Sorry to all my coaching mates out there (some, but not all coaches love to hide behind ”smoke and mirrors”) but football in its purest form is a simple game and I want to stress that in my opinion, players are never over coached, just badly coached!!
 

Whether it’s walking football or “conventional” football:

If you do the following, you'll be a success at the game

- young or old

- super fit or aching

- male or female
 

With the ball (attacking)

• ALWAYS pass to your own players or keep the ball, never give it to opponents! If not sure that you can make the pass you really want to do, try an easier one but, WHATEVER YOU DO, don’t give the ball to your opponents!

• When you are “off the ball”, but your team has possession, make a run/move to a place/angle to be able to receive a pass from a team mate, so don't get blocked (if you can't see the passer - the player with the ball - then they can’t see you!)

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Without the ball (defending)

• Try to run/move to a place/angle to stop/block your opponent’s pass - get in the way!

• Don't attempt a tackle unless you are 100% sure of winning ball - don't guess!!

• Stay on your feet and block the route to goal if a tackle can't be made!

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Non negotiable

• Fitness levels only need to be to do the above things (not to be the “football equivalent of Mo Farah”)

• Football fitness is stop/jog/walk/sprint, it is NOT steady long distance running (or the walking football equivalent of this), so long steady paced runs will help general fitness (which is good) but not necessarily football fitness

• Constant kicking, passing and dribbling (and heading in the conventional game) is the ONLY way to improve technique, there are NO short cuts!

• In all versions of football it is crucial to communicate (listen AND speak). EXAMPLES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING

1) Calling for the ball (don’t expect your team mates to guess where you are - football is different from “hide and seek”), this is simple but effective!

2) Telling your team mates what’s happening (as they are busy concentrating on the ball) - things you learnt before the age of ten, like “man on”!

3) If a team mate calls for the ball, pass it to them as they can see the “bigger picture” - trust them!

 

AND REMEMBER - "Practice makes perfect"