team for five years. The holder of a Masters in Psychology & now into his second season as Head Coach of Portland Timbers T2, Cameron joins PDP Editor, Dave Wright for a conversation on his journey through the…
Awareness, decision-making, perception and execution are all part of skill acquisition. PDP contributor & Founder of TOVO Institute, Todd Beane shares an article on coaching methodology to enhance players cognitive fitness. Are your players cognitively fit? If you are like most coaches that may be a tough question to answer. But why? I might suggest that it is not a question you have had to answer before. I know that it was not a question that I addressed as a young coach myself. My task…
In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor Dave Wright hosts Wellington Phoenix FC Academy Director, Paul Temple. Paul holds a UEFA A license and is alongside his role as Academy Director at Wellington Phoenix, (New Zealand’s only A-League club) and is an Assistant Coach of the New Zealand U17 Men’s team. Paul joins Dave to discuss how the club is trying to develop players for the future, analysing football trends and innovating in what is fast becoming the hot bed of youth football in New Zealand….
In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor and UEFA A licensed coach, Dave Wright shares a presentation on how coaches can develop individuals within the group. Dave has previously presented this content at a State Coaching Conference in Melbourne and cites examples from his time at Fulham FC, shares practical examples and taps into various PDP experts. This presentation will help you better understand how you can redefine success for your players and focus on development first and foremost. Image Source: depositphotos.com
Pressure is part of sport. So how can coaches help players embrace or reduce this significant psychological factor to enhance creativity and freedom when performing? Psychologist and Lecturer at Staffordshire University, Dr. Martin J. Turner shares examples and research in this area. Prior to the 2018 World Cup, Jurgen Klopp, the coach of Liverpool FC, suggested that the media could help the England’s men’s football team by reducing the pressure “a notch or two”. He told journalists to “maybe take the numbers 1966 [when England last…