.png)
Inside The Game
Inside The Game is a weekly podcast with Stuart Sharples, hosted by Steel United, designed to support coaches, players, and parents by breaking down key topics from our coaching curriculum. Each episode dives into a fundamental aspect of the game, explores a core value that shapes player development, and features a special guest offering insights on the weekly theme. Whether you're on the pitch or in the stands, this podcast will help you understand the game on a deeper level. Let’s step inside the game!
Inside The Game
Episode Twenty Six - Preparing for Gameday
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In this episode of Inside The Game, host Stuart Sharples explores the theme Preparing for a Game — focusing on how players can be set up to perform when it matters most. Our curriculum topic remains Final Third Play, and our core value this week is Respect.
We take a closer look at what effective preparation really looks like, from building matchday routines and creating realistic training scenarios to developing the confidence needed to make decisions under pressure. Stuart shares practical ways coaches can prepare players for those key moments in the final third, where games are often decided. It’s a clear and applied look at how preparation directly impacts performance.
This week’s episode features a player perspective, with Ethan and Kevin from the Steel United NJ 2011 Boys NAL team—who are also part of our National Program. They share how they prepare for games, what helps them feel confident stepping onto the field, and how they approach decision-making and teamwork in high-pressure situations. Their insight offers a valuable reminder of how preparation is experienced from the player’s point of view.
A powerful reflection for coaches to take into their next session.
🎧 Step Inside The Game for an episode centered on preparation, performance, and hearing directly from the players living it.
#Coaching #SoccerCoaching #PlayerDevelopment #SteelUnited #FinalThird #Respect #GamePreparation #SoccerPodcast #CoachingTips