"When are you going to release new decks of MatchPlay Cards?" Well... we heard you and now they're here! Founder of The Coaching Lab, Jack Rolfe takes us behind the scenes of how Animal MatchPlay Cards were designed... We are strong believers that the game shouldn't be a reward for good behaviour nor should it be a bonus if there is time left at the end of the session, the game should sit at the centre. Built on the same four principles that every other deck in the MatchPlay

Sport should be full of interactions that supercharge an individual's experience and love for the activity. What would these environments look like? Decision rich... playful... Exploratory... As environment architects, we can change the task or something within the environment to bring this to life. Thinking about the wider environment that an individual moves in shapes the type of practices we design. The more individuals explore the environment, the more opportunities emerg

If we believe communication to be a high priority skill for our players, what are we doing to develop it? Does the design of our training reflect and create opportunities to develop such a critical skill? Consider the impact your coaching interactions are having on players, Next time you say "why aren't they talking?!" reflect on the balance of coach talk vs player talk? If there was to be more player talk than coach talk what would the impact be? Let's dive in and explore 3

Matchday is back and we're super excited! An extension of training, matchdays create an opportunity for coaches to connect players to their super strengths and grow a love for the game. We spend plenty of time planning our sessions but do we plan out matchdays? Coaching interactions? Player questions? Team challenges? Here are a couple of our top tips and tricks to get the most out of your players... 🚀 SET PLAYER CHALLENGES Young people believe in magic and that everything i

The Coaching Lab has been supporting Bloomsbury and their coaches with MatchPlay Cards as the central London based football charity has kick

It's almost back! After months of Zoom quizzes, virtual classes and WhatsApp groups, sport is making a slow return and we can't wait! What are your biggest learnings of lockdown? What are the things you've missed most? 😍 LOVE THE GAME Check this out from Hill House School! Staff were able to continually check and challenge players learning through games, helping staff see players in the future and design sessions to support development. Considering themselves as game designe

The foundation of IFK Stocksund rests on two pillars, having great coaches to lead and an environment that is both fun and effective. IFK Stocksund, based in Stockholm, Sweden are leading the nations way in youth development. Their sustainable approach for both coaching and player development drives their philosophies on and off the pitch. Using MatchPlay Cards weekly in their youth programme IFK Stocksund are putting the game at the centre to support their player's developme

Replacing their home and away games programme with an internal 'Gold Cup' tournament, due to COVID restrictions (SEPT 2020), the staff of Hill House School in the North of England have been the architects of problem setters, not problem solvers thanks to MatchPlay Cards. Not wanting to lose the competition, challenge and learning opportunities that external matches provide. The 'Gold Cup' was created to replicate these demands in a representative way with MatchPlay Cards, ask

We know that the game will ask players to solve problems in real-time, we also know that the game will challenge players to continually adapt. These may be through a tactical change of the opposition, numbered due to a card or finding a way to win from behind. Coaches of Hamilton FC Academy have been using MatchPlay Cards to bring the game to life, here's how! “They’re problem solving all the time... it's a brilliant way to see their brains working.” Matt Boyle, Head of Junio

We have all been there, we arrive for an action-packed session planned to the finest and smallest of details fit for an even number of players attend and then reality kicks in, an odd number arrive! Here are a few ideas to support your coaching delivery as you add MatchPlay Cards© into your training games... "It’s crucial for coaches to provide the right conditions for players to thrive. It doesn't matter what setting you coach in – creating a positive environment is really i

If we are asking players to make decisions though then as coaches we must reflect and ask ourselves; is our training actually asking players

Ready, Set, Go! Fresh into the starting blocks, youngsters roll up at sporting facilities across the world to play the game they have maybe watched on TV or encouraged to explore a new sport. These foundation years are the starting point of every child that plays the game. The coaches who sit alongside these age groups are the critical influencers in their future. We are role models and often on reflection their heroes who impact their vision, belief and love of the game. Pro

Using in-game challenges on a match day or during training is a great way to take the game to new levels of exploration. Here are a few of our favourite ways to use team challenges on the pitch. Rise to the challenge: Create an opportunity for one team to challenge another based on their observations and experiences they have just had. Where do they think the opposition can challenge them more? And what do they think the opposition can do to be more successful? Better underst