Why Players Should Have More Ownership of Training With James Wilson
How much freedom should coaches have when designing training sessions, and how much ownership should young players have within those sessions? In the latest Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary sits down with James Wilson, academy coach at Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia, to explore the balance between structure, creativity, and player development. James challenges the idea of rigid coaching curriculums, arguing that if we expect coaches to develop creative players, we must first give those coaches the freedom to think, experiment, and design their own training environments.
Drawing on his experiences in England, Spain, and Saudi Arabia, James shares practical insights into how he approaches session design, including allowing his U12/U13 players to create their own training activities and encouraging unstructured play. He also reflects on observing approximately 20 academy sessions at Villarreal without seeing a single traditional passing drill, raising important questions about how technical ability is developed through the game itself. It's a fascinating conversation about developing independent decision-makers, challenging conventional coaching practices, and creating training environments where both coaches and players can thrive.
Watch the full Modern Soccer Coach interview with James Wilson in the video below.
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