How To Coach

Course: Use The 360TFT Game Model Section: Getting Started

TLDR

Coaching isn’t about running through drills and ticking boxes - it’s about creating conditions where learning sticks.

My approach focuses on building technical fluency and decision-making through purposeful practice, not paint-by-numbers sessions.

I use the “Moment, Slice, Situation” framework so players learn skills in context - what part of the game, where on the pitch, and in what situation. I build through repetition but mix it up, model first, then let them try, ask questions rather than lecture, and use retrieval over review.

I adapt to age and stage, read and manage group energy, and maintain technical quality within fun activities.

The aim isn’t to make players predictable, it’s to make them adaptable.

This gives players a consistent coaching voice, a clear framework, and helps them fall in love with the game and stay in it longer.

How To Coach

Coaching isn’t about running through drills and ticking boxes. It’s about creating the conditions where learning sticks.

At youth level, especially, our job is to build technical fluency and decision-making through purposeful practice, not paint-by-numbers sessions where kids follow lines and rules and never learn to think. The aim isn’t to make players predictable, it’s to make them adaptable.

That means how you coach matters just as much as what you coach.

What Makes Coaching Effective?

Here’s the approach we use across this course, and what we encourage all coaches to build into their practice:

Build Through Repetition But Mix It Up

Players don’t learn from seeing something once. They learn from revisiting ideas over time, especially when the environment changes. You’ll notice we return to key topics throughout 16-week blocks. That’s intentional.

• Repeat the same ideas across different practices
• Change the constraints, space, or rules to keep players challenged
• Revisit previously taught concepts regularly, not just once per block. We are not after coverage of topics, we are aiming for retention of knowledge.

Model First, Then Let Them Try

Young players benefit from clarity. Before they dive into an activity, show them what you’re looking for.

• Use live demos or slow-motion walkthroughs
• Keep instructions simple: short phrases, one or two key points
• If players aren’t sure, show them again before stepping in with more words

Don’t tell players everything. Guide them to think.

• “What could you try next time?”
• “Why did that work?”
• “What would you do differently?”

Players who reflect, learn. Questions should nudge that process without becoming lectures.

Retrieval Over Review

Instead of re-teaching the same thing every week, use small moments to test what players remember.

• “Who remembers what we worked on last time?”
• “Show me the movement from last week’s session.”
• “Can anyone demo the turn we did last session?”

When players retrieve knowledge, they’re more likely to retain it long-term.

Set High Standards For Engagement

Fun doesn’t mean chaos. A great session has both energy and purpose.

• Start fast, keep things moving
• Maximise ball-rolling time
• Make sure every player knows what’s expected of them behaviourally

Set boundaries early and hold players to them. It makes learning easier, and the session more enjoyable for everyone.

Coach In Context — “Moment, Slice, Situation”

Every session in this course connects to the game through a simple framework:

• Moment: What part of the game are we in? (e.g. Building the Attack)
• Slice: Where on the pitch is the action taking place? (e.g. Middle Third)
• Situation: What’s the context? (e.g. 1v1 Defending, or Playing With Back to Goal)

This gives your sessions purpose and your coaching clarity. When players learn a skill, they also learn when and where to use it.

This applies at younger ages as well, as they will play 1v1/2v2/3v3 etc. They will all face situations that apply to the game, even if you are coaching them in a different way.

Adapt To Age and Stage

Be realistic about what players can do at different ages.

• Ages 1–6: Keep it fun, fast-paced, and about the ball. Technical repetition is your friend because automatic ball mastery creates the foundation for all future decision-making.
• Ages 7–9: Start adding decision-making and awareness, but keep support high.
• Ages 10–12: Start layering in bigger tactical ideas, but stay focused on clarity and repetition.

Remember: don’t rush complexity. A player who can dribble past someone confidently is more valuable than a player who can describe a 4-3-3 formation but struggles 1v1. Players who struggle with basic skills under pressure can’t access higher-level thinking. Master the foundation, unlock the potential.

Reading and Managing Group Energy

Effective coaches read their group’s energy constantly and adjust accordingly. Energy management is as important as technical instruction.

High Energy Groups:

• Channel energy into competitive activities
• Use more intense, faster-paced exercises
• Implement cooling-down periods with technical focus
• Set clear boundaries early and maintain them consistently

Low Energy Groups:

• Start with engaging warm-ups that build excitement
• Use music or competitive elements to lift energy
• Keep instructions brief and get them moving quickly
• Introduce fun challenges and celebrations

Mixed Energy Groups:

• Pair high-energy players with steady influences
• Use activities that allow different energy levels to contribute
• Rotate between calming and energising activities
• Address individual energy needs within group activities

Maintaining Technical Quality Within Fun Activities

The challenge isn’t choosing between fun and quality - it’s achieving both simultaneously.

Quality Checkpoints:

• Use brief ‘pause and perfect’ moments during activities
• Celebrate good technique as enthusiastically as goals
• Set technique challenges within games (“Can you use both feet in this game?”)
• Make quality execution part of the competition

Individual Coaching Within Group Flow:

• Coach on the move - give feedback as you circulate
• Use positive examples from one player to teach others
• Pull players aside briefly for individual guidance without stopping the group
• Use questions that help players self-correct

Why This Matters

This approach gives your players a consistent coaching voice, a clear framework, and a better chance of building long-term understanding. It stops the guesswork, keeps sessions development-focused, and helps your players fall in love with the game and stay in it for longer.

Let’s get started.

This content is part of the 360TFT Football Coaching Academy - Use The 360TFT Game Model