Articles
WHY WE’RE USING TACTICS ALL WRONG: Control & Creativity
Football is changing, and I believe it’s due to how we are using tactics.
I took me some serious exploration and reflection but I finally figured out how we got to where we are and what we can do about it.
TRANSFORM PASSION INTO EXPERTISE: Four Essential Skills For Your Coaching Journey
Transform your passion for football into coaching expertise. Discover four essential steps to enhance your coaching journey.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM GUARDIOLA’S STRUGGLES
Discover how Manchester City's recent defensive struggles have exposed a fundamental tactical challenge in modern football.
HELPING PLAYERS THINK: EFFECTIVE TRAINING SESSION DESIGN
Learn how to design effective activities, use the PEER Framework, and create game-like environments that foster decision-making, game insight, and long-term player development using real-life examples.
Self-Aware Coaching Series: Your plan frees your mind
We discuss the benefits of the planning process in terms of clarifying our intentions. However, there is an additional purpose to planning your training sessions, freeing your mind for the unexpected.
Momentum Does Not Exist: Train for the process, not the result
What is “momentum”? What is “energy”? Why are we influenced by external factors? It’s something that all players deal with, including professional players. I’m going to answer those questions and how to avoid it all together with first-hand experience and with the help of Ange Postecoglou.
Intentionality in Sport: LA Galaxy case study
If you are constantly questioning the intentions of your actions and words, you begin to have a greater understanding of yourself and why you do things. So why don’t we talk about intentional actions in coaching more often?
Training at the Edge of Chaos: How to Design Sessions That Drive Real Player Development
Discover how to design soccer / football training sessions that challenge players without overwhelming them. Learn why the sweet spot between boredom and chaos is where adaptation, growth, and high-level decision-making emerge.
How to Use Modified Rules in Football Training Without Losing Game Realism
Learn how to design effective football training sessions using modified rules that reflect real match conditions. Discover why playing the game—not just the drill—is essential for player development and tactical transfer.
Positional Play: Crash Course Part 4 of 4 - Generating Superiorities
These numerical, positional, and qualitative advantages are the fruit of positional play, and ultimately will be expressed collectively in matches...
Positional Play: Crash Course Part 3 of 4 – Players' Relationships
These interactions are what we must improve as coaches through the use of a holistic, all-encompassing approach which takes into account the complete structural make-up of the athlete...
Positional Play: Crash Course Part 2 of 4 - Organized Structure
Nowadays, many coaches presume that by utilizing a certain formation and fixing players to a certain position, they will have the same results as they see elsewhere. Lillo’s statement indicates otherwise...
Positional Play: Crash Course Part 1 of 4
Within the subtleties of positional play, we can divide this style into three objectives which need to be met in order to achieve success. In each of the upcoming parts of this positional play series, one of the objectives will be discussed comprehensively...
Mastering Transitions in Football: Why Mindset Matters More Than Tactics
Discover how top teams like Barcelona and Chelsea master transitions through mindset, not just movement. Learn how to train quick, instinctive phase shifts using simple but powerful exercises.
Progression: Why Simple Doesn't Mean Easy
Many coaches confuse progression with difficulty. Learn how to design soccer training sessions that move from simple to complex—not just easy to hard—by aligning technical skills, group tactics, and game objectives for lasting impact.
Coaching in Context: Teaching Tactics and Technique
Discover why separating technical drills from tactical purpose limits player development. Learn how to design soccer sessions that teach passing, dribbling, and movement with real-game intention.