Soccer Coach Weekly

Building your team's pre-season schedule

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Soccer Coach Weekly

What to include, on and off the pitch, to prepare players for the new campaign.

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Latest

The five pillars of an effective pre-season

Building your team's pre-season schedule

Combination play - small-sided game

A soccer coach's guide to interventions

John Allpress, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur and the Football Association, takes a deep dive into the delicate art of stepping in during ...

How to use the game as the teacher

The game, contrary to the popular phrase, is not necessarily the teacher. However, it does provide a valuable vehicle for youngsters to ...

How to design flexible sessions

If you have fewer players at training than expected, your plans may have to be ripped up. But, as Carl Wild writes, the solution is ...

5 tips when starting as a youth coach

Remember that it’s not about the winning, encourage the players to be brave on the ball and – most importantly – have fun. By Uefa B coach H...

Featured Coaches

Ben Bartlett

Head of Academy Coaching

Former Head of Academy Coaching at Fulham FC, Ben spent 12 years redefining the coaching pathway at the English FA.

Ian Barker

Director of Coach Education

Former Director of coaching education at United Soccer Coaches, Ian has an unparalleled knowledge of the challenges facing youth coaches

Michael Beale

Championship Manager

One of the world’s most-highly regarded coaches, Michael has authored a number of books with Soccer Coach Weekly

Samantha Snow

Grassroots Director

Sam is Executive Director of Bluesprings Soccer Association and delivers coaching courses for US Soccer and United Soccer Coaches.

Coaches' Testimonials

Gerald Kearney, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club

"I have been coaching competitive soccer for over 20 years in Las Vegas. I feel like you are my personal club director. My players and myself have learned a lot from your sessions. The exercises from Soccer Coach Weekly are easy to understand and implement. I never run out of ideas and there is always an exercise for whatever problem we need to fix. Thank you!"

Paul Butler, Florida, USA

"First and foremost, Soccer Coach Weekly is truly unique and exceptional for its clarity and for explaining the "why?", in addition to the "how?". Soccer Coach Weekly is also professionally managed - any issues, which are infrequent, are resolved in an expedient and courteous manner. I place Soccer Coach Weekly at the top of my recommendation list for any new or seasoned coach of the beautiful game."

Rick Shields, Springboro, USA

"I coach both young club players as well as players at the High School level and both genders. The talent range is wide at times, however with the use of Soccer Coach Weekly I am able to apply the information to all talent levels and player ages and make the session fun and challenging for all players. It has helped spark me at times when I am at a loss for what to do at the next training session or offers a different approach to a current problem."

Tony Green, Pierrefonds Titans, Quebec, Canada

"My team and myself are truly enjoying the Soccer Coach Weekly downloads. Pierrefonds Titans are a great group of U16 Females who compete in the Lac St-Louis Association of Montreal, Quebec, Canada."

Coaching Advice

The five pillars of an effective pre-season

From getting to know new players and re-establishing old bonds to sorting out logistics and getting everyone on the same page, we discuss a ...

Building your team's pre-season schedule

What to include, on and off the pitch, to prepare players for the new campaign.

Pre-season checklist

This handy guide will help to ensure everything is ready when players are back. Download and print the PDF to tick items off as you go!

New season checklist

As pre-season takes place, preparations for the upcoming campaign should be ramping up. This guide will help ensure you have got everything ...

Soccer Warm-Ups

Running with the ball

A simple way to practice an important technique that every age group and ability level needs.

Pass to the open player

This training activity will help you to create a passing team that is capable of playing up the pitch at speed.

Warm-up: Combine and support

Sharpen up your players’ technical skills and reactions to transitions in this three-part session.

Warm-up: 'Sharks' and 'fishes'

This fun session develops players’ 1v1 skills and increases confidence on the ball.

Soccer Drills

Ten seconds to score

An activity to encourage your players to collect the ball at their feet, accelerate with it and shoot from distance.

Warm-up: Combination play

This three-part session for foundation-phase players (age 5-11) starts with a fun warm-up.

Practice: Combination play

The main practice for this session develops players’ runs off-the-ball and their penalty box play.

Flying full-backs

Develop your wide defenders’ shooting and crossing skills with an activity that encourages their attacking instincts.

Small-sided Soccer Games

Combination play - small-sided game

Developing further the movement and interchange of passing skills learned earlier.

Flying full-backs

Develop your wide defenders’ shooting and crossing skills with an activity that encourages their attacking instincts.

Small-sided game: Combine and support

Sharpen up your players’ technical skills and reactions to transitions in this three-part session.

Take chances quickly

A fast-paced practice which will encourage your players to shoot from various distances while under pressure.

Practice Plans

Movements to lose a defender

This session is designed to improve movement off the ball in order to lose a defender and receive a pass.

The shield

This session is crucial to develop a competitive edge in your players. Learning how to challenge for the ball and shield it from an ...

England’s number one

Goalkeeping is not simply about making eye-catching dives to the top corner of the goal. This session will help improve your goalkeepers’ ...

Coping with pressure

Players can find the game mentally tiring and it is important they retain their composure. This session will help them pass and receive the ...