About IFP Soccer –
Individualized Tactical Coaching for Smarter Play
Alan Riches
Although I stepped away from full-time coaching in 2015 to embrace a quieter life in the serene mountains of southern New Mexico, my passion for soccer never waned.
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My journey in the sport began under the guidance of a coach with ties to the Guatemalan national team and direct connections to Brazil. It was through these invaluable mentorships that I had the opportunity to venture to Brazil and apprentice under Oscar Bernardi, captain of the 1982 Brazilian national team.​​
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In 2005, I earned my coaching license from the Brazilian ABTF (Associação Brasileira de Treinadores de Futebol), further enriching my understanding of the game. Returning to Brazil in 2007, I had the privilege of serving as an apprentice coach at Clube Atletico Mineiro, a revered professional team and proud winner of the 2013 Copa Libertadores, South America's premier club football tournament.
In 2010, I took on the role of women’s soccer coach at McMurry University, a program that hadn't secured a victory in over four years. Additionally, the university was transitioning from NCAA Division III to Division II. Over my five seasons, I led the program to its first non-losing season and, by the fifth year, its first winning season. However, despite the achievements, I chose to step down due to burnout and a longing to prioritize family time—a decision many college coaches can relate to!
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When I was coaching at the college level, I quickly realized that many players—even talented ones—lacked a deep understanding of their positional roles on the field. They had the technical ability but often struggled with decision-making, positioning, and reading the game at a higher level. I saw the need to work with my players one-on-one, positionally, to help them develop these crucial tactical skills, but I was frustrated by the reality of coaching at the college level—with so many responsibilities, from team training and match preparation to recruiting and administration, there simply wasn’t enough time to focus on individual tactical development.
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The challenge wasn’t just with my team—it’s a reality at nearly every level of the game. Club teams, college programs, and even professional teams simply don’t have the time to dedicate to individual positional training. The focus is naturally on team tactics, game preparation, and managing the squad as a whole. With so many responsibilities, coaches can’t break down the game one-on-one for each player in a way that would truly accelerate their development.
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While searching for a solution, I was introduced to the concept of Individual Fundamentals per Position (IFPs) during my video analysis courses with Barcelona FC. This approach—also known as individual tactical coaching—emphasizes the optimal responses of players in specific roles: center backs, full backs, center midfielders, wingers, attacking midfielders, and forwards. It was the missing piece I had been looking for—a way to systematically develop players positionally in a way that most team environments simply don’t have time for.
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That’s why I started IFP Soccer—to fill that gap. My goal is to provide players with the individualized tactical coaching they don’t get in team environments, using video analysis and personalized feedback to help them make smarter decisions, anticipate plays, and elevate their game intelligence.
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If you're serious about improving your tactical awareness, let's get to work.