How to use a football development plan

A long list of targets rarely helps a young player. A better plan identifies what matters now and gives the player a manageable way to improve through training, individual practice and additional coaching.

For example, a priority might be body shape and scanning before receiving, linked to the decisions a midfielder needs to make under pressure.

The plan should guide what is practised. One-to-one sessions can focus closely on technique; small-group sessions can add pressure and competition around the same theme.

Feedback needs to be clear enough to use: what happened, what to change and what to look for at the next session or match.

• Action for the player’s position
• Repetition that matches the game
• Feedback the player can use
• A point to review

Progress is not always a straight line. A player can understand a detail in training before it appears consistently under match pressure.

A review should consider how the player applies the priority in training and match situations. It can then keep the target, adjust it or move on when the new habit starts to show consistently.