Tosh Farrell has long been referred to as one of the world's leading youth soccer coaches. Farrell, the former head of International Football Development and Technical Coordinator at the English Premier Club Everton FC, has spent 13 years developing a soccer development methodology at one of the leading youth academies in the world.

Farrell helped develop numerous players that have gone on to represent Everton FC first team, including Wayne Rooney (now of Manchester United), and the EPL's youngest ever goal scorer, James Vaughan (age 16). He is also known for helping develop Victor Anichebe, Jack Rodwell, Jose Baxter, Ross Barkley and Callum McManaman among others.

Simply put, Farrell has made it his mission to help coaches and players maximize their own potential. Thankfully, he will share his mission and how he makes soccer fun for youth players as a featured clinician at the Summer Symposium, Aug. 1-3 in Orlando, Fla. One of Farrell’s sessiona, appropriately titled "Fun + Soccer: Developing Appropriate Training Games," will take place Friday, Aug. 2 at 2 p.m.

“The program, methodology and my entire coaching foundation is built on a holistic ages and stages curriculum that exposes players to every aspect of a true player development model, technique, speed, agility and game understanding ensuring that players are taught the physical, mental and social skills to succeed in sport and in life,” Farrell said. “Of course, it also needs to be fun because that is a great way to maximize potential.

“I hope to show the coaches who attend the NSCAA Summer Symposium how we can maximize the potential of our players and still make the process fun.” 

High-ranking soccer officials around the world approve of Farrell’s winning ways with young soccer players.

"Tosh Farrell is one of the most inspirational coaches of young players I have seen,” said Howard Wells, former chief executive officer of the Irish Football Association. “He literally has the children eating out of his hand (ready to learn). The most important ingredient (Farrell gives every time out) is the investment into coaches and coach education."

Others point out that Farrell puts less focus on wins and losses at an early age, and more on a player’s development.

“The key to the success of Farrell’s message lies in his knowledge, experience and understanding of the right way to develop soccer excellence in young players,” said Bill Beswick, former sports psychologist to Manchester United, Middlesbrough and the England National Team. “Like all coaches he likes to win but his focus is exclusively on the process of development – he knows if he gets this right the score will take care of itself.”

Farrell offers coaching education sessions that are tailored to meet the target audiences’ specific level. Each in-person training session is based on his unique methodology and is developed specifically for the audience. Every session, including the one in Orlando, will focus on the practice planning, drills and coaching techniques that will make attendees better coaches.

“The secret is in the detail,” Farrell points out. “Whether it’s demonstrating training sessions that are fun for youth soccer players or specific drills about developing special awareness at a young age, maintaining possession, ball familiarity, using the drag back and outside hook, or simply understanding the numbers game of soccer, the secret is in the detail.”

Farrell is also know as the brainchild of the "Everton Way," which has the following basic principles:

1) The very best coaches should teach the youngest players, because lifelong habits are formed early

2) All instructors should coach according to their expertise

3) Winning doesn't matter until players are about 16. What does matter is technique and development

“We teach early the notion of turning down the volume on outcomes,” Farrell said. “We try and take the performance pressure off of our young players and instead, encourage them to make mistakes, fail and truly learn. If we can try to keep the bigger picture in mind here when you're working with these kids you will win.

“And, remember, you're not just coaching a sport, you're coaching about life!  As a coach of young players, we need to actively create a safe learning environment for our athletes where they feel free to take risks and make mistakes. We should make teaching solid fundamentals our main priority. With a foundation of solid mechanics and healthy life principles, your players will be able to go so much further in their development both as athletes and individuals.

Farrell notes that a key ingredient that was built in at Everton was understanding that the obsession with the outcome, winning championships and achieving rankings can slow down the development of a player. He says "that’s another reason why I am pleased to be working so closely with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. The NSCAA has always put the highest emphasis on developing the coaches that coach our players and they seem to put a great deal of focus on our youth soccer coaches. Remember, that’s where it starts … and that’s where the fun starts.”

Don’t miss out on the fun and how to make training more fun for your team. There is still time to register for the Summer Symposium in Orlando and can be done online at NSCAA.com/Symposium.

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