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Explore every episode of the podcast Player Development Project Podcast - Learning Tools for Soccer Coaching

Dive into the complete episode list for Player Development Project Podcast - Learning Tools for Soccer Coaching. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
What Is the Value of Coaching Soccer Skills?09 Dec 202100:19:58

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?27 Oct 202100:17:08

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.

Coach Development with Sean Douglas08 Jul 202000:21:09

In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor, Dave Wright hosts Sean Douglas for an in depth conversation on coach development.

Sean is the National Coach Education Manager at Football Federation Australia and has vast experience as a Technical Director, Coach and Coach developer.

In this discussion, Sean and Dave discuss formal coach education courses, advice for coaches who are on a coach education pathway and what to expect, the importance of self reflection and the Australian football landscape.

If you're considering a coaching course or want insights into how it works, this is a great discussion to get a better understanding of the process and how you can develop as a coach.

Masterclass: Inside AFC Wimbledon with Jeremy Sauer20 Nov 201700:19:42

In this in depth discussion, PDP Editor Dave Wright speaks to Jeremy Sauer, Academy Manager at AFC Wimbledon.

Jeremy is a coach and leader with a wealth of experience. He gives us background on the evolution of one of the fairy tale stories of English football. Known as the ‘Phoenix Club’, AFC Wimbledon rose from the ashes of Wimbledon after the club was relocated to Milton Keynes. Jeremy describes the journey the club has been on and how their player development pathway has gone from a grassroots talent centre to an EPPP Category 3 Academy which is consistently producing top young talent.

Note: The full discussion is available to PDP Members only, click here to watch the Masterclass Discussion now

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Masterclass: Behind the Scenes at The RFU: Russell Earnshaw01 Nov 201700:24:57

In this fantastic interview with England U18 Rugby Coach, Russell Earnshaw, PDP Editor, Dave Wright dives into a conversation with Russell on the types of environments England rugby is looking to create in order to develop sustainable success.

Russell shares his own experiences both as a player and coach, talking about the importance of player ownership, decision making and chaos.This is a fantastic conversation in which coaches across all codes can tap into the knowledge of a man driving standards in England’s youth rugby ranks.

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: When should I play a player up or down a level?27 Oct 201700:10:22

The question this week comes from Ryan, via Twitter:

“What are the main criteria when considering playing a player down? My son is Q4 and physically small, but I wonder where ability fits in?”

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: How do I develop individual learning plans for my players?20 Oct 201700:21:06

The question this week comes from Jody, via PDP Facebook page:

“How do you develop individual learning plans, and then evaluate them?”

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: 20 must read books for coaches13 Oct 201700:21:38

The question this week comes from Pete, via Twitter:

“What books do you recommend that coaches read?”

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: What are the best 9v9 formations, and why?06 Oct 201700:13:44

The question this week comes from John, via the PDP Facebook page:

“What are the best 9v9 formations, and why?”

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: If player development is not about winning, what is it about?29 Sep 201700:15:32

The question this week comes from Tony, via Facebook:

“It’s often said, that player development isn’t about winning. So what is it about?”

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: What is the benefit of a player-led training session?22 Sep 201700:10:43

The question this week comes from Liam, via the PDP Innovation Space:

"I’m working with players around the age of 14. What are your thoughts on having a group of 2-3 players replace the coach and lead one training session per week?"

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Masterclass: The United Approach with Paul McGuinness19 Sep 201700:35:37

Paul McGuinness was immersed in the world of Manchester United as a player and coach for 28 years.Paul learnt his craft from his father Wilf, a Manchester United Manager and was mentored by the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Matt Busby, Tony Whelan and more.

PDP Editor Dave Wright sits down with Paul to discuss his personal journey, sharing incredible stories of the culture and family values of the club and how he and his colleagues instilled them in the academy. Paul also speaks of his time coaching Paul Pogba, Jesse Lindgard and others, the use of mix aged groups, creative play and cage football. Having overseen 86 graduates at the Manchester United Academy, Paul is a man with a wealth of knowledge for all coaches to learn from.

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: What is your advice to a beginner coach?15 Sep 201700:09:50

The question this week comes from Mikael, via the PDP Innovation Space:

"What is your advice to a beginner in the field of football coaching?"

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Should my club trial players?09 Jun 202000:25:41

This week the question comes from our PDP Members Slack channel:

“Should my club run trials for players?”

Q&A: How do we develop a style of play?08 Sep 201700:13:09

The question this week comes from Chris, via the PDP Innovation Space:

"What is the best way to identify and develop a style of play for our club?"

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: What is your planning process?01 Sep 201700:24:03
Q&A: How do I affect players of all abilities in my group?25 Aug 201700:12:01

The question this week comes from Spence, via Twitter:

“What are your thoughts of the potential negative effect on players playing at a sub-standard level? For example, I have very good midfielder making great forward passes but other players aren’t making the correct runs or anticipating the pass"

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: What is coaching?18 Aug 201700:16:55

The question this week comes from Dan Wright, who was asked:

“What is coaching?”


Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Masterclass: Maximising Player Potential15 Aug 201700:29:45

Don’t miss this fantastic Masterclass Discussion with New Zealand Football Technical Director, Rob Sherman. PDP Editor, Dave Wright, drives the discussion around maximising player potential.

Rob has travelled around the world working in senior coach education and technical director roles with the Welsh FA, Football Federation Australia & NZ Football.We tap into Rob’s vast experience in the game, hearing about his journey from playing to coaching. We talk skill acquisition and how to design sessions that enable maximum opportunity for players to develop as well as some key advice around what makes an effective coach.

Don’t miss this discussion with a true player development innovator.

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: How can I coach awareness?11 Aug 201700:13:33

The question this week comes from Nick via Facebook:

"As an NPL (National Premier League, Australia) coach and now a parent, my son has been identified as a good player with great ability and a great football brain, but he has been told he needs to improve his awareness. What can I do as a parent now to help him improve his awareness so he can progress to the next level?"


Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: How can I coach team captain attributes?04 Aug 201700:16:59

The question this week comes from Stuart via Facebook:

"If I have a few players who I think have the right qualities to be the team’s captain, what coaching can I give them to help them be a good captain?"

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Masterclass Discussion: Football For Good01 Aug 201700:29:10

Enjoy this inspirational insight from Adrian Bradbury, Founder & Director of Football For Good in Uganda.  With a wide-ranging background in business, basketball and charitable work, Adrian has founded the only full-time player development programme in formerly war-torn Northern Uganda.

Thanks to his tireless efforts, the program continues to grow and FFG offers young local players an opportunity to receive quality coaching and education through the FFG program. We speak to Adrian about some of the progress FFG is making, the cultural challenges that go with player development in Africa & some of the harsh realities of putting a program together in a country recovering from civil war.

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: How can I combat slow starts in games?28 Jul 201700:07:51

The question this week comes from Mark via Twitter:

“I coach an U12s team who are going into U13s next year. How would you combat slow starts in games?”

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: How can I help my team improve their defending?21 Jul 201700:10:33

The question this week comes from Michael:

"While we score a lot of goals, my U14 team are constantly conceding a lot of goals. Do you have some advice for how I can improve my team’s defending?"

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Building Connections: An Interview with David & Keith Mayer05 Jun 202000:38:44

In our latest Masterclass Webinar we sit down to discuss the coach/athlete relationship with Keith and David Mayer, authors of Gold Dust: How to Become a More Effective Coach, Quickly.

The focus of the conversation is how we build connections with young players, using empathy, understanding, patience and communication. Keith is has over 40 years coaching experience at a number of professional clubs and has worked as an FA Tutor. David is currently completing his UEFA A license and has experience in the USA and Africa. This wide ranging conversation discusses how coaches can build quality relationships with players and shares insights into the book, giving practical advice for you to implement in your environment.

Q&A: How can I help my players improve their ball skills?14 Jul 201700:07:57

The question this week comes from Terry:

"I’m coaching on my own with U9s and my group has expanded to as many as 18-20 players. What sessions would you recommend so I make sure they all continue to improve their ball skills?"

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: The Power of Video: What do I look for as a coach?07 Jul 201700:11:48

The question this week comes from Nick:

“How do I watch live games as a coach, and what should I be looking for?”

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: How can I deal with difficult parents on the sidelines?30 Jun 201700:08:13

The question this week comes from Sean:

"Many of the parents in my team are exceptionally vocal, often coaching the players from the sideline and contradicting the ideas that I am working with in my group.  Do you have any advice as to how I can deal with this?"

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Masterclass Discussion: Inside Nottingham Forest27 Jun 201700:37:57

Tom Mallinson is a UEFA A license holder who works at Nottingham Forest as the U16 coach. Tom has been part of the staff at Nottingham Forest staff for a number of years and worked his way up through the academy.

Tom shares some of the methodology he uses with his players as well as giving us an in depth insight to the club player development approach and playing philosophy.

Don’t miss this excellent interview with one of England’s brightest young coaching talents.

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: How can I encourage my players to pass the ball more?23 Jun 201700:10:53

The question this week comes from Chris:

"Within my team I have got a lot of players who tend to just dribble the ball all the time.  How can I encourage or help them to pass the ball more?"

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: What are some different communication strategies I can use with my players?16 Jun 201700:13:45

The question this week comes from Michelle:

"Sometimes I feel like I use Q&A too much in my communication style. Can you talk through the different types of intervention strategies and the benefits of them"

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: How can I help my players dominate possession?10 Jun 201700:07:01

The question this week comes from Daniel:

"How can I better teach my players to move off the ball in order to dominate possession?"

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: Should I separate goalkeepers from outfield players at training?07 Jun 201700:06:57

The question this week comes from John:

“I have an assistant coach who regularly insists on working with the goalkeepers separately.  What are your thoughts on separating the keepers from the outfield players at training?"

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: How can I work on switching play with my U12 team?05 Jun 201700:06:31

The question this week comes from Lauren:

“Do you have any advice on how I work on switching play with my under 12 team?”

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Masterclass: Ben Bartlett03 Jun 201700:33:36
Masterclass: Ben Bartlett In this episode, PDP’s Dave Wright interviews the FA’s Ben Bartlett. Ben Bartlett has been involved with The FA as a coach educator since 2007. Now a Senior Youth Coach educator, Ben has also previously worked at...
Q&A: Would you ever use isolated technique with your players?25 May 202000:40:18

The question this week comes from Percy via Facebook:

"Would you ever use isolated technique training?"

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Welcome to the PDP Podcast01 Jun 201700:02:29
Welcome to the PDP Podcast! Over the past few months, more and more of our members have been asking us to create a podcast so they can listen to PDP content while they’re on the go. And here it is!...
10 Mistakes to Avoid as a Beginner Coach05 May 202000:38:48

The question this week comes from the John via Facebook:

“What are some of the common mistakes when you start coaching?”

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

On The Grass: Ray Power on Coach Education22 Apr 202001:10:29

In this episode Dan is joined by Ray Power. Ray, is a UEFA A Licence coach, an FA tutor and author. In this discussion Dan and Ray touch on ‘collecting badges’, the importance of informal learning and the some practical tips for coaches and coach developers.

We also discuss some of the best educators including some golden nuggets from Dick Bates.

If you enjoy the show please like and share!

On The Grass: Adrian Bradbury on Developing Character10 Apr 202001:24:05

In this episode Dan is joined by Adrian Bradbury.  Adrian has spent the last 10 years identifying and nurturing talent in East Africa.  In this conversation they discuss character – which Adrian is truly passionate about.

Adrian shares his approach to character development.  Why he thinks it is important, how we could go about delivering it – both on and off the pitch, as well as some of the complexity when working with young people!

If you enjoy the show please let us know via twitter - @coachdanwright or @playerdp




Human Movement with Jade Martin & Ben Westbook07 Apr 202000:22:48

In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor, Dave Wright sits down with Parkour coach, Ben Westbook and physiotherapist Jade Martin.

Ben and Jade are experts in human movement and in this conversation we discuss injury prevention, functional movement, integrating variety into sports programs, specialisation and more.

This is an insightful conversation with two innovators in youth development with some great tips for coaches and parents.


Should my players play multiple sports?17 Mar 202000:18:29

The question this week comes from Stuart via Twitter:

“I coach U12 footballs and I have a player that wants to play rugby as well as football, how should I manage this situation?”

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Process to Performance: Heinrich Malan03 Mar 202000:22:09

In this Masterclass Discussion PDP Editor, Dave Wright is joined by Head Coach of Auckland Aces Cricket team, Heinrich Malan to discuss a range of coaching topics.

Heinrich is a highly successful young coach having one national titles with both Central Districts and most recently his Auckland Aces side in the 2019/20 Ford Trophy One Day Competition. Dave and Heinrich dive into a number of topics including the individual nature of cricket, the future game, specialist coaching, technique and managing athletes transitioning into the team and returning from international duty.

This conversation is essential listening for coaches who want to understand a high performance environment from a top practitioner with a big future in coaching.

For the full discussion head over to our website or click here.

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Authentic Leadership: A Conversation with Keith and David Mayer02 Aug 202100:57:22

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.

On The Grass: Graham Mills on shifting the lens from team to individual development26 Feb 202001:09:06

In this On The Grass episode we are joined by Graham Mills. We discuss putting individual development at the centre of our approach.

Graham, UEFA A and Advanced Youth Award holder, is currently a Lecturer in Football Coaching at Solent University. He holds a BA Honours degree in Coach Education and Sports Development from The University of Bath. 

In this chat we talk through the process of setting targets, focusing on individuals through training and game day and empowering young players on their journey. 

Let's get started! 

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Creativity and Control: A Conversation with Mark Upton, James Vaughan and Dave Wright04 Feb 202001:19:19

Creativity values, culture, systems and control. What does it all mean and how does it impact coaching and sporting environments? In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor, Dave Wright hosts Co-Founder of my fastest mile, Mark Upton alongside PDP Lead Researcher and AIK Academy Coach, James Vaughan.

In this wide-ranging conversation, the guys discuss some of James’ Phd research and his recently published paper on creativity, as well as diving down a number of rabbit holes such as:

  • Challenging the role of traditional sports science
  • The problem with creativity
  • Data built programs
  • The concept of control
  • Systemic issues in youth development
  • Organisational culture

This philosophical discussion will hopefully leave you considering your approach and generate a few different perspectives to look at your own coaching. When tuning in to this one, consider the environments we create, how we shape them and how they shape us.

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

On The Grass: Maxi Opondo-Mbai on the Learning Curve21 Jan 202000:42:54

In this episode of On The Grass I am joined by Maxwell Opondo Mbai.

Maxi has vast experience in the game working in a number of different environments – he has worked as a coach in academy football, non-league and the women’s game, as well as a scout for a league one football team. 

In this meandering chat Maxi shares some of his reflections – successes and failures during this journey. We discuss lots of topics in this one, we touch on session design, developing individuals and player motivation. 

Maxi is a coach I have worked closely with and he has a great eye for detail, I really enjoyed this discussion he has a fantastic voice for podcast!

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

10,000 Experiences: Developing Players Age 7-10 with Mark Lyons08 Jan 202000:25:13

In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor, Dave Wright is joined by Mark Lyons - Pre Academy Co-ordinator and Lead Coach at Leicester City Football Club.

In this wide ranging conversation, Mark and Dave dive into the topic of coaching foundation phase aged players. If you work with U7-11 players, this is essential viewing. Mark shares his philosophy, insights into the clubs approach when working with young children, the importance of fun, variety of experiences, session design and more. Mark is a vastly experienced coach, holds the UEFA A license and FA Advanced Youth Award and this discussion contains a huge amount of practical advice for coaches working with young players.

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

On the Grass: The Learning Journey with James Coutts22 Dec 201900:52:20

In this episode I am joined by the newest member of the PDP team, James Coutts.  

In this podcast we explore some of James’ playing and coaching journey.  I was keen to ask who has influenced his coaching style and what are the key bits he has learnt along the way! James has recently joined the PDP as a coaching advisor, so it was great to learn more and share with the PDP community.

Hope you enjoy the show!

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

Q&A: How can I do Position Specific Work?17 Dec 201900:18:53

The question this week comes from Frank via our Facebook Page,

He asks: "How can I do position specific work with my players?"

Exclusive offer for Podcast listeners: 30 Days Free Active Membership. Visit www.playerdevelopmentproject.com/podcast

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