Planning Your Preseason: Four Ways to Build a Team Identity Before the Season Begins

One of the biggest mistakes coaches make during preseason is planning one session at a time instead of planning the entire journey. The strongest teams don't develop through a collection of random exercises—they develop because every session has a clear purpose that connects back to how the coach wants the team to play. In our latest Modern Soccer Coach Breakdown, we explore four practical ideas to help you structure your preseason, from building your game model and resisting the temptation to rush into 11v11, to progressing exercises logically and avoiding information overload during those crucial first weeks.

A successful preseason isn't about cramming every tactical concept into the opening sessions. Players learn best when coaches build solid foundations, introduce complexity gradually, and stay disciplined with the principles they choose to emphasize. Whether you're coaching youth, academy, high school or senior players, a clear six-week plan will give your players consistency, confidence and a much stronger understanding of your team's identity than simply searching for new drills every night.

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If you're looking for more ideas to support your preseason planning, visit the Modern Soccer Coach Shop where you'll find a growing collection of coaching resources designed to help you connect your game model to your training sessions. Our latest 20 Elite Attacking Training Sessions – Volume 2 provides practices that can be adapted throughout preseason, alongside ebooks covering defending, transition, build-up play, youth development and session design. Combined with our coaching courses and webinars, these resources are designed to save you planning time while giving you practical ideas you can immediately take onto the training field. Be sure to watch the full video below and let us know how you're approaching preseason with your own team.