01Drive
“I’m not getting the intensity I want out of my players.”
Spot it
Players aren’t working in transition moments
Players lose energy after pauses
Energy depends on you
What to do
◆Coach in the flow — don’t stop the game to fix effort. Coach on the move with a name + one cue, and let play keep running.
On the move, not on the whistle
“Bella, take your space.” · “James, follow your runner.”
◆Make the intensity the game, not the demand. Put a stake on it so energy comes from the players.
Set it up
Use a clear score target or winner/loser outcome. Example: First team to 5 goals wins. Losing team completes a fun consequence chosen by the winners.
◆Protect ball-rolling time. Have the players active for most of the session.
Instead ofblowing the whistle to demand “more energy”.
TryUse quick restarts and repeated rounds so players get more chances to solve the same problem. Example: balls behind goal for instant restarts; play quick 90-second rounds, reset, repeat.
👁What you’ll see on the field
Players sprinting to restart instead of jogging back — the next goal matters to them, not just to you. The session never goes flat when you stop talking.