Player-Centred Prompts

Module: Master The Opponent: 7-12 Years Old Classroom: Use The 360TFT Game Model

TLDR

Football intelligence doesn’t come from repeating a drill, it comes from thinking inside it. I encourage coaches to end each session with simple reflection questions to help players build awareness, decision-making, and ownership of their learning.

I use these at key moments like when players grab water, in end-of-session huddles, during game pauses, or whilst resetting between rounds. I keep them short, clear, and open-ended. Sample prompts for ages 7-12 include asking about receiving under pressure (“What helped you stay calm when the defender was close?”), using disguise (“What made the defender hesitate?”), passing detail (“What type of pass helped your teammate most?”), and 1v1 situations.

For younger players (7-9), I use simpler formats like “Show me what worked best” or “What felt good when you did it?” For older players (10-12), I ask deeper questions like “What triggered your decision?” or “How would you adapt that against a faster defender?”

These questions matter because when players explain what they’re doing, they build stronger mental models, improve decision-making by understanding cause and effect, remember learning more effectively, and start thinking independently rather than waiting for instructions.

I coach the reflection by giving thinking time, accepting multiple answers, building on responses, keeping it conversational, and avoiding rushing for answers or making it feel like a test. This helps players become game-smart, not just drill-sharp, by letting the game be the teacher and questions bring the learning to the surface.

Football intelligence doesn’t come from repeating a drill, it comes from thinking inside it.

To help players build awareness, decision-making, and ownership of their learning, we encourage coaches to end each session with a few simple reflection questions.

These don’t need to be formal or take long. They’re about helping players think about why and when, not just how.

Use These at Key Moments

• As players grab water after an activity
• In the huddle at the end of a session
• During a pause in a game or small-sided activity
• While players are resetting between rounds

Keep them short, clear, and open-ended.

Sample Reflection Prompts (Ages 7-12)

Receiving Under Pressure

• What helped you stay calm when the defender was close?
• How did your body shape affect your first touch?
• What helped you protect the ball before passing?

Using Disguise

• What made the defender hesitate?
• How did you change your body to sell the move?
• When did you use disguise to pass, not dribble?

Passing Detail

• What type of pass helped your teammate most?
• How did you know when to release the ball?
• What changed when the pressure got tighter?

1v1 Attacking

• When did you slow down before making your move?
• What helped you beat the defender?
• What would you try differently next time?

1v1 Defending

• When did you wait instead of diving in?
• How did your body shape help you delay the attacker?
• What made you win the ball cleanly?

Beating the Goalkeeper

• What made that finish work?
• When did you stay calm instead of rushing?
• How did you spot the space to score?

Movement to Create Space

• What helped you lose your marker?
• How did your movement help someone else?
• When did you arrive at the right time?

Physical Duels

• What helped you stay balanced in the challenge?
• When did you use your arms to protect the ball?
• What helped you recover when you lost the duel?

Additional Question Formats

For Younger Players (7-9)

• “Show me what worked best”
• “What was the hardest part?”
• “What felt good when you did it?”
• “Can you teach that to your partner?”

For Older Players (10-12)

• “What triggered your decision?”
• “How would you adapt that against a faster defender?”
• “What pattern did you notice?”
• “How could the team use that in a match?”

For Mixed Abilities

• “Who did something clever? What was it?”
• “What would you steal from another player?”
• “What advice would you give someone struggling?”
• “How did you solve that problem?”

Why These Questions Matter

When players explain what they’re doing, they:

• Build stronger mental models that last beyond training
• Improve decision-making by understanding cause and effect
• Remember learning more effectively through verbal processing
• Start to think for themselves rather than waiting for instructions

This is how we help players become game-smart, not just drill-sharp.

Coaching the Reflection

Do:

• Give thinking time (3-5 seconds)
• Accept multiple answers
• Build on player responses
• Share your observations too
• Keep it conversational

Don’t:

• Rush for answers
• Correct every response
• Make it feel like a test
• Only ask the same players
• Turn it into a lecture

Making It Stick

• End of Session Ritual: Players share one thing they’ll remember
• Partner Discussions: “Tell your partner what worked best today”
• Self-Assessment: “Rate that attempt 1-5 and tell me why”
• Team Learning: “What did we get better at as a group?”
• Transfer Focus: “How will you use that on Saturday?”

Session Energy Management

Remember to manage energy during reflections:

• High energy: Quick-fire questions during water breaks
• Medium energy: Partner discussions while setting up
• Low energy: Calm group reflection at session end
• Match reflection: Keep it positive, forward-looking

The Parent Partnership

Share reflection questions with parents:

• “Ask them what they learned today, not if they won”
• “Focus on effort and decisions, not outcomes”
• “Let them teach you something from training”
• “Celebrate the thinking, not just the doing”

Cultural Differences Matter

Reflection looks different across cultures:

• Some players prefer to demonstrate rather than verbalize
• Others need time to process before sharing
• Group vs individual reflection preferences vary
• Adapt your approach while maintaining the learning goal

The Long-Term Impact

Players who reflect regularly:

• Make better decisions under pressure
• Transfer skills to matches more effectively
• Develop faster than those who just repeat
• Become coaches on the pitch
• Stay in the game longer

Let the game be the teacher, and let the questions bring the learning to the surface.

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