The Foundation Phase: Coaching the Love of the Game

Coach Education Series — Book 1

Most coaching advice for five to eight year olds treats this age as a formality before the "real" coaching begins. This book makes the case that it's the opposite: the Foundation Phase decides whether a player is still playing, by choice, ten years from now.

Written from two decades of academy and PE experience, this book gives you a clear, practical framework for coaching this age group properly, covering session design, ball mastery, coaching language, managing the group, and working with parents.

What's inside:

• 11 chapters covering the full Foundation Phase, from understanding the five-to-eight-year-old player through to measuring real progress across a season
• A real "From the Touchline" coaching scenario in every chapter
• Key takeaways and a coach reflection prompt at the end of each chapter
• A ready-to-use session planner template and session-at-a-glance diagram
• Session diagrams for warm-up, technical practice, and small-sided games

Part of the Pro Academy Drills Coach Education Series, alongside The Development Phase and The Youth Development Phase.