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

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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

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