10 ways to engage your players during international tournaments

2. Commitment to practise 

Challenge the players to practise their chosen skill throughout the tournament. Ask them to commit to the challenge by writing it down. For example: ‘By the end of the tournament I will be able to shoot with my left foot like…’. Check in on their development and provide tips for how they can improve. You could even encourage your team to make a ‘before and after’ video so they can review their progress. 

3. Challenge a friend 

1v1 games with a friend or teammate are a great way for your players to test out their new skills. Encourage one player to practise an attacking skill and the other a defending part of the game. Get them to be creative with the games, challenges and scoring systems they create. 

4. Sharing skills 

Once players have mastered a skill from the tournament, get them to share it with a friend or sibling. Teaching somebody else is a great way to consolidate their own learning.

5. Scouting reports 

‘Scouting’ one of the teams can help young players develop their observation skills. Get them to consider the following. 

• What formation does the team play?  

• Who are the star players?  

• What does the team do with and without the ball? 

• Do they change their playing approach in different areas of the pitch?  

Your players can present their findings when they return to training. 

6. Tournament training 

Play a tournament next time you’re at training and get those who have completed the scouting task to be the players/coaches of their chosen country. Their challenge is to communicate how their nation plays to the rest of their team. It is a great way for the players to develop their leadership skills. 

7. Player stories 

Dedication and sacrifice have played a role for many players at the tournament. Ask your team to research the journeys of some of the stand-out individuals. How did they become one of the most highly-rated players in the world? What adversities have they overcome to make it to the tournament? Ask your players to compare their own football journeys with those playing. 

8. More than the game 

International tournaments are a celebration of culture and difference. Challenge your players to find out key facts about one of the competing nations. Learning the capital city, flag and phrases from their chosen country’s language are good tasks. Get the players to share their discoveries at the beginning of the next training session. 

9. Extra time and penalties 

Tournament football creates many gripping scenarios. Note them down and prepare to use them in future sessions. For example, you might frame your next training match as extra time – with one team ahead by a single goal. Challenge the players to think about how they will play to be successful over the next 15 minutes.  

10. Cardboard cups and winners photographs 

A simple cardboard trophy is a great way to motivate your players at training – you might even challenge them to make a replica. Encourage the training champions to pose for a winning team photograph at the end of the session. Watch how competition and winning engages players.