How long should you spend talking through individual tactics with players?

Answer

During training, explain a routine or passage of play that you want them to practise, but always keep it brief. If they don’t execute the activity straight away, make sure you stop the session and get your point across in no more than 30 seconds, then start it up again.

If they get it first time – which may not happen – praise them, but always ask if they can improve on what they’ve learnt. Accept that younger players may take longer to get ideas on board.

The problem with a lot of coaches is that while they are so passionate about the game – that’s the whole reason for getting into coaching in the first place, of course – they struggle to keep things concise. Being able to convey that passion is as crucial as possessing the knowledge in the first place, and therein can lie the problem sometimes.