Mark Higgins

Passionate about helping all people develop in the game.

Enjoy learning more about ⚽️

[Mark Higgins @markHig01706131]

What a great post to think about. Football is evolving but is it to much the other way with young players. I am unable to comment re academy football...

[MyFootballCoach @MyFootballCoach]

I was working with a Category One Academy U21 player this week.

I asked him if he enjoyed his training sessions.

“Not really.”

I asked why.

“Too much focus out of possession.”

It’s a theme I’m hearing more and more from academy players.

When I hear under nine players telling me they’ve been spending sessions working on defending as a unit… I really question this!

Of course, players need to understand their responsibilities without the ball.

But football is ultimately decided by what players do when they have it.

Are we spending too much time teaching shape, structure and organisation…

and not enough time helping players improve technically and tactically on the ball?

The game is played through the ball.

Player development should be too.

[Paul McGuinness @PaulMcG8]

Dick Bate was a Master coach & coach developer, he broke the game down into a clear storyline using memorable phrases to create a vision of game scenarios he was coaching - his 1v1 instructions “Shut down - slow down - sit down - show down” sets the scene for the duel perfectly

[Doug Lemov @Doug_Lemov]

For coaches: Here's a great video of @Beestera_James helping players to use deception before they receive the ball. IMO this is one of the most important things to include in training. If decision-making starts w perception, deception is the art of disrupting your opponent's perception & prediction & deception before you get the ball is at least as important--but far less frequently coached--as deception with the ball.

https://t.co/G4rW4Ldgb2

[Osku Partonen @Coach_Osku]

If I could only use 5 small-sided games… ⚽️

These would be them.

Not because they’re perfect—
but because they work together.

Here’s why 🧵

[Dave Victor @DulcetDave]

Lincoln’s promotion demonstrates that football isn’t all about money.
Michael Skubala took charge in Nov 2023. His first win was against The O’s.
Skubala’s background is Futsal and university soccer. A brave and interesting appointment. He offers different approach & perspective.

[Paul McGuinness @PaulMcG8]

“CONNECT
TO
DISCONNECT”

Often in the past I’ve heard, “Quick, two touch, ball speed, pass don’t let them close. It is move it quick to gain an opening, but it’s also bring your opponent close to CONNECT to DISCONNECT, go against the FLOW

[Mark Higgins @markHig01706131]

Interesting read.

[Temisan Williams @Coach_Temisan]

Your super strength is what gets you into the first team.

[MyFootballCoach @MyFootballCoach]

Wolves U18s coach @rich5walker80: ball mastery with two players. Aerial control, receiving, safe-side travelling, step-on + feint — into 1v1.

Coach’s Pass is MyPersonalFootballCoach’s coaching library — full sessions + hundreds more.

Pick a session. Take the plan. Run it.

Link in bio → Coach’s Pass

[Andrew Brownhill @AndrewBrownhil]

Sir Alex Ferguson - ‘I don’t believe in psychology, i believe in management’👇
🗣️”Management is based on communication, loyalty and trust. My communication is really important to me to recognise and value my staff. If you value them they’ll pay you back.”

[Paul McGuinness @PaulMcG8]

The ‘moving screen’ deceiving your marker by using body language to receive but then with ‘small late movements’ letting the ball run against or across your opponents’s flow -
at the same time using your body as a barrier between your opponent & the ball creating a moving screen

[Paul McGuinness @PaulMcG8]

@fahdahmed987 Positioning - entice defender close, awareness - sense / feel his flow, movement - spin away from pressure, deception - give no cues before turning, timing - as you feel the pressure, technique - outside of foot quick efficient no back-lift - deceptive small late movement

[Irish FA @IrishFA]

Congratulations to @IFACoachEd graduate Liam Rosenior on becoming head coach of Premier League side @ChelseaFC 👏🏻

This throwback session captures everything we value about coaching. Growth, learning and people first.

Wishing you every success, Liam 🤝

[Bernat Mosquera @BernatME6]

Rondos are cultural. The “same” rondo is played differently depending on where you are.

7+ minute clip of @pablo_zabaleta on the differences between Argentina, Spain, & England, & how that changes the way players play & coaches use it.

Video of 12-Week Curriculum Meeting
(1/4)

[Scottish FA @ScottishFA]

Club Academy Scotland ran the largest bio-banding festival in youth football last month.

Bio-banding sees late maturers play against younger players that are a closer physical match, while early maturing players are matched with older players.

���️ https://t.co/LojdmJUKI3

[Mark Higgins @markHig01706131]

Love this type of pass

[Tom Skeath @tom_skeath]

The "Modric" Pass | Luka Modric 🗣

Key Points ⬇️

▪️ Awareness of space
▪️ Exploiting gaps between opponents
▪️ Timing of the pass
▪️ Ability to use the outside of the foot
▪️ Playing off the 'front foot' for quickness
▪️ Using disguise
▪️ Execution of the pass (pass detail)

[Coach Jonny @CoachJonnyFFF]

❌ STOP STEALING decision-making opportunities from children!

It might feel like you’re helping by shouting instructions from the sideline, but the truth is, you’re stopping them from making their own decisions.

Kids need space to experiment and solve problems on their own.

[Mark Higgins @markHig01706131]

@RJPcoach Might improve your knowledge and understanding but not how you can connect with players- one without the other?

[Temisan Williams @Coach_Temisan]

There is a concerning trend.

(And it's hindering player development)

Recently I had a conversation with a fellow professional coaching peer of 15 years and this question arose:

"Where are the coaches today who just want to improve players?"

I got it.

On the surface you might think, "Well every coach does."

Are there coaches who want to? Ofcourse.

But increasingly, when I am speak with younger coaches, the first thing they talk about is developing either a...

• Philosohy
• Game model or
• System of play

The truth is this.

Your game model is only as good as:

1. The players who you have
2. The players who want to do it

You have to start by

→ Knowing thier dreams
→ Knowing the individual
→ Knowing their strengths
→ Knowing their challenges
→ Knowing what they care about
→ Knowing why they come to training

...before any game model.

When I started coaching at 21, my aim was simple.

I want to help make the dreams of young players come true.

See when you focus more on your game model, you can miss the detail in what the individual needs.

Try this.

When designing your session plan, start by writing down an experience, achievement, or challenge each player has had that week.

E.g.

• New sibling born
• Starting driving lessons
• Duke of Edinburgh Award

It will make a greater difference that you think.

And remember.

1st Team football is very different to development football.

Have you noticed this trend?

[Mark Higgins @markHig01706131]

@RJPcoach @EnglandLearning @OxfordshireFA @BreakthruSoccer @Tactica1Thinker @coach_kevin_m @JB_SoccerCoach @OUFCcommunity Sounds a cool role to support football where it starts. Well done.