Deliberate Play

Deliberate play is a key aspect of learning within any talent development pathway and is arguably a fundamental piece of the jigsaw puzzle when it comes to athlete progression in a harmonious and enjoyable manner.

In this short clip, we see MP Coaching’s Paul McGuinness deliver a session as part of the recent www.surfsoccer.com Leadership Conference at the impressive Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, with the Girls' 2008 Select Squad.

In the video, McGuinness describes how, during his time at Manchester United Academy, the environment was designed to replicate street or pick-up football. This approach placed ownership on the athletes and implicitly fostered leadership qualities and autonomy in players from an early age.

Players were encouraged to take the initiative, creating unstructured games before training sessions. As more athletes arrived, the group naturally grew, with energy and fun being the sole criteria.

There was no coach-driven interaction, no aims or objectives – the mantra was simply: "Let’s relax, play football, and see what happens."

Players were free to make up the rules as they went along, decide the numbers and pitch sizes, and play football as they envisioned it.

This approach clearly demonstrates the importance of putting the child and the fun back into football, while allowing players to experiment with skills they may have learned in more formal settings, all within a non-judgemental environment. Taking risks, making mistakes, and bringing energy and a smile are encouraged.

Research suggests, through retrospective studies of professional athletes’ lives, that deliberate play is a key factor influencing the technical, tactical, physical, and psychological development of athletes.

Many professional environments worldwide are designed with this pre- and post-training free-play philosophy in mind. A fine example can be seen in David Horrocks' visit to Dortmund in Germany.

Pre- and post-training play was reported by staff and players alike as commonplace and even encouraged earlier starts and later finishes, as players enjoyed being at the training facility.



In addition to McGuinness’ example of street football, other examples witnessed at Dortmund included head tennis courts, 2 v 2 and 3 v 3 cages, Teqball tables, and, of course, the revered Footbonaut facility.

We all fell in love with football for one reason or another during those early years. If we can foster and encourage that free spirit through our environments, we will provide the fuel needed for both longevity and high performance.