WYC 165 – Youth Soccer – Sean Conlon – Founder of We Make Footballers

Learning on the playground

• Sean didn’t play for a formal team until he was 13 years old. This has pros and cons – a lot of creativity can be developed, but mixing in a bit of coaching can help the guided discovery process.
• Emphasizing fun at young ages and training parents to recognize development vs. just wins and losses is key.

We Make Footballers

• 14 franchises across England, have prepared 170+ players who have gone on to join academy teams
• Focus is preparing players for academies

Website: wemakefootballers.com

Great fun skill building games

• Stuck in the mud – Get in a square, everyone has their own ball, dribbling. Make one player the sticker – he runs and tries to tag the other players. When tagged, they hold their ball over their head, and if other players kick their own ball between a frozen players’ head, that player is freed.
• Snake – In a square. 2 players have to hold hands, they are the snakes. The rest are the mice. Players don’t have a ball, they just run around. As players are caught, they join the snake.

The one that got away

• In the cup final, Sean looks back on a couple of changes he could have made earlier. Thinking clearly in high energy moments is critical. Be decisive and take action.

Best stolen idea

• Make every practice fun, regardless of the age group.

Favorite books/quote:

• Book: Alex Ferguson’s Leading
• Quote: ‘In football, the worst things are excuses, excuses mean you cannot grow or move forward.’ – Pep Guardiola

Parting Advice

• Utilize the internet and forums to continuously learn