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Tag: coaching

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Culture

Soccer Coaching Preferences and the Path to Gender Equality

You’re a soccer club manager searching for the perfect coach to elevate your team. Credentials? Check. Experience? Top-notch. But one factor seems to overshadow all others—gender. Does it really matter whether your new coach is male or female? For many in the soccer world, it still does. A recent study of Division 1 professional soccer […]

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Development

How Small-Sided Games Can Transform Your Team’s Tactics

Soccer is often called “the beautiful game” for its elegance, fluidity, and moments of sheer brilliance. But what if the secret to unlocking these magical moments lies not in flashy footwork but in small-sided games? New research shows how these scaled-down games—commonly used in youth soccer—can foster creativity that disrupts defenses and opens opportunities for […]

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Strategy

The Unequal Journey of Minority Soccer Coaches

Imagine stepping into a soccer academy as a coach, ready to inspire young talent. Now, imagine that your skills and passion are often overshadowed by assumptions tied to the color of your skin. This is the reality for many minority coaches in soccer academies across England. The field may look equal from the stands, but […]

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Development

Building Positive Soccer Environments: A Coach’s Guide to Success

When it comes to soccer, the winning formula often extends beyond what happens on the field. Whether you’re an experienced coach or just starting out, one key to your team’s success isn’t found in strategy books or training drills—it’s in the environment you create. Research shows that a positive soccer environment directly impacts player development, […]

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Development

Unraveling the Complex World of Talent Development in Soccer

In the bustling arena of sports, the development of talent, particularly in soccer, has garnered significant attention both from the public and the scientific community. The quest to understand and optimize the journey from a promising young athlete to a seasoned professional is more than just a matter of national pride—it holds the potential to […]

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Development

My Latest Mistake from Directing U8 Intramural: Situational Awareness

As the season progresses, it’s clear that the kids are enjoying themselves. They’re putting in their best efforts, and thankfully, we’ve been free of any injuries, major or minor. However, I’ve managed to anger parents, and here’s a recount of my latest oversight and how I addressed it. A Reasonable Request Recently, I received an […]

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Development

The Art of Resonating with Complexity in Player Development

In the world of soccer coaching and player development, the traditional approach of adopting tried and tested methods from one context to another has often been seen as the path to success. However, the insightful article, “There is no copy and paste, but there is resonation and inhabitation: Integrating a contemporary player development framework in […]

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Development

Physical Maturity’s Role in Soccer Success

The article Physical Characteristics and the Talent Identification and Development Processes in Male Youth Soccer: A Narrative Review highlights the importance of physical characteristics in the talent identification and development of young male soccer players. In this blog, we’ll dive into the key findings of Kelly and Williams’ research and discuss their implications for soccer […]

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Development

Enhancing Soccer Skills: A Review of Coaching Strategies and Player Development

Soccer requires coaches to constantly evolve their training methods. The systematic review Perceptual-Motor and Perceptual-Cognitive Skill Acquisition in Soccer: A Systematic Review on the Influence of Practice Design and Coaching Behavior dives deep into this topic, offering insights for coaches and players alike. The Essence of the Study: The study, found in Frontiers in Psychology, […]

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Development

Optimizing Training in Youth Soccer: Insights from Elite U17 Players

The world of youth soccer is highly competitive, and the quest for optimal player development is more crucial than ever. The study The Ratio between Weekly Training and Match External Physical Loads in U17 Elite Youth Soccer Players: Implications for the Training Process [note, will download a pdf] offers groundbreaking insights. Understanding Player Demands The […]

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