Jack Rolfe

Founder @The_CoachingLab ⚡ | Creator of #MatchPlayCards

I develop the people who develop sport

Posts on coaching, game design and player experience

[Jack Rolfe @JPR_25]

Ag 16 I was told if there was 100 people in a room, 99 would be better.

A few years on, I own a business that gets to work with some of the biggest names in sport, supported by Virgin SU and every day I live the dream.

If there’s a will, there’s a way!

#DyslexiaAwarenessWeek

[North Melbourne FC @NMFCOfficial]

"We'll try to protect the love of the game, but understand it's a high-performance environment as well."

Senior coach Jaymie Graham sets the tone before our first training session on his watch.

FULL FEATURE: https://t.co/JLzFtQcFri 🎥

[Jack Rolfe @JPR_25]

@Doug_Lemov West is best!

[The_CoachingLab @The_CoachingLab]

Use #MatchPlayCards as your session opener. Players arrive, draw a card, start playing. Why? No waiting around, no long explanations, and you get to watch what they actually need to work on. ⚽

🔗https://t.co/W1cretqqgM

[The_CoachingLab @The_CoachingLab]

“The kids have a sense of excitement once they actually reveal the MatchPlay Card. They have to think on the spot.”

That’s the moment we design for. ⚽

How Arsenal use them 👇
https://t.co/JVh4bVI4OG

[船戸渉/W.Funato スポーツアナリストの端くれ @WAFUNATO192G]

まず各々が分析した上で、スタッフで集まってその内容を共有する。それをクラブの分析結果として選手に伝える。トップダウンなチームでない限り、こうあるべきでもある。

[Jack Rolfe @JPR_25]

I do think it’s a very good experience to have though….

[Jacob Brown @JacobBrownDOC]

If you can’t coach 6-7 year olds correctly.

You can’t coach.

[Jack Rolfe @JPR_25]

THIS IS HUGE!

[The_CoachingLab @The_CoachingLab]

How do you support 300 coaches without 300 hours of training?

Put your principles on a card they use every session. 👇
https://t.co/3C3DKrYs2t

[Jack Rolfe @JPR_25]

Never stuck for a game again. MatchPlay Cards live in your kit bag, ready when you are. 20% off with CARDS20 at https://t.co/Eqmb7ZTiis

[The_CoachingLab @The_CoachingLab]

Kitting out your whole club? Code CARDS20 gives you 20% off every deck. Better sessions across every age group start at https://t.co/LxwFTirm2d 🏆

[Jack Rolfe @JPR_25]

Lots of why in this clip but misses the what and how this looks to a coach.

ACTIVE 👀 Teach the through the game… set player challenges….

GAME 🎯 Use time and score to make it a game… restrict and reward… score more than the final score…

[🎙️ It's Only Kids Football @iokfootball]

More touches, less waiting 🙌

Jake Ling, @EssexCoaches coach development officer, on why training should keep every kid active and on the ball ⚽

🎧 Listen: https://t.co/DyI1nqIFoG
📺 Watch: https://t.co/zAIRu7Xzbb

[Jack Rolfe @JPR_25]

Proud moment. .@AFCCommunity are using our #MatchPlayCards to keep young people active, engaged and loving the game.

Coaches, if your sessions need a lift, I made these for you 🔗 https://t.co/i4qUVZKcJZ

[Keepitonthedeck @Keepitonthedeck]

⚽ XABI ALONSO: In training today

“15 POINTS = 1 GOAL.”

Xabi Alonso's approach to positional possession provides an excellent opportunity to examine how a points system can transform a practice, or improve it at least.

Because the moment you introduce a score, you don't just change the rules. You change the players behaviours, decisions, emotions and intentions.

But is it always beneficial?

✅ THE ADVANTAGES?

1. COMPETITIVE INTENSITY improved 🔥

2. CONCENTRATION & FOCUS 🧠
Every action carries greater significance. Players must remain mentally engaged because one poor decision could cost their team valuable points.

3. PURPOSEFUL POSSESSION 🎯
Possession becomes a means of achieving an objective rather than an end in itself.

4. DECISION MAKING UNDER PRESSURE

5. MOVEMENT WITHOUT THE BALL
Players recognise that points cannot be achieved individually. Supporting angles, creating passing lanes, offering depth and maintaining width become collective responsibilities.

6. COMMUNICATION & LEADERSHIP 🗣️
With a shared target, players are encouraged to organise, direct, encourage and demand higher standards from one another.

7. TRANSITION REACTIONS ⚡
Losing possession now has an immediate consequence.

8. PRESSING INTENSITY
The defending team has a reason to disrupt the opposition's progress. This can encourage more aggressive pressing.

9. EMOTIONAL CONTROL
Players experience the frustration of conceding points and the excitement of approaching a target. They must learn to stay composed and execute under competitive pressure.

10. TEAMWORK & COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY

11. ENGAGEMENT & ENJOYMENT

❌ THE POTENTIAL NEGATIVES?

ARTIFICIAL DECISION MAKING
Football is about recognising the best solution to the situation. A points system can encourage decisions that help win the exercise but would be inappropriate in a real match.
UNREALISTIC GAME BEHAVIOURS

The idea should not be simply awarding points. The should be WHAT deserves points.

If we reward 15 passes, we may develop a team that values keeping possession.....
But what happens if we reward:
Breaking opposition lines?
Finding the free player between the lines?
Switching play to exploit space?
Creating and exploiting numerical superiority?
Regaining possession immediately after losing it?

The scoring system is not automatically an effective coaching method. Its value depends entirely on the behaviours it encourages.

[The Good, The Bad & The Football @goodbadftblpod]

🗣️ "The level of coaching, I've not really seen anything like that before."

Paul Scholes was blown away after watching Fabian Hürzeler and his Brighton coaching staff put the players through their paces! 👏

[England Football Learning @EnglandLearning]

Get the fundamentals right ⚽️

Explore the grassroots coaching fundamentals and how to put them into practice 👇

[Harry Symeou @HarrySymeou]

A little something I spotted when waiting to begin commentary of Arsenal’s win at Anfield.

[Plan It Coach @PlanItCoach]

Insanely sophisticated development plan for players aged between 5-12 years...

[Jack Rolfe @JPR_25]

@EssexCoaches @iokfootball @The_CoachingLab

[Jack Rolfe @JPR_25]

Be honest: how much of your session do your players spend standing still?

[Adeyemi 👑 @afc_Ade1]

Ødegaard doesn’t just understand how to play football, he understands how to manage a game. That decision to put the ball out to stop their transition and allow us back in shape was so clever. Small details, massive impact.

MY CAPTAIN 👏