Early Stages: Understanding The Player To Develop The Talent

Aimed at youth academy coaches, academy managers, heads of methodology, and heads of player development, this introductory course explores how to understand and support players in their earliest stages of the game. It challenges the tendency to prioritise tactics and technical drilling too early, instead advocating for a facilitated, freedom-based approach rooted in child psychology and natural development. The curriculum covers player psychology, coaching principles, and includes close to an hour of age-appropriate drills designed to foster creativity, confidence, and enjoyment.

Delivered entirely online by Albert Puig Football Concepts, the course can be completed within a week and is structured across several video-based chapters totalling roughly two hours of content. No specific qualification or formal credential is mentioned on the course page. APFC has drawn endorsements from respected figures across professional football, including coaches with experience at FC Barcelona, Manchester City, and several NWSL clubs.