Course Overview

What are coaches saying about this course?

I have really enjoyed the foundations of session design course. Practical tips for planning sessions and video demos of how the session will look with live commentary about observations, changes and progressions bring the theory to life. An excellent introduction for new coaches and a great refresher and challenge to existing coaches knowledge and session design process.

- David Edmondson

Great course content, valuable for coaches of all levels, whether that's reminders on the basics, ideas not seen or used before - it's a great blend. Looking forward to researching the additional resources on specific topics that inspired me to look deeper, especially the Individual learning plans. Well done!

- Alan Lydiate

The course has taught me to look more closely and critically at my own training. I hope that in the future I will be able to tailor my training even better to the age groups that attend my training sessions. This course is extremely suitable for the starting trainer/coach but is also very useful for more experienced trainers. In any case, I learned a lot from it!

- Marcel Spanjer

Fantastic content and lots of it. Really detailed course that I think all Coaches will benefit from. Loved the modules on creating the environment and Individual Development Plans. Got lots from watching coaching sessions too.

- Sean D'arcy

Foundations of Session Design

Course Curriculum

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4

    • Unit 3: Introduction

      FREE PREVIEW

    • Traditional Examples

    • Contemporary Examples & Debate

    • Unopposed Practice

    • Live Session: Unopposed Passing & Control Practice with Rob Sherman

    • Session Plan: Unopposed Passing & Control Practice

    • Technical Practice

    • Live Session: Technical Passing & Receiving Practice

    • Session Plan: Technical Passing & Receiving Practice

    • Functional Practice

    • Phase of Play & Small Sided Games

    • Live Session: Opposed Passing & Receiving Small Sided Game

    • Session Plan: Opposed Passing & Receiving Small Sided Game

    • Live Session: Breaking the Block Small Sided Game

    • Session Plan: Breaking the Block Small Sided Game

    • Live Session: Fast Finishing Small Sided Game

    • Session Plan: Fast Finishing Small Sided Game

    • Live Session: Breaking the Block Functional Practice & Phase of Play

    • Session Plan: Breaking the Block Phase of Play

    • Conditioning Practice

    • Live Session: Conditioning Practice

    • Session Plan: Conditioning Practice

    • The Design Continuum

    • Avoiding Drills

    • Expert Clip & Recommended Content

    • Unit 3 Quiz
  5. 5

    • Unit 4: Introduction

      FREE PREVIEW

    • Traditional Communication

    • Live Session: Command Style Intervention

    • Live Session: Q&A Intervention

    • Live Session: Q&A & Coach Demonstration

    • Contemporary Communication

    • Live Session: Individual Challenge & Reinforcement

    • Live Session: Team Debrief & Reflection on Individual Challenges

    • Live Session: Individual Intervention & Drive-by Coaching

    • Live Session: Player Led Debrief & Coach Led Q&A

    • Considerations Part 1

    • Considerations Part 2

    • Too Many Interventions

    • Expert Clip & Tasks

    • Unit 4 Quiz
  6. 6

    • Unit 5: Introduction

      FREE PREVIEW

    • The Process

    • Culture

    • Player Cards

    • Four Corner Plan & Coach Led Example

    • Player Led Examples

    • Match Diaries

    • Practical Examples & Expert Clip

    • Reviewing Targets

    • Reviews, Expert Clip & Tasks

    • Unit 5 Quiz
  7. 7

    • Well done on completing the course!
  8. 8

    • Bonus Section

    • Live Session: Melbourne Victory U20 1v1 Defensive Decision Making

    • Live Session: Melbourne Victory U20 Defending Collectively

    • Live Session: Melbourne Victory U20 Compact Defending Phase of Play

    • Grassroots U12: Transition Game

Design sessions tailored to the needs of your players.

  • Learn at your own pace. You can complete the course from any device, anytime.

  • Lessons from the course are put into action with real players, in real environments.

  • All live session videos have downloadable PDF practice plans you can take to your next session.

  • Designed for coaches working with all age groups and skill levels.

  • Additional recommended reading is provided on key topics.

  • Bonus live session videos at the end of the course, including Melbourne Victory U20 sessions.

  • Upon completion of the course you will receive an official PDP certificate.

FAQ

  • When does the course start and finish?

    It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish. You can refer back to key lessons anytime to sharpen your knowledge.

  • How long will I have access to the course?

    After purchasing the course, you have unlimited access for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.

  • What if I am unhappy with the course?

    We believe in our course! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase for any reason, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.

  • Do I need coaching experience to take this course?

    No! This course is suited to beginner coaches, right through to advanced coaches.

    However, if you have never coached before we recommend starting with Introduction to Soccer Coaching, with Rob Sherman.

  • What happens when I complete the course?

    You will receive a certificate of completion which you can add to your soccer coaching resume. You will be able to confidently design and run sessions your players will love. Every week you will be helping your players maximise their potential.

Get Started Now.


Join hundreds of coaches who have taken their coaching knowledge to the next level.

  • $197.00

    Single payment. Lifetime access.

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You might be interested in

Learn to create sessions your players will love.

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Great session design is fundamental to great coaching.

As coaches our goal should be to maximise the potential of our players and create a positive experience for them to enjoy.

This means understanding what they want to achieve, what they need to get there, then creating an environment which supports their goals and helps them grow.

I’m excited to introduce our latest online coaching course – Foundations of Session Design - a 100% online course which will give you all the tools you need to help your players achieve their potential.

My name is Dave Wright and I’m a co-founder of Player Development Project. I’ve been coaching players of all age groups and skills levels for the past 20 years. During that time, I’ve been fortunate to work in some of the UKs top academies, with A-League youth teams in Australia and age group international players in New Zealand.

In this course, I’m joined by my good friend and world-class Academy Coach, Dan Wright for a series of in-depth presentations on a range of topics. As we work through the lessons, we will demonstrate many of the key ideas with real players, on the grass.

We’ll also feature several guest experts from around the world of academy football as we take a deep dive into all the considerations of session design.
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This course is designed for coaches of all abilities. We aim to challenge your thinking, provide you with innovative ideas, and most importantly, practical solutions to implement with your players, right away.

By the time you complete the course, you will be more confident than ever of designing realistic, bespoke sessions for your players which will support their development. On top of the five modules and practical sessions, you will receive a collection of PDF downloads you can use straight away.

We’ll also set you some tasks to try in your environment, we’ll provide some quizzes to check your understanding and a provide a huge range of recommended supporting resources.

So, if you want to deliver great sessions and help your players maximise their potential, get started now and we’ll see you on the course.
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Your Instructors

PDP Head Coach

Dave Wright

Dave is a UEFA A licensed coach and Co-Founder of Player Development Project. He has 17 years’ coaching experience in England, Australia and New Zealand with players at all levels. During five years in the UK, Dave worked for Premier League club, Fulham FC and Championship club, Brentford FC.

Academy Coach

Dan Wright

Dan Wright holds the UEFA A license and FA Advanced Youth Award and has been coaching at Premier League academies for the past several years.

Get Started Now.

Are you a PDP Member?
Contact us for a special offer.

  • $197.00

    Single payment. Lifetime access.

    Buy Now