Matt Crocker:  why effective individual development work doesn’t need to mean one-on-one coaching practices

Practice | Activities | Peter Glynn | 10.06.22

Effective individual development work doesn’t need to mean ‘one-on-one’ coaching and instead can be achieved through intelligent practice design for larger groups, says Matt Crocker, former Director of Football Operations at Southampton FC. Image Southampton FC via Getty Images

Learning: 

-    How to design practice sessions that meet multiple individual player objectives

-   Using clever practice start positions and player challenges to ensure individuals receive specific attention

-   Linking small group work with larger group practices

Effective individual development work doesn’t need to mean ‘one-on-one’ coaching and instead can be achieved through intelligent practice design for a larger group of players, says Matt Crocker, former Director of Football Operations at Southampton FC and former Head of Development Team Coaching at the English FA.

“There's no such thing really as a closed skill in a game of football,” says Crocker, who has implemented a specialist coaching model with Southampton’s U18 and B teams and previously with England’s youth national teams 2013-2020.

“The game of football is ‘open’ and that means the work we do with players on their individual development has to be as realistic to the game as you possibly can.”