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THE COACHING LAB

Unleashing Creativity

Bloomsbury Football Foundation

5 Top Tips Post Lockdown

The Coaching Lab

3 min

5 Top Tips Post Lockdown

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

Team Challenges with IFK Stocksund

The Coaching Lab

2 min

Team Challenges with IFK Stocksund

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. The foundation of IFK Stocksund rests on two pillars, having great coaches to lead and an environment that is both fun and effective. Using MatchPlay Cards weekly in their youth programme IFK Stocksund are putting the game at the centre to support their players develop.

Hill House Gold Cup with MatchPlay Cards

The Coaching Lab

2 min

Hill House Gold Cup with MatchPlay Cards

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

MatchPlay Cards in an Academy setting

The Coaching Lab

2 min

MatchPlay Cards in an Academy setting

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

Ideas for coaching odd numbers

The Coaching Lab

3 min

Ideas for coaching odd numbers

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... "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 important." - FA Learning Reward the underload - The u

4 Ways to get more out of MatchPlay Cards

The Coaching Lab

2 min

4 Ways to get more out of MatchPlay Cards

When are we going to play a game? It is the most asked question we get asked as coaches but not anymore! MatchPlay Cards have been developed to support coaches coach through games with the ability to add different levels of complexity. They allow players to ride their learning journey as they experience representative game challenges in a decision-rich environment. Here are four ways to get the most out of them... 🗣 Think individual: Who are you giving MatchPlay Cards to? An

Match Day Coaching - Half Time

The Coaching Lab

2 min

Match Day Coaching - Half Time

The game is the ultimate feedback. Matchday is, therefore, a golden learning experience for both players and coaches. Our natural temptation is to put every moment of the first half under a microscope of investigation, believing this will support our players to make better decisions in the second half. Does it though? Here a few ways to have more impactful half times... “We have a vision where we want a self-organised team: not just 11 players on the pitch but 11 coaches” FC

Promoting Decision Makers

Coaching the Foundation Phase

The Coaching Lab

2 min

Coaching the Foundation Phase

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 Team Challenges

The Coaching Lab

2 min

Using Team Challenges

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

3 ways MatchPlay Cards can #ChangeTheGame from those who use them

The Coaching Lab

2 min

3 ways MatchPlay Cards can #ChangeTheGame from those who use them

We could tell you three ways MatchPlay Cards can #ChangeTheGame but we thought we’d leave this to some coaches across the globe… 1. Alan Good, Charlottesville, USA Individual player MatchPlay Cards (The white coloured ones!) create a "game within a game" for that player. As a coach, I could provide a specific card to a player to help them with something they struggle with, or they could pick themselves from the deck, which helps me as a coach learn what makes them tick or whe