
There’s a beautiful thing in the coaching community, where we all strive to share resources. But this inherently creates a problem. What works in one context, doesn’t always work in another. Sam and I are both content creators who always get asked to come up with solutions to various coaching problems and share our thoughts on how coaches can accelerate their teams to new levels. While we love creating content and educating coaches, it must be said that everything we put out always needs to be adapted to the context of the individual coach, team, players and environment. The same could be said for taking things from the professional game, where very few lessons can actually be applied at the youth level. Sam and Rhys dive right into this topic and discuss why everything – from game models, to professional environments, to coaching practices, to language, should always be adapted to fit the players and the context. Follow the show @mastermindsite on social media, and stay tuned for more exclusive interviews coming this month.
SUBSCRIBE VIA ITUNES AND SPOTIFY
GUEST
Sam Holmshaw is the Head of Football Development at Kickabout Academy, the host of @The_SC_Podcast and the Technical Director of @HolmshawAcademy. Rhys describes him as ‘The go-to guy when it comes to game models.’ You can find his website and game model packages at samholmshaw.com/shop/ and follow him on social media @SamHolmshaw_MSc.
HOST
Rhys Desmond is the Founder and CEO of TheMastermindSite.com, a football tactics and analysis website, that specializes in education for coaches, players and fans of the beautiful game. You can find him on Twitter and Instagram @desmondrhys and @mastermindsite. Subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts to never miss an episode, and visit themastermindsite.com for more information, articles, analyses, coaching education and more!

Music for this episode has been wonderfully provided by Pixabay.
MORE TMS PODCAST INTERVIEWS
Interview with Andi Gschaider – Founder of B42 – TheMastermindSite
Creating a Game Model – with Sam Holmshaw – TheMastermindSite
Creating Unstructured Sporting Environments – with Adam Stapleton – TheMastermindSite
Coaching During a Pandemic – TheMastermindSite
MORE PODCASTS FROM TMS
YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY…
Game of Numbers #42 – Scott McTominay as a goal-scoring midfielder
Now in Serie A, Scott McTominay has emerged as one of the most important players for one of the most historic clubs, scoring goals for fun week in and week out. Here is why Scott McTominay has become the main man in Naples.
Why won’t Matheus Cunha pass to Patrick Dorgu?
Matheus Cunha has been one of the brightest spots in what is slowly becoming a dim season for Manchester United. But for all that he’s done so well this season, he’s yet to find a sense of synchronization with a pretty key teammate – Patrick Dorgu. Most notably, he just won’t pass Dorgu the ball.…
Game of Numbers #41 – Reece James in central midfield
It doesn’t have to be a forever thing. But for the time being, Reece James looks right at home in central midfield. Here’s why it’s been the perfect positional switch in allowing the best out of James this campaign.
Arsenal’s superiority comes from strength in depth
Arsenal have something the other top sides in the Premier League continue to lack: strength in depth. This is what will ultimately carry them to the Premier League title this season.
Unai Emery – Aston Villa – Tactical Analysis – 2025-26 Edition
Since Unai Emery has entered the frame at Aston Villa, we’ve consistently seen another challenger in the mix for those Champions League places. Now on their eleventh win in a row, Aston Villa are having their best season in over a hundred years. The conversation is no longer about whether or not they can challenge…
Game of Numbers #40 – Bruno Fernandes as an ‘8’
They might not be firmly in the top four yet, but Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United have seen significant improvement this season. Much has been made in the media about Amorim’s use of the 3-4-2-1 and whether or not it’s a perfect fit for players like Bruno Fernandes and his midfield partner Casemiro. But with some…

13 thoughts on “Sam Holmshaw – Why everything in coaching needs to fit your context”