Player Development Project Podcast - Learning Tools for Soccer Coaching

Latest Episodes:

What Is the Value of Coaching Soccer Skills? Dec 09, 2021

Show notes

In this Q&A, PDP Co-founder, Dave Wright is joined by PDP Coaching Advisor, James Coutts to discuss some of the core skills that are critical for young players to develop, how we can support them and some practical ideas for you to implement.
Don't forget you to head over to playerdevelopmentproject.com to find out more about our new online courses or to sign up for a monthly or annual membership to access all of our coaching content.

Which Game Formats Should I Use in the Foundation Phase? Oct 27, 2021

Show notes

The Foundation Phase broadly covers the ages of 8-12 in youth soccer and is a crucial period of experimentation and skill acquisition for young players. So what game formats should we use in order to give them the best opportunities to learn, enjoy the sport, and develop? Below, we look at the range of formats available to coaches and consider how we can incorporate them into our training and games programs to give kids a variety of positive experiences playing soccer.
Read more here.

Authentic Leadership: A Conversation with Keith and David Mayer Aug 02, 2021

Show notes

Leadership is an inherent part of coaching. In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Co-founder, Dave Wright is joined by father and son coaches, Keith & David Mayer for an in depth discussion on the topic of authenticity and leadership.

Keith and David Mayer have just released their second book, The Lone Wolf: A Story About Assumptions, Authenticity & Action.

Some of the key concepts from the book underpin this conversation with Keith, David and Dave diving into the following areas:

What is authenticity?
The coach as a role model
How can coaches be authentic in their approach?
The importance of self-awareness
Mental health and it's place in sport
Plus much more

If you enjoy this discussion, you can buy Keith & David's book on Amazon and don't forget to check out their previous PDP Masterclass Discussion on Building Connections by clicking here.`
Become a better coach by joining a supportive global community of coaches sharing ideas and learning together. Check out the PDP Membership here.

Insights across the age groups at Fulham FC with Andrew Watt Apr 19, 2021

Show notes

In this podcast, PDP Co-founder, Dave Wright sits down with Andrew Watt, Youth Development Phase Manager at Fulham FC, to discuss how the Premier League club supports players across the U9-U16 age groups.
Andrew provides insights into the Fulham Academy’s principles, his views on talent identification, the different approaches to coaching children from U9s all the way through to U16s, and how to manage the transitions to different game formats.
For the full video discussion head to playerdevelopmentproject.com or click here to be taken straight to the post and don't forget you can sign up to PDP on a monthly or annual membership to access our huge range of learning resources.

Q&A: Should I have a theme for my sessions? Feb 02, 2021

Show notes

The question this week comes from Gav through the PDP Slack Community:
Gab asks, “How do you support players with self reflection?”
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Q&A: How do I help teenage players value defending? Nov 10, 2020

Show notes

The question this week comes from the PDP Slack Community: How do I help teenage players value defending?
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Coach Communication with Stephen Rollnick Nov 05, 2020

Show notes

Professor Stephen Rollnick is a clinical psychologist with over 30 years experience. In this Masterclass Discussion, Stephen joins PDP Co-founder, Dave Wright for an in depth discussion on coach communication, the skill of motivational interviewing and much more.

Stephen is a truly world-class thinker and practitioner who is applying his extensive knowledge to sport. This conversation covers a range of topics around connection, communication, tradition and relationships which will help coaches improve their ability to build effective relationships in their coaching.
Watch the full conversation here.

How do you support players with self reflection? Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

The question this week comes from Tom through the PDP Slack Community:

Tom asks, "How do you support players with self reflection?"

The Impact of Mentors in Coaching with Trevor Challis Sep 01, 2020

Show notes

In our latest masterclass PDP Coaching Advisor James Coutts is joined by former QPR player and current Bristol City FC u18 lead coach Trevor Challis.
In this discussion Trevor shares some invaluable stories from his playing days and in particular the late great Ray Wilkins that has helped shape how Trevor coaches now.
A great discussion around 'guiding' players through their journey and ensuring that being honest along the way is very important.

The Learning Journey: Coach Education with Warren Grieve Aug 06, 2020

Show notes

Warren Grieve is an AFC Pro License holder and Technical Director at Football NSW in Australia. In this interview, PDP Editor, Dave Wright sits down with Warren to talk coach education, learning environments and more.

This conversation covers a range of topics including: