Alix

OFA Football Development Officer ⚽️ and grassroots coach beginning the journey to UEFA B 🧠📚

[Rob Porter @CoachRobPorter]

That was a fantastic day of football.

Bumping into lots of people I know, which was great to see so many familiar faces.

A great 3v3 festival for the FA, with loads of positive feedback from players, parents and coaches.

And I really enjoyed refereeing a U18s final.

[Phil Stafford @philstafford1]

Absolutly delighted with how my @OxfordshireFA coach developer debut went on Monday night.

A group of 14 passionate coaches all wanting to learn and improve so it was my please to share my experiences with them and to recieve some fantastix feedback from the all!

[Alix @CoachingAt]

@PoDevelopment Hi what exactly would you like sorry, the set up is in the picture above and then there are multiple ways you could bring that to life. The way shown was to have a ball played in, progress it to the attackers, then whilst they try to score, another ball is played in

[Alix @CoachingAt]

@SundayShare10 also wanted to share from Mondays “build the attack” CPD by the FA/Matt Jones. Really thought provoking practice design. Matt had the keeper play another ball immediately after the ball was played into the attacking 1/2…⬇️

[Alix @CoachingAt]

https://t.co/RiAlcWEkkt

[Alix @CoachingAt]

@SundayShare10 absolute privilege listening to Tom Hartley this Wednesday evening. The CPD dived into coaching behaviours, covering topics like; the use of silence for problem solving, being person-centred, and inspirational motivation. Would highly recommend his podcast 🔗⬇️

[Alix @CoachingAt]

The next session in our receiving block. Lots of focus this week from me on the before and after, movements and spaces, can we use our team mates to beat an opponent to progress up the pitch @SundayShare10 feedback welcomed 👂🙏

[Alix @CoachingAt]

Started a new block with my u14s in the new year with a big focus on receiving to play forwards. Currently asking them to focus on Awareness 👀 Body Shape 📐 and Communication 🗣️
Excited to build on this over the next few weeks to consider decisions and intentions #SundayShare

[Alix @CoachingAt]

An extremely surreal moment for me as a player, coach, and fan. To step on the grass at Wembley, kick a ball, and hopefully help some of these incredible volunteer coaches was a one of a kind experience to cap off a phenomenal 2025. Excited to see where 2026 takes me

[England Football @EnglandFootball]

“This is a dream come true” 🤩

As part of the England Football Family, a selection of Providers had the chance to play on the pitch at Wembley recently. 🏟️

From round to corner to the Channel Islands, from Comets to Wildcats to Just Play to Squad volunteers, this was a day they will never forget!

[The Sporting Resource @TheS_Resource]

The difference between a 'poor' coach and 'great one"

The difference isn’t tactics.
It isn’t qualifications.
It isn’t experience.

It’s how people feel around them.

A poor coach creates fear.
Fear of mistakes.
Fear of being blamed.
Fear of not being good enough.

They speak in “I”.
I told you.
I decided.
I was right.

When things go wrong, responsibility moves outward.
The referee.
The players.
The opposition.

They operate with a fixed mindset.
Players are labelled early.
Mistakes become flaws.
Potential is capped.

Control becomes the default.
Command and response.
Do as you’re told.
Think less. Obey more.

When things go well, the credit is taken.
When they don’t, criticism flows downward.
Public.
Negative.
Personal.

Winning becomes the justification for everything.
Selection.
Behaviour.
Treatment of players.

Any cost is acceptable.

A great coach looks nothing like that.

They inspire enthusiasm, not anxiety.
Players feel energised, not judged.

They speak in “we”.
We’ll learn from this.
We’ll fix it together.
We’re growing.

They take responsibility first.
For the environment.
For the standards.
For the learning.

They operate with a growth mindset.
Players are seen as developing, not defined.
Mistakes are information.
Setbacks are part of the process.

They don’t command.
They develop.

They ask questions instead of giving answers.
They empower players to think, decide, solve.
They trust people before they’re perfect.

Credit is shared.
Quietly.
Consistently.

Players are lifted, not put down.
Confidence is built, not borrowed from results.

Winning still matters.
But it never comes at the cost of people.

Because great coaches understand something poor coaches never do:
You don’t build success by controlling others.
You build it by growing them.

📸 SoccerCoachWeekly

[Alix @CoachingAt]

@SundayShare10 with silent weekend ahead I wanted to get the girls talking at training ready to be their own leaders on Saturday. Far from perfect, and the second pattern certainly tested their minds more than I anticipated, but it did start to pull together nicely at the end 👌

[Alix @CoachingAt]

This week was our first session on a new block where we look at finishing the attack. The carousel looked to replicate some of the patterns and opportunities we had been creating and the overall focus was on boosting confidence and encouraging taking chances. @SundayShare10

[Alix @CoachingAt]

Before we roll onto the next topic and dive into the content and detail of our finishing the attack block we had a “fun” week… lots of games and shots and laughs, very little coaching … but regardless it’s still going to be my @SundayShare10

[Alix @CoachingAt]

@SundayShare10. For the end of our defensive principles block, Wednesday we continued the theme of pressing but then also tried to help with their understanding of the team shape in a big game 8v8. The girls were relentless with their pressing Saturday so proud of their progress

[Alix @CoachingAt]

@RJPcoach @EnglandLearning @OxfordshireFA @BreakthruSoccer @Tactica1Thinker @coach_kevin_m @JB_SoccerCoach @OUFCcommunity Cannot wait to see all the amazing work you’re going to do, inspiring first steps, progression, and so much more… massively well deserved role 🙌

[Alix @CoachingAt]

@foot_concept @SundayShare10 Yup! Obviously you can do it differently and be more strict about cleaner turnovers and outcomes, I just did that to increase defensive success as it was only the arrival activity and I don’t want to spend too long on it

[Alix @CoachingAt]

Really late @SundayShare10 but here is week 3️⃣ of the defensive block for my u14s. The girls unfortunately lost to a side from the division above Saturday morning but I couldn’t have been prouder of the way they’re applying what we practice 🙌

[Alix @CoachingAt]

@foot_concept @SundayShare10 Hey, so in mine blues had to collect all the footballs, so whether they win it inside or force it out the area, they then bring it back to the middle channel, then the reds&purples who lost their ball could help be passing options for those still with one. Hope that makes sense

[Alix @CoachingAt]

@CCD_Essex Of course not… if anything I owe you, they look awesome !