Articles
Guardiola on Play
My question is at what point in our need to control every aspect of the sport and how we teach young people to play it did we take the ball away?
Counterattacking: The result of indivisible football
One of the most important concepts of positional play is the idea that football is composed of fluid, continuous actions which cannot be separated.
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?
Coaching with Intention: What Juanma Lillo Teaches Us About Purposeful Football
Discover how understanding the “why” behind every action—especially the pass—can elevate your coaching. Learn how intentionality, as taught by Juanma Lillo, shapes intelligent, purposeful play on the pitch.
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.
Andres Iniesta's Farewell
Has there ever been a football player more loved by everyone than Andres Iniesta?
The Language of Football
The footballer is immersed in a chaotic situation full of visual and auditory cues which he or she must decipher and begin to recognize patterns to gradually become fluent in the language of football.
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 Lionel Messi Mastered Space: A Tactical Breakdown of His Off-the-Ball Movement
Explore how Messi created and exploited space without constant running. This tactical analysis, written during his final years in Spain, reveals key lessons in football intelligence, positioning, and spatial awareness for coaches and players alike.
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.
Quique Setién: Football's Chessmaster
Throughout the years there have been some wonderful comparisons made between football’s tactics and chess’s strategic intricacies, but in my opinion, no one defines it better than Las Palmas’ manager, Quique Setién…
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.
Positional Play in Motion
Personally, I feel positional play is the most attractive style of football which achieves winning results. The following characteristics are examples of crucial concepts in positional play...
The Principles of Play
Learn the foundational principles of football—possession, progression, and finalization—and how they shape styles of play. This guide helps coaches build a game model that fits both their philosophy and their players.