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

Sean Conlon is the founder of We Make Footballers, a football(soccer in the U.S.) prep school to prepare athletes for playing at academies. With a background with the Chelsea club, Sean has the passion and vision to help young athletes improve their game on and off the field to reach their dreams. Website: wemakefootballers.com Twitter: @wmfootballers Instagram: @wemakefootballers Listen Now: Listen on iTunes: iTunes link Listen on Stitcher: Stitcher link Listen on Google Play Music: Google Play link- - 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 -- Reviews are the lifeblood of the podcast!- If you like the podcast- please take 2 minutes to write a review! Click here - Ready to be an Awesome Youth Coach? Sign up for our free weekly newsletter: SaveSave