
In the summer of 2021, I took a youth team to an unbeaten campaign, in their first ever season playing together. While winning is never the most important part of youth soccer, I share some of the key tips and tricks that allowed me to achieve success with my team and instill a positive culture where each and every player wanted to return. In the first half of the episode, I also discuss the exciting opportunities coming up on TheMastermindSite.com. Follow the show and my body of work @mastermindsite and @desmondrhys!
SUBSCRIBE VIA ITUNES AND SPOTIFY
In the episode, I discuss topics ranging from instilling a positive culture with your team, to the top training methods for helping your players reach the next level. As I outline in the episode, winning is only a nice bonus in the quest to ensure players stay in the sport for years and want to come back year in and year out.
ABOUT
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.
SUPPORT FROM…
@FootyLingo. Visit FootyLingo to play language and reading comprehension games based on our analyses, and use the code “mastermindsite” at check out for 20% off any subscription plan. That’s our social handle, “mastermindsite” for 20% any subscription plan on FootyLingo.com.
MUSIC
Music for this episode has been wonderfully provided by Pixabay.
See more Podcast Episodes!

Finding the balance between being fun and assertive in coaching (+ more Q&A) – The Mastermind Site

Sam Holmshaw – Why everything in coaching needs to fit your context – The Mastermind Site

Creating a Game Model – with Sam Holmshaw – The Mastermind Site

Jose Mourinho – AS Roma Tactical Analysis – with Edward Stratmann – The Mastermind Site
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!
YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY…
Explaining the Ball-Playing-Centre-Half – Player Role Analysis
As the name suggests, a ‘Ball-Playing-Centre-Half’ is a centre-back that excels in possession of the ball, from passing to long passing to carrying to dribbling. They can simultaneously exist as ‘Sweepers’ or ‘Stoppers’, providing another interesting asterisk to the role not found in many other positions. Unlike say a fullback or goalkeeper where we have created clearly defined separations and almost polarizations on a style scale, ‘Ball-Playing-Centre-Halves’ can also be ‘Stoppers’ or ‘Sweepers’.
Why Nick Pope is perfect for Newcastle United
It’s taken longer than most would have expected for Nick Pope to arise attention in the 2022 Summer Transfer Window, but it now appears as though the Burnley cult hero is days away from securing a move to Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United. Back in early June, our readers and contributors picked Pope as the number one player from relegated teams to keep an eye on this summer, and that promise now prepares to come to fruition with the Magpies. Pope would be the perfect player to bring greater stability and solidity to their defensive structures, not to mention between the posts, and at only 10 million pounds, remains an absolute steal. Here is why the Burnley man would be such an astute signing for the Magpies.
Why Darwin Núñez is perfect for Liverpool
Preceding Sadio Mané’s shock departure for Bayern Munich, Reds recruitment staff kept themselves busy preparing for the possibility of one of their infamous front three departing. Spearheaded by newly promoted Sporting Director, Julian Ward, Liverpool landed on the decision to approach Benfica’s star striker Darwin Núñez, who reaped havoc when the two teams met in the UEFA Champions League earlier this year. The Uruguayan’s outstanding 26-goal haul in the Primeira Liga caught the attention of clubs around Europe, putting his price tag up all the way to €80 million. Liverpool remained favourites to sign the Benfica man throughout the early days of the window, even despite competition from Newcastle and United; and Jurgen Klopp has already expressed his delight in the securement of Núñez’s signature.