“Fun and enjoyment shouldn’t stop at age 12 for players – it should continue across the whole journey”
Player | Learning | Peter Glynn | 4.10.21
Creating a positive learning environment based on fun and enjoyment is key to player learning regardless of age, explains UEFA Pro Licence holder Richard Horner. Getty images / Chris Hyde
Learning:
- Why fun and enjoyment are key to learning regardless of player age
- Understanding what young players want from their football experience
- How to use ‘games’ effectively in practice sessions
Fun and enjoyment in a football environment shouldn’t be restricted to players under the age of 12, says former FA Youth Coach Educator and UEFA Pro Licence holder, Richard Horner.
“There's a perception in the elite football environment that fun stops for players at 12 years of age.
“There’s a belief that at 12 it becomes serious training and now it's about gaining a contract,” explains Horner, who worked at the Football Association for 13 years in a variety of senior coach education roles including 9 years working with professional clubs in the men’s game.
“I think professional players and professional coaches want to have fun,” says Horner.
“If I was a professional player I would want creative ideas, creative sessions from the coaches and for them to enhance my learning and development.
“At times, within the current system, it becomes a timeline where fun stops and something else starts, whereas it should be a continuous process of learning and development,” adds Horner who coached at Watford academy before joining the FA in 2007.
