Player Development Process: Part One

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article discussing some ideas related to individual development in a team environment. In case you missed it, please click here to read the article. I would recommend reading it before going any further.

In order to better share my ideas, perspectives, and experiences regarding player development, I have recorded a presentation that takes into account everything from the connection between the game model and player development to specific content that I base my coaching around. By no means am I saying that this is the best or only way to go about the player development process, in fact, quite the opposite.

Presentation during UEFA B License in Wales (2018)

Over the last few years, I have been focusing on taking all of the theoretical information I have learned from books, the content from the licenses/courses that I have studied, the teachings from my mentors, and the knowledge I have gained from my own reflections and in order to truly apply a way of working in the real world of professional soccer. This presentation is connected to that idea and to hopefully serve as a spark of inspiration or motivation to other coaches in their quest to keep improving as a practitioner in order to foster the best possible environment for both team and individual development.

Study visit at RCD Espanyol

In part one of the presentation, I discuss the following topics:

• 3 considerations that we should take into account from a general perspective

• The purpose and definition of a game model

• Designing contexts in training to develop the style of play and the players at the same time

• The cycle of development

• Individual development plans

• Tactical fundamentals - per position, per line, and per zone

Player Development Process

After watching, it would be great to hear any feedback or comments that you might have so we both have the opportunity to improve.

Next week, I will release Part Two, which focuses on the application of the tactical fundamentals as it pertains to developing a hypothetical video session to show how we can organize the coaching content in an individual player meeting, in addition to discussing some specific field based training exercises we can utilize to design a context in which an individual or small group can apply the coaching details discussed in the theoretical session.

Thank you for your time!