What Actually Happens In Your First One-to-One Football Coaching Session?

There's always a bit of natural curiosity before a first football coaching session...

What's it actually going to be like?

What will we actually do?

Do I need to bring anything?

Will I be running 30,000 steps?

It's a completely normal thing to wonder, so I thought it was worth putting into words properly - especially if you're weighing up one-to-one football coaching for yourself or your son/daughter and you want a clearer picture before getting in touch.

So here's an honest, detailed look at what a first one-to-one session actually looks like, from that very first conversation right through to leaving the pitch...

It Starts With A Conversation

Before anyone's kicked a football, there's always a conversation first - that's usually a quick call, message, email - or even the free 15-minute online video call if that's easier (it's your preference).

When we communicate, there's no sales pitch - and there's no 'assessment' either... It's just me trying to get to know and to understand a little bit better who I'm actually going to be coaching.

That might mean asking about the player's age, current ability, what's brought them to football coaching in the first place (or what they're hoping to get out of it).

Sometimes there's a clear goal already, e.g. "I want to improve my weaker foot" or "I want my daughter to feel more confident going into trials." But other times there isn't any particular aims/wants or needs at all - and that's completely fine too!

Either way, this initial conversation shapes what the first session actually looks like, rather than everyone getting the same generic plan regardless of who they are.

Turning Up To That First One to One Football Coaching Session

There's no test at the start - and there's definitely no fitness assessment with a clipboard!

The first few minutes of any first session are really just about settling in, a proper introduction, a chat about how they're feeling, warming up and then going in to doing warm-ups, dynamics and stretches together... I'll then take a look look at what you can already do with the ball in a low-pressure way and give you some quick tips/advice.

I'm always aware that a first session can feel like you are being watched and judged, - especially for anyone who's nervous about football already, so I try to make those opening minutes be more like I'm getting to know someone rather than have feel like they're being evaluated - and confidence tends to build a lot faster once that pressure's been taken off the table entirely and you realise that I'm just a warm, friendly and upbeat person who likes to try and help you to learn and have a bit of fun!

What The Session Itself Actually Looks Like

From there, the session moves into actual football coaching built around whatever came up in that earlier conversation.

For example, that might be technical work on a specific skill, decision-making drills, small game-like scenarios, or a mix of everything depending on age and ability.

What stays consistent regardless of what's being worked on is the pace... I do my utmost to ensure that everything is explained clearly, demonstrated properly, and repeated as many times as it needs to be, because there's no group to keep up with and nobody waiting their turn.

If something isn't clicking, then we'll slow down... but if something's clicking quickly, we build on it!

The session responds to the player participating in real time rather than following a script regardless of how it's going.

And just as a side note for players with any SEN or additional needs - I promise you faithfully that I'm very understanding, patient and calm... the environment will be peaceful, judgement-free, and always shaped around whatever helps you feel most comfortable and able to enjoy your football.

In between the drills and practice scenarios, we'll also have regular drinks breaks (so make sure to bring a bottle of water with you) and it's a good chance for us to go over what we've worked on and for you to ask any questions or queries that you may have.

What Happens Afterwards?

At the end of a session we'll warm-down together (warm-downs are short, low-intensity exercises that help your muscles to recover and return your heart rate to normal).

Once done, we'll have a very brief chat (just some feedback on what we've done in the session - but it's never the kind that leaves someone feeling picked apart) as the focus stays on what went well and what's improving... alongside a clear, honest sense of what to work on next time (if there is a next time).

There's never any pressure to commit to ongoing sessions after a first one either.

Some people book in for a single session just to try it out, whereas others know straight away they want to continue regularly - and both are completely fine outcomes! The whole point of that first session is finding out whether this is genuinely going to be useful to you... I don't lock anyone into anything.

If Additional Needs Are Part Of The Picture

Everything above applies just as much (if not more), when additional needs are part of the picture - whether that's for a child or an adult, and honestly... a lot of what's already been described here reflects exactly how those sessions work too.

That opening conversation matters even more in this context, since it's where I get a proper understanding of what actually helps someone feel comfortable (whether that's how instructions are given, how much routine matters, or what tends to feel overwhelming).

Sessions are then built entirely around that individual and they're never a fixed structure which that someone has to somehow fit into.

I'm DBS checked and Paediatric First Aid trained too, which I completely appreciate matters to a lot of parents before the football side of things even comes into it (and I'm happy to present these upon request).

If you'd like a fuller picture of how SEN and inclusive coaching actually works in practice, I've written about it in much more detail in my post on football coaching for players with additional needs, and it's well worth taking a look at the reviews on my testimonials page too, including from other players and families who've been through exactly this and can speak to it far better than I can.

Still Not Sure?

If you're still weighing up whether one-to-one football coaching is the right fit in the first place, I've written more about that in my post titled Is One-to-One Football Coaching Right For You? which might be worth reading first.

As mentioned previously, if you'd like to hear from people who've already been through that first session themselves, my testimonials page has some honest accounts worth reading - otherwise, you can find out more about how sessions work generally on my one-to-one football coaching page, or get in touch directly through my book online and contact page to arrange that first conversation.

Book Online or Contact