Inside The Game

In the Season 3 finale of Inside The Game , host Stuart Sharples explores the theme Life Behind The Lens — taking a unique look at youth soccer through the eyes of the people capturing the moments that define the game. Our curriculum topic is Overloads , and our core value this week is Commitment . We take a deeper look at overloads in the modern game and how top teams intentionally create numeric...

In this episode of Inside The Game , host Stuart Sharples explores the theme Navigating from Parent to Coach — focusing on the unique journey many people take from supporting their child on the sidelines to leading and developing an entire team. Our curriculum topic is Overloads , and our core value this week is Teamwork . We take a closer look at how overloads in soccer rely on players recognizin...

In this episode of Inside The Game , host Stuart Sharples explores the theme The Impact of The World Cup — focusing on how the biggest tournament in the world can inspire, educate, and shape the next generation of players. Our curriculum topic is Defending Play , and our core value this week is Commitment . We take a closer look at how the World Cup influences the youth game far beyond the final s...

In this episode of Inside The Game , host Stuart Sharples explores the theme Power of Reflection — focusing on how true development happens not just through action, but through understanding and learning from those experiences. Our curriculum topic is Defending Play , and our core value this week is Integrity . With players across the club currently completing their reflection forms, this episode...

In this episode of Inside The Game , host Stuart Sharples explores the theme Preparing for a Game — focusing on how players can be set up to perform when it matters most. Our curriculum topic remains Final Third Play , and our core value this week is Respect . We take a closer look at what effective preparation really looks like, from building matchday routines and creating realistic training scen...

In this episode of Inside The Game , host Stuart Sharples explores the theme Applying Modern Trends to Your Youth Team — focusing on how coaches can take ideas from the highest levels of the game and translate them into meaningful, age-appropriate learning for their players. Our curriculum topic is Final Third Play , and our core value this week is Teamwork . We take a closer look at how the moder...

In this episode of Inside The Game , host Stuart Sharples explores the theme Importance of a Growth Mindset — focusing on how the way players think, respond, and learn is just as important as what they do on the field. Our curriculum topic remains Switching the Play , and our core value this week is Commitment . We take a closer look at how developing awareness and decision-making—key components o...

In this episode of Inside The Game , host Stuart Sharples explores the theme Understanding The Person — focusing on how great coaching goes beyond tactics and into truly connecting with the individuals in front of you. Our curriculum topic is Switching the Play , and our core value this week is Integrity . We take a closer look at why switching the play is such a powerful tool in the modern game —...

In this episode of Inside The Game , host Stuart Sharples explores the theme Embracing Challenges with Special Guest Jaylin Finney — focusing on how players grow when they are pushed outside of their comfort zone. Our curriculum topic remains Breaking Lines , and our core value this week is Respect . We take a deeper look at what it really means to play forward with intent. Breaking lines requires...

In the opening episode of a new season, host Stuart Sharples introduces the theme Introduction to the Season — setting the tone for what’s to come and laying the foundation for player and coach development in the weeks ahead. Our curriculum topic is Breaking Lines , and our core value is Teamwork . We explore one of the most important concepts in the modern game — progressing the ball forward with...

In the final episode of the season, host Stuart Sharples explores the theme Building Life Skills in Sport — focusing on how the lessons learned through soccer extend far beyond the field. Our curriculum topic is Attacking Third , and our core value is Respect . We take a closer look at modern trends in the Premier League, where crossing has evolved into a more intelligent, purposeful art — emphasi...

In Week 9 of Inside The Game , host Stuart Sharples explores the theme of Utilizing Set Pieces — how to transform dead-ball situations into game-changing opportunities. Our curriculum topic is the Attacking Third , and our core value this week is Teamwork . We breaks down how the attacking third is where creativity, precision, and timing come together — and set pieces are a perfect example of that...

In Week 8 of Inside The Game , host Stuart Sharples explores A Coach’s Journey — the ups, downs, and defining moments that shape who we are on the sidelines. Our curriculum topic is Defensive Transitions , and our core value is Commitment . Stuart breaks down the 3 D’s of defending — Deny, Delay, and Deflect — and how these principles guide a team’s reaction after losing possession. He shares how...

In Week 7 of Inside The Game , host Stuart Sharples explores The Goalkeeper’s View — seeing the game through the eyes of the last line of defense. Goalkeepers embody integrity , leading with communication, composure, and accountability during defensive transitions. Stuart breaks down Defensive Transitions — the moments after possession is lost — and shares a practical session to train recovery, de...

In Week 6 of Inside The Game , host Stuart Sharples explores the theme of The Art of Counter Attacking — those electrifying moments when teams turn defense into attack with speed, precision, and purpose. Our curriculum topic is Attacking Transitions , and our core value is Respect . We break down why counter attacks are more than just playing forward quickly — they depend on recognition, timing, a...

In Week 5 of Inside The Game, host Stuart Sharples explores the theme of The Greatest Supporter — recognizing the vital role parents play in shaping a young player’s journey, and how coaches can guide and support that relationship in positive ways. Our curriculum topic is Attacking Transitions , and our core value is Teamwork . We breaks down how attacking transitions are the game’s most decisive...

In Week 4 of Inside The Game, host Stuart Sharples explores how mistakes can be powerful learning moments when players and coaches embrace the mindset of Turning Errors into Growth. Our curriculum topic is Staying Connected, and our core value is Commitment. We dive into how staying connected is about discipline and togetherness — shifting as a unit, closing spaces, and constantly communicating. H...

In Week 3 of Inside The Game , host Stuart Sharples explores what it means to put Characters Before Champions — the idea that developing people comes before chasing results. Our curriculum topic is Staying Connected , and our core value is Integrity . We breaks down how staying connected is about unity on the pitch — moving as one, closing gaps, and trusting teammates. He also shares a practical r...

In Week 2 of Inside The Game , host Stuart Sharples explores how to handle one of football’s toughest challenges — injuries and setbacks. On the field, our curriculum topic is Switching the Play , and our core value is Respect . We break down how switching the play is more than a long diagonal — it’s about inviting pressure, creating overloads, and respecting your teammates’ positioning and decisi...

Welcome back to Inside The Game , the coaching podcast from Steel United! Kicking off our Fall 2025 season, host Stuart Sharples dives into one of the modern game’s most talked-about tactical setups — the Box Midfield. We break down what it is, why it works, and how it connects to our curriculum focus this week: Switching the Play . Our core value of the week is Teamwork — and switching the play i...

In the final episode of Season 1 of Inside The Game , we bring our spring coaching series to a close with a focus on attacking overloads —how clever movement off the ball helps create numerical superiority in key moments. We break down how coaches can recognize the spare player, design high-repetition training activities, and maximize ball-rolling time to sharpen tactical understanding in the fina...

In this episode of Inside The Game , we explore how to coach players through high-pressure moments by focusing on the use of overloads in attacking play. Learn how to help your team recognize and utilize the spare player—an essential tactical concept in the final third and beyond. We break down practical coaching tips for creating overloads, identifying the spare player in real time, and building...

In this episode of Inside The Game , we continue our focus on Final Third play by zooming in on one of soccer’s most thrilling aspects—goalscoring. From movement off the ball to timing and composure, we break down what it really takes to become a consistent finisher and how coaches can create the right conditions in training for players to thrive in front of goal. Our guest, Dominic Rice, shares h...

In this episode of Inside The Game , we kick off a two-week focus on the Final Third—arguably the most decisive area of the pitch where games are won and lost. We break down what effective play in the final third looks like, including key principles like timing of movement, combination play, and clinical decision-making under pressure. Our theme this week is Creating a Competitive Environment in T...

n this episode of Inside The Game , we continue our spring coaching journey by taking a deeper look at switching the play —not just from a tactical angle, but through the emotional lens of player confidence. We discuss how anxiety can impact decision-making on the field and why supporting the mental well-being of athletes is just as important as developing their technical skills. Our guest, Sean D...