Coach development is evolving—but not always in the right direction. In this conversation with Martyn Bowles , Academy Manager at Walsall, we explore what’s actually driving improvement inside elite environments and where many coaches are falling short. The traditional model of courses, qualifications, and one-off learning events is no longer enough. What matters now is the ability to build self-awareness, create meaningful connections, and develop environments where coaches

Rest defense has become a key part of the modern game, but it’s still often trained in a way that doesn’t reflect reality. Too many sessions start with players already organized behind the ball, distances clean, structure in place. It looks right, but it removes the very problem players need to solve. In the game, rest defense isn’t a fixed shape you arrive at — it’s something that is constantly being built as the ball moves and the team attacks. As possession progresses forw

This latest Modern Soccer Coach Podcast episode delivers a powerful and, at times, uncomfortable look at the reality of player development in today’s game. Joop Oosterveld , transition coach at BK Häcken and formerly of PSV, challenges a number of areas of modern coaching, including why training environments are often too easy, why coaches rely too heavily on structure and 11v11, and why players are not being stretched enough to truly improve. Drawing on his experiences acros

Modern Soccer Coach has officially released its latest online course, designed specifically for high school coaches navigating the real demands of the job — on the field and beyond it. The course covers thirteen modules and goes beyond tactics alone, combining game understanding with leadership, communication, and team development. It reflects the reality that today’s coach is not just responsible for performance, but for building an environment where players can grow, connec

One of the biggest challenges for possession-based teams is not building the play — it’s finishing it. Too often, there is a disconnect between the build-up phase, midfield progression, and the final third, with teams able to control the ball but unable to translate that control into real goal scoring opportunities. The issue is not possession itself, but how and when verticality, forward movement, and central combinations are introduced. In this Modern Soccer Coach breakdown

Set pieces are no longer an afterthought in modern football — they are a defining edge. The best teams in the game today are not just strong in open play, they are dominant in restart moments. Corners, free kicks, and throw-ins have evolved from survival tools into strategic weapons, and the data is clear: teams at the top of the table are often the most effective in these moments. In this episode, Tom Dent (First Team Assistant Coach at Vålerenga) joins Gary Curneen to brea