Football Training

The right words in the right ears at the right time can make a huge difference to a football match. Motivation and psychology are crucial factors in the success of football teams, but how do you leverage them to your advantage?  An effective team talk — whether it’s before a match or during half-time — is often the difference between...

Credit: [email protected] Scoring goals is what makes the beautiful game… well… beautiful. While there’s a certain beauty to a perfectly timed sliding tackle or a brave headed clearance, nothing beats the spectacle of a sweetly hit ball crashing into the back of the net.  Whatever your position, learning how to shoot effectively in all situations is crucial if you...

Buying a new football can be an exciting experience, but it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting. Not all footballs are the same.  Take the Size 5 football, for example. It’s the professional football for under-15s and older. If you’ve ever watched a Premier League match, you have seen this ball in action.  But what is different about the...

While a Covid-19 is on the horizon, there’s still a chance of further lockdowns over the next six months. If you’re worried about losing your competitive edge during the next lockdown, there are a few football activities you can try at home. All you need to get started is a small outdoor area such as a garden and some essential...

  Grassroots football is back underway in many areas of the UK after its Covid-related absence. But the situation is fluid, and future lockdowns are a very real possibility for many regions. To ensure your players are both safe and match-ready, you need to ensure training sessions are as Covid-friendly as possible. It’s important to keep abreast of Covid-related restrictions...

The Bleep Test The Bleep Test, also known as the beep or multistage fitness test, is a method of testing the fitness and aerobic capacity (stamina) of an athlete. It is used by military and police organisations worldwide. From a football point of view, it is an extremely useful tool to determine the fitness of a player. What is The...

We've all spoken to a coach who gets all his training sessions off of YouTube, right?    YouTube, and the web, have been great for coaches as you can see sessions online, learn and try them in training. However, is a session that Pep Guardiola doing with his Man City players the right one to be doing with your team? Probably...

You are what you eat, as they say. And no one knows this better than a professional footballer. Eating well is just as important as training well. In fact, the latter doesn’t happen without the former. If your diet is healthy and well-balanced, you have the platform required to kick on in your career. But that’s easier said than done...

It might surprise you to know that professional scouts don’t attend grassroots football matches as much as they used to. Before the digital age, a scout might watch a young player from the sidelines a dozen or more times before making an offer. These days, however, players can be signed after just one or two visits. This is because technology...

Participations levels in grassroots football are still falling — despite the best efforts of the government, the FA and local associations. If you want to recruit the next generation of players, you’re going to need to reach out. One way to get young players excited about your club is to hold regular open days. These are casual, fun and interactive...