Paul McGuinness: the benefits of mixed age-group training games for young players
Practice | Games | 20.04.2023
Paul McGuinness (pictured above) with Marcus Rashford during his time as youth team and academy coach at Manchester United. McGuinness used a mixed age-group approach to training during over 20 years at the Old Trafford club. Image: Paul McGuinness
Learning:
- The benefits of mixed age-group training games
- How Manchester United used a mixed age-group approach to develop Rashford, Pogba and Lingard
- How young players learn from more experienced players
Mixed age-group training games give young players the opportunity to ‘copy models, collaborate with more skilful players and practise within their zone of proximal development’ says former Manchester United youth team coach, Paul McGuinness.
“‘Age-mixing’ benefits younger players by providing models for them to copy,” explains McGuinness, who has extensive experience of a mixed age-group approach from over 20 years as a youth team and academy coach at Manchester United.
“It allows the younger players to collaborate with older and more skilled players, as well as encouraging that additional care, protection, support and 'band of brothers' feeling between the older and younger boys.”
