Coaches' tool bag
Everything here is here to help. Use what's useful, skip what isn't.
Using it is great. Not using it is fine. It's a tool bag, not a rulebook.
What's in the bag
Session builder
Pick the birth year, the theme, how many children and coaches, and the space, and get a 60-minute session you can print or save as a PDF. Every game can be swapped for another that fits.
Open the builder
New coach guide
Your first six weeks: who to ask about what, what training you need, kit, the league rules that matter, and six ready-made sessions for each age band.
Read the guide
Match day planner
Fair minutes for every child across the periods, finishers rotating, a turn in goal for everyone who wants one, and each child's positions respected. Names stay on your phone.
Plan a match
Focus cards
For the short face-to-face chat with each child once or twice a season. Two lists, going well and focus for now, and a link that sets up the matching home games.
Make a card
Virgil certificate
The hardest worker certificate, ready to print. Type a first name, the team and the date. Nothing leaves your phone.
Print a certificate
Practice games
The whole library, with filters for birth year, theme, session part, players, space, equipment and time.
Open the library
Four rules for every Colts session
A ball at every foot
If any child has stood without a ball for 30 seconds, change something.
Nobody is ever out
Caught, tagged or beaten means a few seconds' pause, then straight back in.
Your number is your number
Children count their own score and beat their own last go. Never ask who got most.
Show it, don't tell it
Demos under 30 seconds. Coach one child at a time, on the move.
Using young leaders
Young leaders are older players helping younger ones: 2018s players at the Sunday development session, 2016s at 2018s training. They're coaches on the pitch, learning to lead.
- An adult coach is always in charge. Young leaders are never counted as coaches, and never left with a group on their own.
- Give them one job at a time: run a warm-up game, be the joker in a possession game, demonstrate a skill, count a group in and out.
- Games tagged "young leader friendly" in the library are simple ones a young leader can run with you beside them.
- Mixed-age games like Buddy Match need the club welfare officer's OK before they run. The card says so.
- Praise the leading, not just the playing: "You noticed she was stuck and went to help. That's lift each other."