Balancing Player Development in Team Practices

• Be mindful of all players interacting with each other, especially at younger age levels.
• As players get older (16-18), create opportunities for targeted development by matching players strategically in small-sided games.
• Avoid exclusively grouping the best players together. Mixing skill levels, with appropriate constraints, can elevate the performance of less skilled players.
• The Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) helps reduce the skill gap between players on a team.
• Designate 'target players' who are your best long-term prospects and give them specific roles and responsibilities within small-sided games to maximize their development.