Soccer Coach Weekly Issue 85

Happy new year, everyone!

Whatever your aims, ambitions and resolutions are for the next 12 months, may I wish you - on behalf of the team at Soccer Coach Weekly - every success in 2023.

Our roster has been added to this week, with Steph Fairbairn joining as editor-in-chief of our publishers Green Star Media's soccer titles - SCW, Women's Soccer Coaching and Elite Soccer.

Steph has been a freelance contributor to SCW for more than a year, writing articles and hosting our podcast, segments of which appear in these pages each week.

To mark her joining the team, we have turned the tables this week to give her the chance to tell you more about herself and her coaching journey, philosophy and beliefs. You can hear the full interview with Steph by clicking the link at the bottom of page 10, or subscribing for free via your podcast app.

The coach's column this week comes from USSF A license coach Michael Curless.

He delves into the processes of neuromuscular training and how it improves skill execution.

We also have an article which explores different ways to increase motivation in your younger players.

This week's session plan is from Uefa B candidate Charlie Bews and focuses on short-staffed defenders delaying an attack to allow teammates to recover and help out.

There is also a standalone practice which is all about unlocking defences.

Have a great start to 2023!