We talk a lot about the benefits of demonstration, that players learn more by watching and doing. What better way to show them than actually taking an active part in the training game?

OK, it depends on your own footballing prowess, but if you are confident in your ability to play football then occasionally joining in during a small sided game can prove to be a invaluable coaching method with junior and youth players.

For example, if you wanted to coach how a good through ball could split a defence, then you should take up a position on the pitch and seek the ball that will allow you to make the desired pass.

Coach the striker with verbal instructions to sit on the shoulder of the defender then make a blind side run, which is your cue to play the through ball into space for them to run on to.

Once you make the pass, and the striker runs on to it, draw attention to how the move was built and the mechanics of the pass.

You don’t have to be in the game for its full duration either.

You could just take up a position for a short period, substituting a player so that you can make a demonstration.

If you do take the place of a player have them stick close to you and talk them through how, why and what you are doing.

Quite often by doing this you’ll draw others into the game that are around you.