Develop your game. Understand your position. Make better decisions.

The Pars Foundation’s Individual Player Development Plan (IPDP) sessions are designed to support players who want to develop their individual game and build a greater understanding of their role on the pitch.

Through focused coaching and realistic, game-based practices, players will develop their technical ability, positional awareness, game intelligence and decision-making both in and out of possession.

Our Positional Play programme includes a Junior class from 4pm–5pm, followed by the Positional Play Masterclass from 5pm–6pm every Thursday at Pitreavie Sports & Soccer Centre.

Block 1 – Wingers

Develop the skills and understanding required to be more effective in wide areas.

Players will work on:

  • Using width effectively

  • Timing of movement

  • 1v1 attacking situations

  • Creating and exploiting space

  • Movement to receive the ball

  • Attacking decision-making in wide areas

The block will help players understand when to stay wide, when to move inside and how to create attacking opportunities from wide positions.

Block 2 – Midfield Unit (6, 8 & 10)

Develop a greater understanding of the different roles and responsibilities within a midfield unit.

Players will work on:

  • Build-up play

  • Scanning and awareness

  • Body positioning

  • Midfield rotations

  • Receiving between the lines

  • Creating passing options

  • Progressing the ball through midfield

  • Understanding the roles of the 6, 8 and 10

Players will learn how their positioning and movement can help their team retain possession, break lines and progress up the pitch.

Block 3 – Back 4 Defending

Develop the tactical awareness, communication and organisation required to defend effectively as part of a unit.

Players will work on:

  • Defensive compactness

  • Back-four organisation

  • Pressing triggers

  • Cover and balance

  • Protecting central spaces

  • Communication

  • Movement as a defensive unit

  • Recognising when to press, hold or drop

The block will help players develop their individual defensive understanding while recognising how their decisions affect the wider defensive unit.

 Developing More Intelligent Players

The Individual Player Development Plan is about more than improving a player's technique.

We want players to develop a better understanding of the game and become confident making their own decisions on the pitch.

Through realistic practices, players will be challenged to think about:

Where should I be?
Where is the space?
What should I be looking for before receiving the ball?
When should I move?
How can I support my teammates?
What changes when we win or lose possession?

This approach helps players develop the awareness, confidence and decision-making skills they can take back into their own team and match environment.

Interested?

Whether your player is beginning their development through our IPDP Junior Positional Play class or looking for more detailed position-specific coaching through the IPDP Positional Play Masterclass, get in touch to find out more.

Garry Wright - Garry@parsfoundation.co.uk