THIS past week has got me really thinking about how we can improve the skill levels and enjoyment in our youth games within our schools and clubs. I personally feel the value of a good, well-organised blitz is severely underestimated.

Just this week I organised and co-ordinated an internal blitz for all our Key Stage 3 children in St Joseph’s, Newry as it has been a long time with Covid without football for a lot of our lads. The emphasis was on smaller-sided games so we played a 7-a-side mini Ulster Championship and league with maximised participation. Anyone could play regardless of whether they played for a club or not.

The focus on maximising participation placed less focus on winning but more on the development and progression of our skills. We had a two-touch rule and the scores were flying in thick and fast. No single player was totally dominant, everyone got their hands and feet on a ball and all the games were all played in the spirit and reverence the game deserves.

The emphasis was on maximising participation and facilitating development and, in fact, two of the most promising displays came from two young lads who don’t represent any club at Gaelic football. That was a huge bonus for us as a school as we now have two lads who are really keen in participating in our games moving forward.

Another young pupil, who only recently began to play club football and never misses after school football since we recommenced in early May, provided me with my inspiration this week.

I said to him after the in house blitz this week, “what did you think of today?” His reply was simple but brilliant, “loved it Sir, we played loads of games, I got loads of touches and it was real fun.” The innocence of it all is plain to see but also just shows what young players really want and it’s what our young player’s games should be all about.

Interestingly in Spanish underage soccer, and I have made this point a few times, there are actually no full-sided games under the age of 14. This is very interesting when you consider that they probably produce some of the most technically gifted footballers in the world.

Now it may not just be down to the fact they play small-sided games and monopolise the volume of touches players get, but it surely has a positive impact of some sort. If you were to compare what I saw this week in our small-sided games to a 15 v 15 underage ladies game I watched at the weekend, the difference is just astonishing. You could clearly see what game serves our young players better – the small-sided games.

I feel as coaches within our clubs and schools we should strive to organise blitzes as much as possible, whether it is just among local clubs or schools, clubs in the county, other clubs or schools in Ulster, if Covid regulations allow, or an in-house blitz if numbers are large enough.

I can vouch from experience this week they are absolutely priceless. Do we need to be playing 15 aside at u-12 or u-14? Can we not even go to 11-a-side, which is two players in every line on a condensed field, where players will receive more touches of the ball?

It will promote more space therefore encourage more kick-passing. It will create more 2 v 1s and 3 v 2s, multiple scoring opportunities, more decisions to make, better spacial awareness, fitness with the football, the list is just endless.

When we are coaching young people it is important to keep it simple; never ever dream of taking a session without a ball. Young people are not mini-adults and any fitness or endurance work should all be completed with the ball.

Base and build your session around games, whether that be small-sided or larger games with conditioned rules. Work on the basic skills of the game in the warm-up and get young people into good habits early by always completing a 10-minute dynamic warm-up and some form of a cool-down.

Make sure that the young people in your care leave your session having smiled and experienced fun. Never underestimate the impact your words can make on theirs self-esteem. They might not remember what you said but they will remember how your words made them feel.