STARTING OUT

Many coaches will generally work with children (the development phase) when starting out. They are there to be moulded, shaped and hopefully progressed. Young, malleable minds are excellent for building curiosity, freedom and creativity. However, the usual instinct is to give commands and structure. This is a missed opportunity.

SHAPING THE FUTURE : How grassroots coaches train and interact with young players influences what type of player they become

In years gone by, the young were the free thinkers, the innovators, totally free of burden. Flow Sport's Colin Stevenson details this as indeed in flow. This flow transcends both emotional, academic and sporting environments. Over time, the 'teachers' young people come across subconsciously enforce their own beliefs and limitations that can ultimately stifle a young individual's - uniqueness.

Players rarely laud a manager's tactical abilities when observing football's best coaches. Phrases such as " treats us all as individuals" or "gets the best out of me" always crop up. These managers' ability is understanding and motivating a player's unique traits, drivers and character.

CLASS OF 92 : Paul Scholes and his teenage teammates made history with Manchester United

SUCCESS

From the days of Brian Clough, Sir Alex Ferguson, and right up to Pep Guardiola, the success of their teams sees them operating in flow.

Coaching courses are getting better at trying to address this formula for success. Unfortunately, the 'human connection' elements are only really drilled down on within the higher echelons of the Pro Licence. This is a massive missed opportunity for coaches and the hundreds of players they work with leading up to the top qualification.

There is nothing better to see than when total exuberance and fearlessness enter the sporting arena. Unconventional, unbiased and spontaneity are all qualities that have fans on the edge of their seats. As far back as Pelé as a 17-year-old in the 1958 World Cup final to the class of 92, youth, for all it lacks in experience, makes up with uniqueness. It's all there to see, yet society and football revert to a formalistic protocol of the textbook. An apt analogy is turning a flowing stream into a block of ice. It's the same…. but rigidly different.

FROM PRINCE TO KING : Pelé burst onto the world stage as 17 year old winning the 1958 World Cup with Brazil

From the work we've done with Flow Sports approach, it's clear that for all the knowledge of X's and O's a coach may possess, the ability to get individuals to perform drives real success consistently. At the elite level, yes, that relates to winning games and trophies, but the most critical place, grassroots, means shaping young people to harness flow. The support network of young footballers takes on board the importance of the parental role.

YOUTHFUL FLOW : Lamine Yamal made his debut for FC Barcelona at 15 years old

GRASSROOTS INFLUENCE

Most grown adult's behaviours are influenced by how they were raised. Their parent's values, opinions and belief systems are adopted as a matter of exposure. Children are told what and how to think. Without appreciating the benefits of being flow, it will be tough for an adult to unlearn limiting behaviours. A flippant remark that parents say is, "I just want my kids to be happy." The sentiment is there, but what processes are parents putting in place to allow their children to be in flow to achieve this? The same can be said of football coaches' desire for creative players, which they contradict in how they train or alienate players completely.

MR MOTIVATOR : Pep Guardiola has a knack of getting his players into flow to perform at optimum level consistently

So, where the grassroots coaches may never get on the Pro Licence course, they can obtain Pro Licence teachings. Flow Sports says grassroots teams have fewer blocks and are open to trying things. The pressures of the performance phase can be lessened when footballers can play in flow. When this is achieved, even season pro players can perform with the same youthful abandonment they had as wide-eyed kids. The great thing is that coaches can fulfil this right at the very start of the journey with Flowcess.