The Next Steps: Continuing Your Football Coaching Journey

From the publisher:

🚨Coaching Qualifications Don’t Prepare You for Real 11v11 Football
You’ve passed your coaching qualification.

You understand the theory.

But when it comes to planning, delivering and adapting sessions in a real 11v11 environment, something still feels missing.

That gap is where many developing coaches get stuck.

The Next Steps was written to bridge that gap.

This practical, coach-friendly guide focuses on what actually happens on the training pitch and on match day — not abstract theory or generic sessions.

⚽ What This Book Will Help You Do
This book supports less experienced football coaches by helping them:
✔ Plan effective, realistic 11v11 training sessions
✔ Apply technical and tactical principles in real-world settings
✔ Use a player-centred coaching approach that meets individual needs
✔ Integrate goalkeeping, fitness, hydration, nutrition and injury awareness into weekly planning
✔ Reflect on their coaching and continually improve practice
Each chapter includes practical tasks, real scenarios, self-reflection questions and best-practice session ideas, making this book easy to apply immediately.

🎓 Who This Book Is For
This book is ideal for:
 Developing football coaches working in 11v11 environments
 Coaches between qualifications who want practical guidance
 Students studying sports coaching at college or university
 Coaches working with young players who want to improve session quality
 Anyone who wants to move from “qualified” to confident and effective

🔑 Why This Book Is Different
Most coaching resources focus on:
 Passing qualifications
 Abstract coaching models
 One-size-fits-all drills
The Next Steps focuses on:
 Real planning decisions
 Real players with different needs
 Real coaching environments

This is the book coaches read after they get their badge — when the real learning begins.

📘 If You’re Ready to Become a Better 11v11 Coach
This book will help you build confidence, clarity and structure in your coaching practice and take the next step in your coaching journey.

Chris Freestone is an ex-professional footballer that went from playing non-league football to the heights of the premiership. Chris is self-motivated and a passionate coach/educator whose career within the football industry spans over 25 years of playing, coaching and educating at a grassroots and senior professional level. He has also worked with professional clubs and governing bodies to deliver high quality, innovative and age-appropriate training programmes.