Inside a Tactical Coaching Session

​Breaking Down the Game: What Happens in a Session?

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No two sessions are the same because no two players are the same. The focus isn’t to hand out corrections like a checklist but to help players see the game differently, recognize trends, and optimize their responses in real match situations.  Each session is shaped by the player’s needs, game performance, and key moments worth analyzing. Sometimes, a session revolves around a specific focus area—whether it’s a positional concept, recurring pattern, or tactical adjustment I’ve identified. Other times, the discussion is driven by feedback the player has received from their coach, or by a specific question or concern they have about their performance. This flexibility ensures that each session is relevant, personalized, and immediately applicable to the player’s development.

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Step 1: Reviewing Game Footage

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Rather than watching numerous clips, the focus is on critical moments that reveal patterns in decision-making, positioning, or tactical awareness. Depending on the session and the player’s needs, we may review 15 clips to identify broad trends or focus on just a few key moments in greater depth. The goal is always to analyze what matters most—whether it’s recurring tendencies, specific coach feedback, or moments the player wants to understand better.

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Step 2: Asking the Right Questions

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Instead of saying, 'You should have passed the ball here,' I ask, 'What did you see in this moment? What options did you recognize?' Simply telling a player what they should have done doesn’t create long-term improvement—it only reinforces dependence on external answers. The goal is to get the athlete to think at a deeper level, recognizing patterns and making adjustments based on their own understanding, not just my opinion.

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By asking thought-provoking questions, I encourage players to explore different possibilities, challenge ideas, and provide context for their decisions. Maybe they saw something I didn’t, or maybe a teammate’s movement dictated their choice. Taking over the conversation or hypothesizing one unequivocal truth would never be wise—soccer is a fluid game with multiple solutions. The key is for players to develop the ability to assess situations critically, think independently, and refine their decision-making so they can apply these insights instinctively in live match scenarios.

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Step 3: Identifying Tactical Patterns

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Soccer is never about 'always,' 'never,' or 'should have.' There are no perfect solutions that apply to every situation. A 'should have' represents an independent moment in the game—one that has already passed—but what truly matters are the trends that continue. Sessions focus on recognizing these patterns from a positional standpoint, helping players optimize their responses based on game context rather than dwelling on single mistakes.

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A single bad pass or missed opportunity isn’t the issue—it’s about understanding why those moments happened. Was it a matter of body positioning? Timing of movement? Awareness of teammates and defenders? The answers lie in the patterns, not isolated instances. By shifting the focus from individual outcomes to consistent tendencies, players develop the awareness and adaptability that separate good players from great ones.

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Step 4: Understanding Team Context

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Players at every level—whether in club, college, or the professional ranks—will inevitably work under multiple coaches throughout their careers. In the English Premier League, the average managerial tenure is approximately one year and 241 days, illustrating how frequently coaching staffs change at the highest level. But this isn’t just a reality for professionals. A youth player may switch club teams, a college athlete may experience a coaching change, or a player may transition to a new system where their role evolves.

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A winger, for example, may be asked to play differently depending on the tactical philosophy of their coach—one system may require them to stay wide and isolate defenders in 1v1 situations, while another emphasizes cutting inside and linking play. Complaining about these changes is not a productive response; instead, the focus should be on finding solutions to be effective within each system.

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That’s why tactical coaching is designed to complement, not contradict, a player’s environment. Rather than debating whether a coach’s system is ‘right’ or ‘wrong,’ the goal is to develop adaptable, intelligent players who can execute their role effectively in any setup. By improving individual decision-making and tactical execution, players can thrive under different coaching philosophies without feeling lost or frustrated.

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Step 5: Learning from the Best

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To reinforce concepts, professional player clips are sometimes incorporated. Seeing how top players position themselves, recognize tactical cues, and execute under pressure gives players valuable insights into what an optimal response looks like.

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This isn’t about copying a professional’s every move—it’s about recognizing high-level patterns and applying those insights in a way that fits their own game.