Buying a Christmas gift for a grassroots football player this year? If so, why not give them the gift of skill? Yes, you can play your part in that person’s footballing development by putting one of these exciting football training gifts in their stocking this year. Whether you’re buying for a child or a regular Sunday league player, these quality...

There are a few key goalkeeping skills that are essential in the modern game. Without all of them, an aspiring keeper won’t be able to fulfil their true potential. This is why constant practice and repetition of certain drills and exercise is essential. We’ve put together a few tips to use on the training pitch. But first, you need to...

In football, no one skill is more important than any other — at least in the eyes of a coach. But there’s little doubt that fans love the ability to score goals. In many cases, this skill is instinctive. But to perfect it, you must put in the hours on the training pitch. And you must work on your technique...

If you play football for a local team, the chances are you’ll be playing more than once during the Christmas period. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with indulging in a few festive treats, but what you don’t want is to have your fitness levels and weight fall back. Being out of shape means you won’t be able to perform anywhere near...

The growing chasm in quality between the Premier League’s top six and the rest of the league is causing a real problem for managers. How do you get a team of honest yet limited players to stop some of the most talented stars in the World cutting through your defence like butter? The only way the league’s second and third...

The nature of football puts a huge amount of strain on specific muscle groups. If these muscles aren’t properly warmed and stretched beforehand, the consequences can be severe. Pulls, strains and tears can keep footballers out of action for months — so a stringent warm-up schedule before every match and training session is vital. Whether you’re a seasoned campaigner or...

Young children need lots of time with the ball in order to develop their touch and control. Unfortunately, there are still too many kids playing 11-a-side football on pitches that are too big. Games involving four, five or six players on each time have been shown to be much more effective at developing the skills of youngsters. Not only that...

The whole concept of warming down is relatively new in English football. Many in the game believe it was Arsene Wenger who first introduced regular warm-downs to Premier League clubs. From the moment Wenger arrived at Arsenal, he did away with the group baths in favour of group warm-down sessions. Indeed, there are many experts who believe that this move...

It’s finally July again. The barren month of June is often hard for amateur footballers. There’s no football on the telly, and even less in the community. For committed and enthusiastic players, the summer is torture. Anyone who regularly plays the game at a reasonable level will know how exciting the first day of pre-season training is. However, excitement usually...

Most adult Sunday league players — and probably more professional players than you realise — have been forced to take to a football field whilst feeling the effects of alcohol. Right up until the 1980s, the best football players in the land could be seen propping up bars until the early hours on the eve of a big match. How...