How to use an international tournament to inspire your pre-season

Encourage mixed sessions

International tournaments can create a buzz among your team and club. So why not use them as inspiration for training?

To do this, bring all your teams and players together for a tournament. Then, challenge them to play like their favourite players and watch how they come to life.

Learn how to manage the game

Successful sides at international tournaments manage games well.

Winning sides are always willing to change their approach to win. For example, midfielders providing more defensive cover by dropping deep late in games.

Young players don’t need loads of tactical work in training. However, helping them adapt to different situations in games will help them develop.

Theme your matches within training to emulate a scenario from the tournament. For example, it’s the Euro’s final, and one team is 2-1 up with five minutes to go – but they’ve had a player sent off. This is a creative way to work on game management. And the players will have fun taking on the challenge.

Develop team culture

In the last few years, there’s been a focus on creating a family culture across the England teams.

So, focus on bonding your team and developing their communication and social skills.

Incorporate problem-solving activities and player-led sessions to encourage teamwork. This promotes togetherness and improves the team culture.

Start or finish your sessions with penalties

Penalties can play a crucial part in international tournaments.

Young players love taking penalties. Finish training with a penalty shootout as a fun way for players to practice this part of the game.

Consider using a penalty shootout as an engaging arrival activity, too. But avoid players queuing up waiting for a turn by putting them in pairs with a ball and a goal (or a couple of cones). This maximises returns and gets them all practising at the same time.

Make physical work fun

Physical performance from winning teams is always a standout feature. And it’s an important aspect of player development at all ages. But it’s best to keep young players away from ‘old school’ pre-season training.

So, instead of laps of the pitch, use multi-sport activities such as tag and dodgeball. They’re great ways to develop your players’ movement skills. And they’re good fun, too.