Coaching in the adult game and coaching in the youth game have their nuances, but they also share many similarities. In this episode, former FA regional coach development officer, Sarah Lowden, returns to explore this and to share her journey so far.

As a coach, it can be a challenge getting the most out of the hour a week that you have with your players, and Sarah gives her thoughts on how to make the most out of the time you have with them. She explains the difference between coaching your players and not the session, and how to tailor your sessions around what each player needs.

We dive deep into what sets apart the youth game and the open-age game and Sarah offers advice for coaches moving from one to the other. We speak about the vast age difference that can be witnessed in the open-age game and how coaches can manage relationships between players. Sarah gives her insights into how to design sessions that keep adults engaged. And we speak about matchday and what planning should look like for different age groups.

Covered in this episode:

• Debunking the myths of the adult game versus the youth game.
• Tips for coaches moving from the youth game to the adult game.
• How to make the most out of an hour a week with your players.
• Managing relationships between players of vastly different ages.
• Top tips for keeping adults engaged in sessions.
• Matchday planning in the open-age game versus youth football.

Transcript: Episode fourteen: An insight into coaching adults with Sarah Lowden