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PLAY - PRACTICE - PLAY
Play–Practice–Play (PPP) is the practice structure all teams in our club are expected to use.
It comes from the U.S. Soccer grassroots coaching model and is widely used across youth soccer because it is highly effective for helping recreational players learn through real game situations.
It may sound complicated at first, but the idea is actually very simple: Players learn soccer best by playing soccer!!!
Why We Use P-P-P
Why We Use P-P-P
Play–Practice–Play is highly effective in recreational soccer because it is built around how players actually learn the game.
The goal of practice is to prepare players for games...so practice should look and feel like the game!
What Traditional Practices Often Look Like
What Traditional Practices Often Look Like
In many traditional practices, players spend a lot of time:
standing in lines
taking turns in drills
running through patterns without pressure
listening to long explanations
The problem is — none of that looks like a real game.
Players don’t learn soccer best by waiting, watching, or memorizing patterns.
They learn by:
making decisions
moving with teammates
reacting to opponents
solving problems in real time
What PPP Does Differently
What PPP Does Differently
PPP keeps the game at the center of everything. From the moment players arrive, they are:
playing
involved
making decisions
learning in realistic situations
They are learning soccer by doing soccer.
Why This Works (Especially in Rec Soccer)
Why This Works (Especially in Rec Soccer)
High engagement → Players are active right away and stay involved
More touches on the ball → Less waiting, more meaningful repetition
Better decision-making → Players learn to think, not just follow instructions
Game-like learning → Practice mirrors real match situations
Less overcoaching → Players learn through experience, not constant direction
What This Means for You as a Coach
What This Means for You as a Coach
PPP is a player-centered approach. That means:
You are not expected to run complicated drills
You don’t need long speeches or constant instruction
Your role is to:
set up the game
guide with simple coaching points
ask questions
help players learn through what they experience
You are creating the environment — the game does the teaching.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
We expect coaches to use PPP because it:
keeps players active and engaged
creates better learning
builds real decision-making
and prepares players for actual games
It is one of the most effective ways to support and develop recreational players.
The Three Parts of P-P-P
The Three Parts of P-P-P
Play 1 Phase: Start with a Game
Play 1 Phase: Start with a Game
15 - 20 minutes
15 - 20 minutes
As players are arriving at pracitce...immediately have them jump into a small sided game.
A small-sided game means fewer players on each team (like 3v3 or 4v4) played in a smaller area instead of a full field. You can create the space using cones. Smaller games give players more touches on the ball, more chances to be involved, and more opportunities to make decisions.
Let them play. Your job here is to observe and guide — not fix.
What you should do:
What you should do:
Watch what players naturally do
Look for moments connected to your planned focus
Let the game create the “problem”
After a few minutes, pause briefly and ask 1–2 simple questions tied to your focus:
Examples:
“Where can we go when we have the ball?”
“Are we spreading out or bunching up?”
“What happens when we lose the ball?”
The goal is to help players notice what is happening — not correct everything.
What this should NOT look like:
What this should NOT look like:
Stopping play every 20 seconds
Giving long explanations
Telling players exactly what to do
Think: observe first, guide lightly
Practice Phase: The Focus
Practice Phase: The Focus
30 minutes
30 minutes
Now you step in and work on a specific focus from your practice plan.
This might be:
a team concept (spacing, support, defending)
a game situation (goal kicks, throw-ins)
or a problem from the first game
What you should do:
What you should do:
Bring the team together and clearly state the focus in a short explanation
Demonstrate quickly if needed
Set up an activity that still looks like soccer...preferably a small sided game.
Keep everyone moving (no lines)
As players go:
pause briefly to highlight a moment
ask a quick question
give a short coaching point
Examples:
“Where is the space?”
“Who can help the ball?”
“Can we go forward or should we keep it?”
Keep coaching short, specific, and connected to the game
What this should NOT look like:
What this should NOT look like:
Long lectures or whiteboard sessions
Isolated drills that don’t resemble the game
Players standing and waiting
If it doesn’t look like soccer, it won’t transfer to the game
Play 2 Phase: Let Them Try It Again
Play 2 Phase: Let Them Try It Again
15 - 20 Minutes
15 - 20 Minutes
Finish with a larger, more realistic game. Could be a full-team scrimmage.
This should look as close to a real match as possible:
more players
positions if appropriate
goalkeeper at older ages
Now players apply what they worked on.
What you should do:
What you should do:
Let them play
Give quick reminders (1–2 key points)
Avoid stopping the game too often
Examples:
“Spread out”
“Support the ball”
“Get goal side”
This is where learning sticks — players apply it under real pressure
What this should NOT look like:
What this should NOT look like:
Constant stoppages
Coaching every decision
Restarting play over and over
Let the game be the teacher
The Big Idea
The Big Idea
PPP works because it follows how players learn:
Play → experience the situation
Practice → focus on one idea
Play → apply it in a real game
Experience → Understand → Apply
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