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2026 has clear targets for TSR, shaped by what worked in 2025 and what didn’t.
➟ The learning stays.
➟ The standards rise.
This year is about pushing myself further out of my comfort zone, building confidence, and showing up more consistently by putting my face to the hind graphics or text.
More variety, presence and more accountability.
And yes, an almighty target sitting there too:
🎙️ Starting the TSR podcast.
Same values. More visibility. Higher intent.
➟ The learning stays.
➟ The standards rise.
This year is about pushing myself further out of my comfort zone, building confidence, and showing up more consistently by putting my face to the hind graphics or text.
More variety, presence and more accountability.
And yes, an almighty target sitting there too:
🎙️ Starting the TSR podcast.
Same values. More visibility. Higher intent.
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We’ve upgraded the Contact Us page on TSR website!
We’ve made it even easier for coaches, parents, clubs and anyone else to get in touch.
Simply answer five quick questions, enter your contact details and send your enquiry directly to us.
Whether you’ve got a question, an e a coaching session or explore a collaboration, we’d like to hear from you.
Link 🔗
thesportingresource.co.uk/contact-us
Watch the short video below to see how it works 👇🏻
We’ve made it even easier for coaches, parents, clubs and anyone else to get in touch.
Simply answer five quick questions, enter your contact details and send your enquiry directly to us.
Whether you’ve got a question, an e a coaching session or explore a collaboration, we’d like to hear from you.
Link 🔗
thesportingresource.co.uk/contact-us
Watch the short video below to see how it works 👇🏻
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It's Thursday, and for many grassroots football coaches match day is only two days off. Have you planned your substitutions for Saturday?
Let's imagine you're coaching a U12 team and you have 14 players available for a 9v9 match. That could leave five children on the sidelines at any one time.
Before Saturday, take 3-5 minutes to think through these:
1. Who? Which players got fewer minutes in your last match?
2. When? At what points will you rotate the players so that everyone gets their playing time?
3. How? Can you organise the substitutions so players know when they are coming on and going off?
4. What? Have you thought about your goalkeeper, injuries, or children who might need a break?
5. Why? Could the scoreline sway your decisions, even when you have planned equal playing time?
In Wales, equal playing time requirements apply at U12 grassroots football.
You can't predict everything that will happen on Saturday, but you can prepare. A simple rotation plan could spare you some difficult decisions during the match and help make sure every child gets their playing opportunities.
Coaches, do you plan your substitutions before match day, or manage them as the game unfolds?
Let's imagine you're coaching a U12 team and you have 14 players available for a 9v9 match. That could leave five children on the sidelines at any one time.
Before Saturday, take 3-5 minutes to think through these:
1. Who? Which players got fewer minutes in your last match?
2. When? At what points will you rotate the players so that everyone gets their playing time?
3. How? Can you organise the substitutions so players know when they are coming on and going off?
4. What? Have you thought about your goalkeeper, injuries, or children who might need a break?
5. Why? Could the scoreline sway your decisions, even when you have planned equal playing time?
In Wales, equal playing time requirements apply at U12 grassroots football.
You can't predict everything that will happen on Saturday, but you can prepare. A simple rotation plan could spare you some difficult decisions during the match and help make sure every child gets their playing opportunities.
Coaches, do you plan your substitutions before match day, or manage them as the game unfolds?
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Imagine a squad of 14 players turning up for a match at U9, U10, U11 and U12 grassroots football.
Some children play almost the entire game, while others regularly spend long periods on the bench.
The coach has decisions to make, players have different abilities, attendance can vary, and managing substitutions while coaching the game isn't always easy. However, playing time shouldn't be something we only consider on game-day or once the match has started.
Before the weekend, coaches could:
• Check the playing time each child received in previous matches.
• Plan substitutions around the match format and squad size as best as possible.
• Consider whether the same children are regularly receiving fewer minutes.
• Explain to players how the rotation will work.
• Review afterwards whether everyone received the opportunities intended.
Foundation phase of grassroots football has equal playing time requirements, so planning should also ensure those requirements are met.
The question I'd encourage coaches to consider is:
Are our selection and substitution decisions giving every child a fair opportunity to play, learn and contribute?
Some children play almost the entire game, while others regularly spend long periods on the bench.
The coach has decisions to make, players have different abilities, attendance can vary, and managing substitutions while coaching the game isn't always easy. However, playing time shouldn't be something we only consider on game-day or once the match has started.
Before the weekend, coaches could:
• Check the playing time each child received in previous matches.
• Plan substitutions around the match format and squad size as best as possible.
• Consider whether the same children are regularly receiving fewer minutes.
• Explain to players how the rotation will work.
• Review afterwards whether everyone received the opportunities intended.
Foundation phase of grassroots football has equal playing time requirements, so planning should also ensure those requirements are met.
The question I'd encourage coaches to consider is:
Are our selection and substitution decisions giving every child a fair opportunity to play, learn and contribute?
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The Sporting Resource retweeted
5v3 | Connect & Combine vs Regain and Score
📌 Use controlled possession to circulate the ball.
🧱 Set-Up:
✔️ 18 by 18 playing area. 4 x mini goals (1 goal in each corner of the pitch). 2 x 3 by 3 yard shaded zones (orange).
👕Teams: ⚫️’s vs 🔴’s
🛝 How to Play:
➡️ The possave a player in the orange zones at all times. Each time the ⚫️’s work the ball from the orange zone to the opposite orange zone, they get a goal.
➡️ When a ⚫️ in the centre of the pitch passes to a ⚫️ in the orange zone, they swap places with them.
➡️ The 🔴’s regain the ball and score in any mini-goal.
🚧 Constraints:
🏆Reward: The defending team 🔴’s get served another ball each time they score with a regained ball.
👨🏫 Review: The ball carrier’s decision to run with the ball and release it.
🚫 Restriction: The possession team cannot pass back to a target player in the orange support zone until it has been received at the opposite end.
@Coach_Osku @205_Academy @JB_SoccerCoach @TheS_Resource @PeterPrickett @BreakthruSoccer @SessionShareNet
⚽️ Created On: @SSP
📌 Use controlled possession to circulate the ball.
🧱 Set-Up:
✔️ 18 by 18 playing area. 4 x mini goals (1 goal in each corner of the pitch). 2 x 3 by 3 yard shaded zones (orange).
👕Teams: ⚫️’s vs 🔴’s
🛝 How to Play:
➡️ The possave a player in the orange zones at all times. Each time the ⚫️’s work the ball from the orange zone to the opposite orange zone, they get a goal.
➡️ When a ⚫️ in the centre of the pitch passes to a ⚫️ in the orange zone, they swap places with them.
➡️ The 🔴’s regain the ball and score in any mini-goal.
🚧 Constraints:
🏆Reward: The defending team 🔴’s get served another ball each time they score with a regained ball.
👨🏫 Review: The ball carrier’s decision to run with the ball and release it.
🚫 Restriction: The possession team cannot pass back to a target player in the orange support zone until it has been received at the opposite end.
@Coach_Osku @205_Academy @JB_SoccerCoach @TheS_Resource @PeterPrickett @BreakthruSoccer @SessionShareNet
⚽️ Created On: @SSP
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Just seen a series of videos of a 9 year old doing hill sprints….
Surely there’s a better way 🤯
Surely there’s a better way 🤯
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Five things to try at your next coaching session:
1. Let the practice run before you stop it.
2. Give players time to recognise and solve problems.
3. Ask them what they noticed before you offer your own opinion.
4. Allow different solutions to the same problem.
5. Observe ly what they've learned without your instructions.
You don't need to comment on every action to help a player improve.
1. Let the practice run before you stop it.
2. Give players time to recognise and solve problems.
3. Ask them what they noticed before you offer your own opinion.
4. Allow different solutions to the same problem.
5. Observe ly what they've learned without your instructions.
You don't need to comment on every action to help a player improve.
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Some young players look to their coach before making a decision.Sometimes they want encouragement, sometimes they're waiting to be told.
As coaches, we should consider whether our behaviour helps them become confident decision-makers or makes them dependent on our instructions.
As coaches, we should consider whether our behaviour helps them become confident decision-makers or makes them dependent on our instructions.
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Before you plan the next session:
Write down one thing the players are beginning to understand, one difficulty that keeps appearing, 1-3 questions you need to ask them and then let those observations influence the plan.
Write down one thing the players are beginning to understand, one difficulty that keeps appearing, 1-3 questions you need to ask them and then let those observations influence the plan.
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Not sure where to start with reflection, @CoachReflect_n can help with this.. try it here:
coachreflection.com
coachreflection.com
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If you want to assess progress beyond the score, decide what you are watching for before kick-off.
There are four things you could observe.
Choose one rather than trying to track everything 👇
There are four things you could observe.
Choose one rather than trying to track everything 👇
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4. The player's perspective.
Ask what they found difficult and what they want another chance to try. Your observations and their experience may differ, both can inform the next session.
Ask what they found difficult and what they want another chance to try. Your observations and their experience may differ, both can inform the next session.
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After the match, you could write down the one thing you chose to watch, what you saw, and one thing to try at the next session.
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The environment around a youth football pitch can influence how children play, make decisions and respond to mistakes.
Coaches, parents and spectators all have a part to play in making match days positive experiences for children.
🧵 Here are 10 practical ways we can improve football, plus a bonus 👇
Coaches, parents and spectators all have a part to play in making match days positive experiences for children.
🧵 Here are 10 practical ways we can improve football, plus a bonus 👇
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We often discuss what makes a positive football environment without asking the children experiencing it.
At your next training session, ask your players:
⤷ What do you like hearing from the sidelines?
Then ask:
• Is there anything adults shout that makes playing harder?
• What could we do differently to make match days better?
Listen to their responses and agree on one change you can make as a team.
At your next training session, ask your players:
⤷ What do you like hearing from the sidelines?
Then ask:
• Is there anything adults shout that makes playing harder?
• What could we do differently to make match days better?
Listen to their responses and agree on one change you can make as a team.
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Creating a safer sideline doesn't require expensive equipment, additional qualifications or complicated policies. Many improvements begin with adults recognising how their behaviour affects the children playing.
What would you add to these 10 ways, and what behaviour would you most like to see change on the sidelines?
What would you add to these 10 ways, and what behaviour would you most like to see change on the sidelines?
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