TOLA COACHING is both a website and coaching service. I created this website to help others who might be interested in coaching. The website is dedicated to youth development and although soccer focused, the same youth coaching principles apply to many different team sports.

I also provide a coaching service and am available to coach the coaches, coach teams and assist clubs create a vision and put in place the methodology to implement that vision.

To maximize youth development in soccer, the focus needs to be on playing a possession based positional style of soccer. Yes, you will lose more games than you will win at the younger ages, but in doing so you will create better players, which is the goal of youth development.

Whilst the purpose of soccer is to score a goal, there are many different ways to play the game. In essence, there are three styles of playing the game:

Direct Using Long Balls (“Kick & Chase” or “Boot Ball”)

This style of playing uses long balls, lots of chasing after the ball and lots of intense second actions to win the possession of the ball close to the other team’s penalty box. Some teams in the English Premier League play  this style. Many teams in the English lower leagues play this way.

Counterattacking Teams

This style is used by teams that prefer to drop back into a structured defensive formation in their own half close to their own goal and when the opposition loses the ball, the team quickly counterattacks in an attempt to score a goal. Chelsea under Mourinho was a perfect example of this style of play.

Positional Style Teams

Teams playing this style move the ball forward one step at a time in search of superiority, with an emphasis on possession, positioning, and passing. This is called an “associative style” and it allows the players and the ball to travel together. Recent examples of this style are Ajax, Barcelona, and Manchester City. 

I want to see better coaches, better coaching, and therefore better players. If clubs create a clear vision, put in place a coaching methodology designed to developed youth players as opposed to winning games, coach the coaches, and require all club coaches to following a unified coaching methodology, then long term success can be achieved.

I hope that this website is of some assistance and if you require help, do not hesitate to reach out to talk to me.