More from @Coach_Osku

Nov 8

Players aren’t scared of making mistakes.

They’re scared of how the coach will react to them.

That’s why bravery on the ball disappears — not because players don’t have it, but because we teach them to avoid risk. 🧵

2. Every coach says they want brave players.

But watch the sidelines and you’ll see the opposite:

“Don’t lose it there!” “Just play it safe!” “Why would you try that!?” “Not now!”

And just like that, the message becomes clear:

Play safe > Play brave.

3. Bravery on the ball isn’t just 1v1s.

It’s also: ✅ Asking for the ball under pressure ✅ Turning instead of playing backwards every time ✅ Playing forward when it’s not perfect ✅ Trying things that might fail ✅ Making decisions instead of avoiding them

Bravery = choosing possibility over protection.

Read 8 tweets

Nov 7

Most young players don’t move enough when they don’t have the ball.

And it’s not their fault. 🧵

2. In most youth games, you see this:

1 player has the ball. Everyone else watches. Movement only happens after the moment is gone.

That’s not a “player problem.” That’s a training problem.

3. We coach the player with the ball all the time. We rarely coach the players without it.

But football is mostly played off the ball — finding space, supporting, creating options, moving early.

If we don’t teach that, kids won’t do it.

Read 8 tweets

Nov 3

A position-specific drill I use to train fast transitions and punish defenders before they recover. ⚽️

Half pitch. Two sides. Fixed positions. Finish before the numbers are even. 🧵 @TacticalPad @CoachingFamily @SessionShareNet @ExchangeCoaches @BreakthruSoccer @power_ray @PeterPrickett @RJPcoach @Leecosgrove10 @205_Academy @JustcoachMD

2. Setup — Right Side

📍 Area: Half pitch 🥅 Goal: 1 big goal (used every rep)

🔵 Attackers (right side): #9 striker — ~25m from goal #7 winger — ~35m from goal #8 midfielder — ~50m from goal

⚫ Defenders: #4 LCB — ~20m from goal #5 LB — ~50m from goal (recovery runner)

Coach plays to any of the 3 attackers to start.

3. How it works — Right Side

As soon as the ball arrives → 3v2 + GK.

If attackers play fast → becomes 3v1, because #5 hasn’t recovered yet.

If they hesitate → recovery arrives → back to 3v2.

The entire drill is built on speed vs delay.

Read 9 tweets

Oct 25

Most coaches obsess over tactics and formations.

But winning or losing often comes down to one second —

the first second after possession changes. 🧵

2. That moment has nothing to do with tactics. It’s about how players react when chaos hits.

Lose the ball — do they sprint, scan, press, recover? Win it — do they play forward or freeze?

That single second reveals your team’s mentality.

3. Hesitation kills more attacks than bad passes. Every second you wait gives the opponent time to reset. The best teams don’t wait for instructions — they act.

That’s not a formation problem. It’s a behaviour problem.

Read 6 tweets

Oct 18

Players don’t grow by playing easy games.

They grow by playing matches that test their intensity — physically, technically, and mentally. 🧵

2. Too many youth players spend years playing slow, safe football.

They win games — but never stretch their limits.

Then they reach higher levels…

…and realise they can’t handle the tempo.

3. When every match feels comfortable, players stop adapting.

They don’t scan early.

They don’t react fast.

They don’t learn to compete.

Real development happens when the game is just hard enough to push them.

Read 9 tweets

Oct 2

If you sugarcoat every piece of feedback, you slow down development.

Honest ≠ rude.

Here’s how to give clear feedback without breaking trust. 🧵

2. Many coaches hold back. They fear hurting confidence. So they soften or avoid tough feedback. Result? Players repeat the same mistakes.

3. We don’t need to be rude or personal. We just need to be clear. Clarity is what helps players grow.

Read 9 tweets