49 short instructional videos covering every core technique, essential movement and fitness. Built for coaches and parents who want players to improve fast.
By Terry Barton, founder of The Coaching Manual and 15 years in coach education · Updated October 2026
Football is changing fast, and the way we teach it has to keep up.
With the rapid rise of women's and girls' football, the game is growing at record speed, and we need more coaches than ever. Many are stepping in without an adult playing background. That's brilliant for the sport, and it puts huge value on clear, simple, straight-to-the-point technical guidance.
Players also spend less time in the park and more time in structured schedules. The instincts once built through hours of free play now have to be developed deliberately, at training or at home. So the priority is simple: teach the right technique and make every minute count.
Topics run from the basics to more advanced, but you can follow them in any order.
Each technique has a short explanation and a video demo showing the key coaching points and cues you need to get it right.
Every technique has a challenge that gives players a benchmark to beat through practice. Use them at home or in your sessions.
All techniques can be taught to any age group. Younger players may not execute them fully yet, and that's fine: build the habit first.
Introduce heading with a sponge ball or balloon, and whatever the technique, make sure the training space is safe.
Ten topics, 49 techniques. Every detail has been checked and refined by top-level coaching experts.
Fundamental movement is the foundation of physical literacy, and physical literacy powers every successful athlete.
Explore →02 · 8 techniquesWhen we teach ball mastery, we're helping children build the foundations of every football technique.
Explore →03 · 3 techniquesJuggling is hard. It helps players gain real mastery of the ball and improves overall ball control and coordination.
Explore →04 · 3 techniquesControl is often what separates good players from great players, but every player needs it to a certain level.
Explore →05 · 4 techniquesTurning with the ball is how players escape pressure, get out of tight spaces and face forward to play.
Explore →06 · 5 techniquesThere are a lot of components to dribbling and running with the ball, and ball mastery is a big part of it.
Explore →07 · 5 techniquesPassing is one of the hardest skills to learn. It's about weight, accuracy, vision and choosing the right type of pass.
Explore →08 · 3 techniquesThe aim of the game is scoring goals, and there are some very specific ways to teach good habits and technique.
Explore →09 · 3 techniquesLearning the correct heading technique early is vital, and it starts with a sponge ball or a balloon.
Explore →10 · 6 techniquesNot strictly technique, but we should be encouraging players to work on their fitness in their own time.
Explore →Coaches and parents of young footballers, especially those without an adult playing background who want clear, simple technical guidance they can trust.
All of them. Every technique can be taught to any age group, but younger players may not be able to execute some of them yet. You can teach a young child the correct lofted-pass technique; just don't expect 60-yard passes.
The technique video shows the key coaching points for doing the skill correctly. The challenge gives players a measurable benchmark they can repeat to see how they're improving, at home or as part of a session.
Yes. Learning correct heading technique early helps reduce the risk of injury later. With younger players use a sponge ball or a balloon, focus on technique and follow your national association's heading guidance for each age group.
Very little. Most techniques need a ball, a few cones and some space. Some, like push-ups, sit-ups and the underarm throw and catch, can be done at home with a wall or no equipment at all.
In The Coaching Manual app. Watch any video on these pages, then open the challenge in the app to set it for players and track their scores.
Every technique and challenge is in The Coaching Manual app, alongside full coaching sessions and season plans. Players record their scores; coaches see who is improving.
