Gary Piggott
@ccd-essex.bsky.social
Former FA County Coach Developer
Current UEFA C / UEFA B FA Coach Developer
UEFA A Licence Coach
Current UEFA C / UEFA B FA Coach Developer
UEFA A Licence Coach
Pinned
Gary Piggott
@ccd-essex.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Grassroots Football in Essex - My overview for providing opportunities for Clubs and Coaches to provide support, guidance and additional learning to opportunities to complement and enhance their existing knowledge. Please contact me if you feel this would be of benefit to you.
Some interesting dialogue and opinions since the FutureFit youth football formats announcement and more to come I would imagine.
Some of my additional thoughts below.
Only positives from my perspective.
Some of my additional thoughts below.
Only positives from my perspective.
March 13, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Some interesting dialogue and opinions since the FutureFit youth football formats announcement and more to come I would imagine.
Some of my additional thoughts below.
Only positives from my perspective.
Some of my additional thoughts below.
Only positives from my perspective.
Are there any football / soccer coaches that I have not yet connected with?
If so, please get in touch 👍
If so, please get in touch 👍
March 8, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Are there any football / soccer coaches that I have not yet connected with?
If so, please get in touch 👍
If so, please get in touch 👍
It's essential that we as coaches continually evolve and be lifelong learners.
A great saying attributed to Albert Einstein is...
"There is no surer sign of insanity than doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".
A great saying attributed to Albert Einstein is...
"There is no surer sign of insanity than doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".
February 27, 2025 at 8:38 PM
It's essential that we as coaches continually evolve and be lifelong learners.
A great saying attributed to Albert Einstein is...
"There is no surer sign of insanity than doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".
A great saying attributed to Albert Einstein is...
"There is no surer sign of insanity than doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".
10 of my favourite Inspirational Quotes.
Have you got any?
Have you got any?
January 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
10 of my favourite Inspirational Quotes.
Have you got any?
Have you got any?
An excellent clip from a talk by Rod Thorpe on Skill Acquisition.
Simplicity is Genius
Coaching needs to be relevant for the age and stage of development the players are at.
x.com/skillacq/sta...
Simplicity is Genius
Coaching needs to be relevant for the age and stage of development the players are at.
x.com/skillacq/sta...
x.com
x.com
January 23, 2025 at 10:41 AM
An excellent clip from a talk by Rod Thorpe on Skill Acquisition.
Simplicity is Genius
Coaching needs to be relevant for the age and stage of development the players are at.
x.com/skillacq/sta...
Simplicity is Genius
Coaching needs to be relevant for the age and stage of development the players are at.
x.com/skillacq/sta...
Building a Winning Team:
A superb insight into some of Liverpool's Academy considerations from Alex Inglethorpe (Link below)
Complimentary Skill Sets
Give Players Time
Help and Support
Give Opportunity
Care About the Individuals
Respect Others
Character
drive.google.com/file/d/1nTGk...
A superb insight into some of Liverpool's Academy considerations from Alex Inglethorpe (Link below)
Complimentary Skill Sets
Give Players Time
Help and Support
Give Opportunity
Care About the Individuals
Respect Others
Character
drive.google.com/file/d/1nTGk...
January 17, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Building a Winning Team:
A superb insight into some of Liverpool's Academy considerations from Alex Inglethorpe (Link below)
Complimentary Skill Sets
Give Players Time
Help and Support
Give Opportunity
Care About the Individuals
Respect Others
Character
drive.google.com/file/d/1nTGk...
A superb insight into some of Liverpool's Academy considerations from Alex Inglethorpe (Link below)
Complimentary Skill Sets
Give Players Time
Help and Support
Give Opportunity
Care About the Individuals
Respect Others
Character
drive.google.com/file/d/1nTGk...
An article exploring Repetition without Repetition v Repetitive Practice.
countycoachdevelopment.substack.com/p/repetition...
countycoachdevelopment.substack.com/p/repetition...
Repetition without Repetition
Exploring the differences between Repetition without Repetition and Rote Learning
countycoachdevelopment.substack.com
January 15, 2025 at 3:23 PM
An article exploring Repetition without Repetition v Repetitive Practice.
countycoachdevelopment.substack.com/p/repetition...
countycoachdevelopment.substack.com/p/repetition...
Helping Develop Decision Making in Football
This Level 1 game, like many other simple to play games is often underrated and offers far more returns than many coaches might think or recognise.
A thread with a focus on Decision Making.
1 of 3
This Level 1 game, like many other simple to play games is often underrated and offers far more returns than many coaches might think or recognise.
A thread with a focus on Decision Making.
1 of 3
January 10, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Helping Develop Decision Making in Football
This Level 1 game, like many other simple to play games is often underrated and offers far more returns than many coaches might think or recognise.
A thread with a focus on Decision Making.
1 of 3
This Level 1 game, like many other simple to play games is often underrated and offers far more returns than many coaches might think or recognise.
A thread with a focus on Decision Making.
1 of 3
Following my previous post, here are some questions we could ask ourselves, to help give it some additional context.
Linked to player's positions...
What can players currently do?
What can't players do yet?
What would we and they like to improve?
How are we going to help them improve?
2 of 2
Linked to player's positions...
What can players currently do?
What can't players do yet?
What would we and they like to improve?
How are we going to help them improve?
2 of 2
January 9, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Following my previous post, here are some questions we could ask ourselves, to help give it some additional context.
Linked to player's positions...
What can players currently do?
What can't players do yet?
What would we and they like to improve?
How are we going to help them improve?
2 of 2
Linked to player's positions...
What can players currently do?
What can't players do yet?
What would we and they like to improve?
How are we going to help them improve?
2 of 2
Football tends to be made up of small-sided games all over the pitch.
Do we spend enough time putting players into situations relevant to the position they will play in the game?
Would it be more beneficial for players to break it down into it's component parts?
1 of 2
Do we spend enough time putting players into situations relevant to the position they will play in the game?
Would it be more beneficial for players to break it down into it's component parts?
1 of 2
January 9, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Football tends to be made up of small-sided games all over the pitch.
Do we spend enough time putting players into situations relevant to the position they will play in the game?
Would it be more beneficial for players to break it down into it's component parts?
1 of 2
Do we spend enough time putting players into situations relevant to the position they will play in the game?
Would it be more beneficial for players to break it down into it's component parts?
1 of 2
Something we all need to appreciate.
All Coaches and Players will learn in incremental stages,
these are logical stages of learning and this is not something we can circumvent, no matter how much we would like to.
Be patient and trust the process.
All Coaches and Players will learn in incremental stages,
these are logical stages of learning and this is not something we can circumvent, no matter how much we would like to.
Be patient and trust the process.
January 6, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Something we all need to appreciate.
All Coaches and Players will learn in incremental stages,
these are logical stages of learning and this is not something we can circumvent, no matter how much we would like to.
Be patient and trust the process.
All Coaches and Players will learn in incremental stages,
these are logical stages of learning and this is not something we can circumvent, no matter how much we would like to.
Be patient and trust the process.
I wanted to take this opportunity to wish all my connections, associates and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Hopefully, it's time for you to spend with or think of your loved ones 🎄❤️
Hopefully, it's time for you to spend with or think of your loved ones 🎄❤️
December 24, 2024 at 9:35 AM
I wanted to take this opportunity to wish all my connections, associates and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Hopefully, it's time for you to spend with or think of your loved ones 🎄❤️
Hopefully, it's time for you to spend with or think of your loved ones 🎄❤️
Jar of Life:
We are all guilty of saying we're busy, but are we always focused on the right things.
Are we putting everything in our lives into some sort of perspective.
Have you or do you actually prioritize what's important in your life?
Consider the image.
We are all guilty of saying we're busy, but are we always focused on the right things.
Are we putting everything in our lives into some sort of perspective.
Have you or do you actually prioritize what's important in your life?
Consider the image.
December 16, 2024 at 1:14 PM
Jar of Life:
We are all guilty of saying we're busy, but are we always focused on the right things.
Are we putting everything in our lives into some sort of perspective.
Have you or do you actually prioritize what's important in your life?
Consider the image.
We are all guilty of saying we're busy, but are we always focused on the right things.
Are we putting everything in our lives into some sort of perspective.
Have you or do you actually prioritize what's important in your life?
Consider the image.
Helping Children Learn:
I'm hoping the link works okay.
I think this would be very beneficial to many Coaches working with young Players.
Watch 2 or 3 times to understand the messages in it and put it into your coaching context.
Let me know how you get on.
t.co/WdoE5SkgWo
Film by RSA Animate
I'm hoping the link works okay.
I think this would be very beneficial to many Coaches working with young Players.
Watch 2 or 3 times to understand the messages in it and put it into your coaching context.
Let me know how you get on.
t.co/WdoE5SkgWo
Film by RSA Animate
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TqyDarINaibhR9FuDeelg0ptEfLzAJQx/view?usp=sharing
t.co
December 2, 2024 at 10:01 AM
Helping Children Learn:
I'm hoping the link works okay.
I think this would be very beneficial to many Coaches working with young Players.
Watch 2 or 3 times to understand the messages in it and put it into your coaching context.
Let me know how you get on.
t.co/WdoE5SkgWo
Film by RSA Animate
I'm hoping the link works okay.
I think this would be very beneficial to many Coaches working with young Players.
Watch 2 or 3 times to understand the messages in it and put it into your coaching context.
Let me know how you get on.
t.co/WdoE5SkgWo
Film by RSA Animate
In addition to my last posts...
Here are some other things we need to consider that may limit a player's progression occasionally.
Here are some other things we need to consider that may limit a player's progression occasionally.
December 1, 2024 at 2:11 PM
In addition to my last posts...
Here are some other things we need to consider that may limit a player's progression occasionally.
Here are some other things we need to consider that may limit a player's progression occasionally.
We as Coaches cannot bypass learning. Players need to learn the game and become more skilful, which will happen if they regularly have the opportunities to Practice, Compete and Experiment.
Image shows the many different stages of learning they need to go through.
Image shows the many different stages of learning they need to go through.
December 1, 2024 at 2:08 PM
We as Coaches cannot bypass learning. Players need to learn the game and become more skilful, which will happen if they regularly have the opportunities to Practice, Compete and Experiment.
Image shows the many different stages of learning they need to go through.
Image shows the many different stages of learning they need to go through.
Our role in this is to give them plenty of opportunities to work on these in small sided games eg: 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 2v1, 3v2 etc and then help and guide them, when needed. Slowly but surely they will improve, as they begin to work things out.
Questions they might ask themselves?
Questions they might ask themselves?
December 1, 2024 at 2:07 PM
Our role in this is to give them plenty of opportunities to work on these in small sided games eg: 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 2v1, 3v2 etc and then help and guide them, when needed. Slowly but surely they will improve, as they begin to work things out.
Questions they might ask themselves?
Questions they might ask themselves?
Here's a thread with some thoughts around developing a more objective mindset.
As with everything I mention, it's my opinion, doesn't mean it's right.
What do you think?
1/9
As with everything I mention, it's my opinion, doesn't mean it's right.
What do you think?
1/9
November 23, 2024 at 12:36 PM
Here's a thread with some thoughts around developing a more objective mindset.
As with everything I mention, it's my opinion, doesn't mean it's right.
What do you think?
1/9
As with everything I mention, it's my opinion, doesn't mean it's right.
What do you think?
1/9
I won't be posting a huge amount of practices on here, as they are just one aspect to consider as a coach.
Modification of an Old FA Level 2 Practice - Short Passing from when it used to be delivered in the Technique - Skill - Game format. Inclusive of some coaching considerations.
Modification of an Old FA Level 2 Practice - Short Passing from when it used to be delivered in the Technique - Skill - Game format. Inclusive of some coaching considerations.
November 23, 2024 at 12:13 PM
I won't be posting a huge amount of practices on here, as they are just one aspect to consider as a coach.
Modification of an Old FA Level 2 Practice - Short Passing from when it used to be delivered in the Technique - Skill - Game format. Inclusive of some coaching considerations.
Modification of an Old FA Level 2 Practice - Short Passing from when it used to be delivered in the Technique - Skill - Game format. Inclusive of some coaching considerations.
I wish I'd known how important Questioning was earlier on my Coaching Journey, rather than just showing and telling players.
Here are just some examples of the different types of questions that you could try with the players you work with.
I hope they help you.
Let me know how you get on 😉
Here are just some examples of the different types of questions that you could try with the players you work with.
I hope they help you.
Let me know how you get on 😉
November 21, 2024 at 12:01 PM
I wish I'd known how important Questioning was earlier on my Coaching Journey, rather than just showing and telling players.
Here are just some examples of the different types of questions that you could try with the players you work with.
I hope they help you.
Let me know how you get on 😉
Here are just some examples of the different types of questions that you could try with the players you work with.
I hope they help you.
Let me know how you get on 😉
The Learning Pit
Try to ensure the players you work with are stretched and challenged appropriately.
Not too easy, not too difficult.
Give them problems to solve, not answers to remember.
Try to ensure the players you work with are stretched and challenged appropriately.
Not too easy, not too difficult.
Give them problems to solve, not answers to remember.
November 21, 2024 at 11:46 AM
The Learning Pit
Try to ensure the players you work with are stretched and challenged appropriately.
Not too easy, not too difficult.
Give them problems to solve, not answers to remember.
Try to ensure the players you work with are stretched and challenged appropriately.
Not too easy, not too difficult.
Give them problems to solve, not answers to remember.
I was talking to my granddaughter when she was 12 and just for context, she plays a multitude of sports. I asked her what does she like about her various coaches.
Apart from some that I was already going to include, the remainder are paraphrased from her comments.
Any thoughts?
Apart from some that I was already going to include, the remainder are paraphrased from her comments.
Any thoughts?
November 20, 2024 at 2:58 PM
I was talking to my granddaughter when she was 12 and just for context, she plays a multitude of sports. I asked her what does she like about her various coaches.
Apart from some that I was already going to include, the remainder are paraphrased from her comments.
Any thoughts?
Apart from some that I was already going to include, the remainder are paraphrased from her comments.
Any thoughts?
I love this quote from Marcus Aurelius.
Well worth remembering it.
- Think for Yourself
- Everyone Sees Things Differently
- Everyone Has a Different Opinion
- Listen to Others
- Ask Questions
- Keep an Open Mind
Well worth remembering it.
- Think for Yourself
- Everyone Sees Things Differently
- Everyone Has a Different Opinion
- Listen to Others
- Ask Questions
- Keep an Open Mind
November 20, 2024 at 1:37 PM
I love this quote from Marcus Aurelius.
Well worth remembering it.
- Think for Yourself
- Everyone Sees Things Differently
- Everyone Has a Different Opinion
- Listen to Others
- Ask Questions
- Keep an Open Mind
Well worth remembering it.
- Think for Yourself
- Everyone Sees Things Differently
- Everyone Has a Different Opinion
- Listen to Others
- Ask Questions
- Keep an Open Mind
Year on year, I listen to many coaches conversations and there are definitely many who have unrealistic expectations of the players they are working with.
Here are just some thoughts on what we may need to take into consideration, when planning sessions for the players to work in.
Here are just some thoughts on what we may need to take into consideration, when planning sessions for the players to work in.
November 20, 2024 at 1:23 PM
Year on year, I listen to many coaches conversations and there are definitely many who have unrealistic expectations of the players they are working with.
Here are just some thoughts on what we may need to take into consideration, when planning sessions for the players to work in.
Here are just some thoughts on what we may need to take into consideration, when planning sessions for the players to work in.
I can't stand hearing the term 'Weaknesses'.
I know many don't use it now however, I still hear it used regularly.
We need to reframe it, not only for the benefit of the players but also, for the environment we should be trying to create.
Some things to consider 🤔
I know many don't use it now however, I still hear it used regularly.
We need to reframe it, not only for the benefit of the players but also, for the environment we should be trying to create.
Some things to consider 🤔
November 20, 2024 at 11:47 AM
I can't stand hearing the term 'Weaknesses'.
I know many don't use it now however, I still hear it used regularly.
We need to reframe it, not only for the benefit of the players but also, for the environment we should be trying to create.
Some things to consider 🤔
I know many don't use it now however, I still hear it used regularly.
We need to reframe it, not only for the benefit of the players but also, for the environment we should be trying to create.
Some things to consider 🤔