Category: Coach Education

3 Essential Reasons Kids Quit Sport

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Coaching, Sport Psychology, World Football

Sports have a countless number of benefits, from physical health to emotional well-being to the development of traits, skills and lifelong friends. So it's a mystery why any kid would want to quit a sport. But then again, there are several factors that just make kids no longer want to participate, all of which are very fixable. Here are three essential reasons why kids quit sport, coming from someone who quit two sports at an early age due to some of the reasons listed below. Although this list is not exhaustive and many more explanations exist, these three reasons are some of the most widely researched and discussed in the literature.

5 Ways To Modify Small-Sided Games

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Coaching, Masterclasses, World Football

Over the past decade, small sided games have become the preferred method of teaching game mechanics in football. Whether for young players or pros, small sided games have been proven to have benefits in allowing players more touches on the ball, more decisions to make but less time to make them, more 1v1 situations, more … Continue reading 5 Ways To Modify Small-Sided Games

Playing in a Midfield Three

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Attacking Midfield, Central Midfield, Coach Education, Coaching, Defensive Midfield, Formations, Masterclasses, UEFA Champions League, World Cup 2018, World Football

In the post 4-4-2 era, the 4-3-3 is one of the world's most popular formations. Not only is it attack-minded but it is inherently possession-based by providing an extra man in central midfield. That is one of the prime reasons why a midfield three has become the first choice of many managers around the world. … Continue reading Playing in a Midfield Three

Moulding Players into Specific Positions: A Case for Developing Confidence

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Coaching, Formations, German Bundesliga, Masterclasses, Premier League, UEFA Champions League, World Football

At any level, there can sometimes be a mismatch that occurs between a player's preference for a position and their playing style. Don't get me wrong, as a youth coach, you should always play your players in the positions they want to play. Rotation is an equally important consideration. But sometimes there's a mismatch that … Continue reading Moulding Players into Specific Positions: A Case for Developing Confidence

The Importance of Receiving the Ball on the Half-Turn

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Coaching, Masterclasses, Masterclasses, Player Education

Over and over again, young players around the world receive the ball from a passing player, square on, with their back turned to goal. This limits a player's ability to pass the ball forwards and keep play moving. Instead of receiving the ball square on, players must maintain an open body shape, aka receiving the … Continue reading The Importance of Receiving the Ball on the Half-Turn

Picking The Perfect Starting Lineup

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Coaching, Formations, Managers, Masterclasses, World Football

Picking a starting lineup for a football match can be a difficult task for any manager. There are so many different considerations that must go into the decision of who starts any match. This can range from fitness levels to injuries to work ethic to commitment to your opposition to the way different players mesh … Continue reading Picking The Perfect Starting Lineup

The Mastermind Award Nominees 2017: Best Article

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Masterclasses

A total of 186 articles have been written by The Mastermind since the last set of nominees were revealed back in 2016. Narrowing 186 articles down to just two was no easy task, but these are the two that The Mastermind believes best represents what the site is all about. These are the nominees for Best Article as … Continue reading The Mastermind Award Nominees 2017: Best Article

The Player That Every Premier League Club Has Missed in 2016-17

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Masterclasses

Let's face it, no Premier League club has had a perfect start to the 2016-17 season. No side apart from maybe Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool have truly shown their full potential on a consistent basis so far this season and even Klopp's Liverpool slumped to a stunning defeat to Burnley. Most clubs have been getting by without … Continue reading The Player That Every Premier League Club Has Missed in 2016-17