Thread of all threads + their articles: 👇

@Za___On Though I do think that the value of teaching kids to win early in their life is becoming underrated, I mostly disagree. U9 kids do not need to win, they need to develop. Even U21 kids. If they're not getting paid, I would say winning is not the main goal

@UEFAcoachPaul Thank you Paul, will take a look on Wed!

@Leecosgrove10 ..into specific positions early. The more they can explore different situations in different positions and formations, the better it is for them

@kestrelpsych Would love to read it when it's done!

@_lawbot @arsenalsgooner3 Exactly!

@Varelahf @PicklesJacob How come? Maybe game model was the incorrect term, looking back on it

@TimotiosBM How come?

@CamH___ Thank you Cam, got some inspiration from a certain someone 🤣

@CoachJulesAA Thanks again for clarifying! Love that last sentence as well. Youth football should be player-centric.

@AndreaPintore5 Love that, that's exactly what I'm getting at. When you put it that way, you are correct - it's a good example of how a game model can be used for the development of the player. The fact that you can use different systems within that model makes it even better, imo.

@icefuzzi or to lock off one side. A lot of coaches like to turn these into tactical elements and make formation-based drills, where it should be about *how* to do this in any context as opposed to a formation-specific context. Let me know if that makes sense!

@arsenalsgooner3 One of the things that I have learned is that the first thing that dictates your formation or model of play is your players, so I think different coaches at different age groups should be playing different systems. But the overall coaching should remain the same 👍

@che1sea_takes Yeah I agree. As long as the curriculum stemming from the game model is based on principles rather than specific tactics. Maybe I should've used another term.

@CoachJulesAA so that they can solve different problems in different contexts

@AndreaPintore5 Interesting, from my previous understanding of a game model, it encompasses the way you play as well as your formation/tactics. I think training should be more general in the development phase so that young players are able to adapt to different systems when they enter senior ⚽️

@AnalystSmitty Absolutely mate - technique and principles come first. Game models and specific tactics come in at senior football. Young players need to think for themselves