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Zonal or Man-marking: the Decision and the Detail
I’ve spent enough Sunday mornings standing on waterlogged touchlines to know that most of the “expert” tactical analysis you see on television is absolute rubbish when it comes to the actual grit of the game. They’ll show you these pristine, color-coded diagrams on a screen, but they never show you the chaos of a crowded
Coaching Under-sevens: Twenty Minutes of Actual Football
I remember standing on a windswept patch of grass in mid-November, watching a “certified youth specialist” try to explain the nuances of spatial awareness to a group of five-year-olds who were more interested in a passing beetle than a football. He had a clipboard, a whistle, and a textbook, but he had absolutely no idea
Cramp: What Actually Causes It
I’ve spent thirty-five years standing on touchlines in the pouring rain, and if there is one thing I can’t stand, it’s the nonsense sold to coaches about “advanced electrolyte recovery protocols” and expensive, neon-coloured sports drinks. I once had a lad in my Under-16s, a brilliant player who could see a pass before it even
Appealing a Red Card: What Actually Gets Overturned
I remember standing on a touchline in mid-November, shivering in a soaked tracksuit, watching a lad I’d coached since he was eight years old get sent off for a challenge that was about as violent as a wet paper bag. The referee didn’t even look him in the eye before pointing to the tunnel, and
Dehydration Costs You More Than You Think
I’ve spent thirty-five years standing on sidelines where the wind bites through your coat, and if there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that most of the “science” being sold to youth coaches today is absolute rubbish. You don’t need a £50 designer electrolyte bottle or a complex spreadsheet to understand how hydration affects football
Keeping the Strong Stretched and the Weak Involved
I’ve spent thirty-five years standing on muddy touchlines, and if there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that most of the “expert” advice on how to coach mixed ability groups is absolute rubbish. You’ll see these glossy coaching manuals suggesting you split the squad into “elite” and “developmental” tiers, as if you’ve got a fleet
The Complete Guide to Grassroots Club Finances
I’ve sat through enough committee meetings in drafty community halls to know that most people treat a “complete guide to grassroots club finances” like it’s some complex mathematical theorem that requires a degree in accounting. They’ll hand you a glossy binder full of jargon about “fiscal sustainability” and “diversified revenue streams,” but all that does
Cards, Points and Suspensions Explained
I remember standing on a touchline in mid-November, watching a lad I’d coached since he was eight years old steamroll a winger just because he was frustrated with his own touch. He didn’t just get a yellow; he racked up enough points to trigger a three-match ban, and I watched his season evaporate before the
Beating a Team That Parks the Bus, Calmly
I’ve lost count of how many “tactical gurus” I’ve seen on the internet trying to sell you some complex, high-pressing system designed specifically for how to play against a weaker team. They’ll talk about “low blocks” and “transitioning through phases” as if you’re managing Manchester City in a Champions League final, rather than trying to
Setting Up Against a Team Better Than Yours
I’ve lost count of how many “tactical gurus” I’ve seen on YouTube trying to tell you that you need a complex, high-pressing system to handle a superior side. They’ll talk about “expected goals” and “positional rotations” like they’re solving a physics equation, but they’ve clearly never stood on a touchline in a November downpour watching