Paul McGuinness:  how seeing the game from a ‘player’s eye view’ can help coaches teach the fundamental skills of the game

Game | Skills| 14.02.2023

Understanding what the game looks like from the ‘player’s eye view’ is one way coaches can develop age-appropriate practice for young players says Paul McGuinness, pictured above during his time as an English FA National Coach Educator Image: Paul McGuinness

Learning:

-     Understanding what the game looks like from the ‘player’s eye view’

-          Understanding the ‘scale’ of the game and what format players need at different stages along their journey

-          How individual and pair tactics can build back to the 11v11 game

“There’s lots of information out there about the full 11v11 game including tactics and principles of play,” says Paul McGuinness, who worked as youth team and academy coach at Manchester United for over 20 years.  “But sometimes, when we’re working with kids, we have to take a step back and ask how we would start this journey if this is a story for kids? We’re probably not going to start off with the principles of play, which might be a bit abstract for young players.”

Understanding what the game looks like from the ‘player’s eye view’ is one way coaches can develop age-appropriate practice for young players, says McGuinness, who worked as an English FA National Coach Developer between 2016 and 2021.  “If you’re working with younger players, you’ve got to have the knowledge of the 11v11 adult game but, at the same time, you need something that has the essence of what the kids want and need as they grow and you build towards the full game.