Modern Soccer Coach Podcast
Gary Curneen
Our goal is to bring in-depth content to coaches with a combination of interviews, chats, and personal thoughts on the topics that really matter in the beautiful game and elite-level sport. Enjoy and thanks for listening! - Gary
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 19, 2023 • 48min
It's Official! Goalkeepers See The World Differently.... But What's Next? With Michael Quinn
Gary is joined by Michael Quinn, a former professional goalkeeper and lead author from Dublin City University, who has proven for the first time that goalkeepers perceive the world very differently from both outfield players and individuals with no football experience.
Their groundbreaking study - which has just been published in the international journal Current Biology - is just the start of the conversation for Michael, who feels like we are just scratching the surface on the world of goalkeeping development.
In this interview Michael discusses:
- How auditory senses may be just as important as visual ones
- Why cognitive load may impact goalkeeping
- What effect this will have at the highest level
- Ways that youth goalkeeping coaches can maximize their environment
Any much more!!
You can read the full article here:
https://www.dcu.ie/science-and-health/news/2023/oct/dcu-research-reveals-goalkeepers-really-are-different

Oct 10, 2023 • 1h 5min
Jamie Hamilton: Positionism vs. Relationism & Fernando Diniz
Gary is joined by football coach and writer, Jamie Hamilton, to discuss a topic which he has written extensively about in recent months.... and has had a huge effect on the coaching community.
Is Fernando Diniz system at Fluminense exactly what football fans and coaches need at the moment?
What are the differences between positionism and relationism?
Is positional play a more restrictive and controlling style of football?
Do we really need the future game to be as tactically structured as it is becoming?
All this and more!!
Check out Jamie's blog below:
https://medium.com/@stirlingj1982
Follow Jamie on Twitter below:
https://twitter.com/stirling_j
Check out new MSC eBook:
https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/product-page/30-high-intensity-passing-exercises

Sep 27, 2023 • 1h 13min
Coaching Decision-Making at Speed! - Ice Hockey vs. Soccer with Ted Suihkonen
Gary is joined by Ted Suihkonen, Director of Player Development of ice hockey side EVZ in Switzerland, to discuss the differences in player development and decision making between soccer and hockey.
With a unique approach to player development and extensive experience at the professional and youth ranks in Russia, USA and Sweden, Ted discusses the following:
- Technique versus Skill
- 'Skeleton' model of development
- Coach impact on the sidelines
- Decision making in a free flowing game
And much more!!
Looking for session ideas?
Check out new MSC 30 High Tempo Passing Exercises below:
https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/product-page/30-high-intensity-passing-exercises

Sep 21, 2023 • 39min
Is There Too Much Pressure Coaching Youth Soccer? - With Ally Bain
Gary is again joined by Ally Bain, an academy coach who has also recently moved onto the analysis side and scouting side with Insight Analysis (see info below).
This week we discuss a popular coaching challenge:
How do coaches deal with the pressure of youth soccer?
Please check out Ally's Insight Analysis work below:
insightanalysis.net/
Check out new MSC 30 High Tempo Passing Exercises below:
https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/product-page/30-high-intensity-passing-exercises

Sep 14, 2023 • 37min
Coaching Solutions: Different Ability Levels on a Team with Ally Bain
Gary is joined by Ally Bain, an academy coach who has also recently moved onto the analysis side and scouting side with Insight Analysis (see info below).
This week we discuss a popular coaching challenge:
How to deal with different ability levels in a team?
We are excited to team up with SportsLab360 for this episode. As a coach, it feels like you always need more time to teach your players all these different concepts, but not when you use SportsLab360. Assign their interactive modules to your players outside of training time so they can continue the learning process. We have a special offer for coaches in this podcast!!
sportslab360.com/
Please check out Ally's Insight Analysis work below:
https://insightanalysis.net/

Sep 4, 2023 • 44min
Creating an Evidence-Based Training Session with Jack Cassidy
Gary is joined by Jack Cassidy to discuss ways that coaches can add a little more detail and relevance to the preparation on their training sessions. Jack's current role is as Senior Professional Development Phase Coach (U21) & Pathways Manager at Cambridge United FC and he recently created a document where he researched all the goals scored in the Premier League.
You can access Jack's document below:
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/PremierLeagueGoalsTechnicalReport-JackCassidy

Aug 28, 2023 • 39min
Game Day Coaching with Dan Abrahams
Highly acclaimed sport psychologist Dan Abrahams joins the podcast to discuss game day coaching. He shares techniques for coaches to optimize their time and engage players mentally. The importance of effective pregame speeches, dynamics of coaching styles, and post-game analysis are also explored. The challenge of committing to mental work is discussed, along with the role of coaches in creating a culture of commitment.

Aug 20, 2023 • 1h 8min
Implementing a Holistic Football Philosophy at Youth Level with Ivan Militar
Ivan Militar, Academy Director at El Paso Locomotive, discusses implementing a playing philosophy in a different culture, 'personifying' values as a leader, connecting a community around the game, aligning academics and soccer, differences in training methodology at youth level, and the do's and don'ts of Rondos.

13 snips
Aug 4, 2023 • 30min
Otto Addo: Youth Development at Borussia Dortmund & Working with Erling Haaland
Otto Addo, former Dortmund player and current Talent Coach, discusses the development pathway at Borussia Dortmund and the processes involved. Topics include the role of video at Dortmund Academy, Haaland working on his weaknesses, individual meetings with Jude Bellingham, and the importance of youth coaches facilitating learning in training sessions.

Jul 23, 2023 • 47min
Managing Conflict in a Team Environment with Molly Grisham
Gary is joined team facilitator, Molly Grisham, to discuss an aspect of the leadership that is so critical, but often overlooked: conflict.
Molly presented some ideas and ways that coaches can improve their ability to embrace these difficult moments, facilitate solutions, and guide individuals through personal development at the same time. In her work with Coach Ready, Molly helps guide coaches through aspects of leadership that are often neglected in coach education. In this presentation, she discusses way in which coaches can effectively navigate around certain situations, become more aware of managing different types of personalities, and how to gain a greater understanding of the leader’s tendencies in conflict and how important that is.
Watch Full Webinar Below:
https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/post/managing-conflict-effectively-with-molly-grisham
Check out Coach Ready below:
https://go.mollygrisham.com/coach-ready


