Articles
The Paradox of Choice: Coaching with Option Making
In order to make correct decisions, one must master the skill of knowing where to look and what to pay attention to in order to satisfy the constraint or objective. When speaking about this topic with Chris Bentley, he introduced me to this idea of option making instead of decision making.
Environment Design without Expectations
Sometimes the best lessons on environment design, ego, and expectations come from a screaming newborn.
It's All Just Noise
Noise can be an alluring, debilitating, dizzying, song that can slam your boat against the rocks. Keep your ‘Why’ close and you’ll be fine.
TOVO's Strive for True Development: Interview with Todd Beane
I sit down with Todd Beane, TOVO Academy’s founder. We discuss TOVO’s methodology, developing intelligent footballers, the importance of having a clearly defined ‘why’ as a coach, how to avoid the noise of youth football, and more.
Positional Play’s Need for Ball Handlers
When a player, no matter what age begins to play football, the first relationship they must discover is their relationship with the ball. A novice player must explore what it means to manipulate the ball. This means being capable to manoeuvre the ball in any which way.
FC Nordsjælland's Revolutionary Approach: Interview with Flemming Pedersen
I sit down with Flemming Pedersen from FC Nordsjælland’s. We discuss the importance of a style of play, developing intelligent players, FC Nordsjæelland’s academy success, and modern football.
Understanding Child Psychology for Youth Coaches: A Practical Guide to Smarter Training
I know what you might be thinking, ‘I’m just a football coach. I don’t have the time or energy to study psychology in my free time.” Well, this article is for you.
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.
Antonio Barea on Coaching, Growth, and the Journey to Spain’s National Team
In this in-depth interview, Spanish coach Antonio Barea shares his path from grassroots football to working with the Spanish National Team. Discover his insights on youth development, coaching philosophy, and what it truly means to dedicate yourself 100%.
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 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...
How Football Teaches Life Skills: 7 Traits Every Coach Should Develop in Young Players
Football is more than a game—it’s a platform for personal growth. Learn how to use soccer / football to teach confidence, curiosity, self-control, and more through emotionally intelligent coaching.
Football doesn't need individual training, U.S. Soccer does
As coaches, why would we waste our valuable time and resources training a sport, which by definition is a social sport, in an individual manner? We are not training athletes to run or swim in the Olympics...
The Morality of Youth Football
Alejandro is a typical 11 year old Spanish boy. He attends the local primary school, he hangs out with his friends, he watches Real Madrid on the weekends, he plays for the local football club with all of his friends. But there is something very special about Alejandro...
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.