Planned sessions. Sessions are pre-planned and sent out before training, so players know what's coming and can practise ahead of the session. Plans run on three-week rotations unless a specific training need is identified first.

What we focus on. Development and technical ability come first. We've moved away from a full match every week towards small-sided games - more touches of the ball for everyone. Every session includes 10 minutes of strength and fitness, and we work on structure: corner routines, passing patterns, and pressing.

Focus and attention. No one has a ball during water breaks or while a coach is talking - seventeen players listening beats one player doing keepy-uppies.

No match-day kit. Players should not wear their match-day kit to training sessions, save it for match days.

Phones are not allowed during training. As the boys are getting older, phones will start appearing - they stay in bags until the session ends.

Good behaviour in training and on match day matters just as much as performance. How you carry yourself is part of how you play.

More opting in this year. Help with the equipment, offer to help the coaches - carrying a bag of balls never hurt anyone's first touch.

Maintain your own high standards, and call it out constructively when a teammate isn't doing the same. A team that holds itself to a standard doesn't need the coaches to.

Be active outside training. A kickabout in the park, a bike ride, a swim - it all counts, and it all shows on a Sunday.

Coach liaison. Each match day one coach steps back from the coaching and acts as the point of contact for players and parents. They observe the game, look after the substitutes, document incidents and anything of note, and record match day information.

Parent liaison. A pre-appointed parent keeps an eye on spectator behaviour, and reports back to the coach liaison - not to police anyone, but so nothing gets missed and nothing festers.

Pre-match. We run a structured pre-match routine: warm-up, rondo, and a shooting drill. Same each week, so the players know what comes next and arrive at kick-off switched on.

Handshake. Players shake hands with the opposition before and after the match, and line up on the halfway line.

Responsibilities are shared around. Corners, free kicks, and penalties rotate - it's not the same players taking them every week. Everyone gets the chance to step up, and everyone learns what the pressure feels like. We want players to be confident, not afraid to make mistakes. The result matters less than wanting to come back next week.

We follow the FA Grassroots Code. Players give their best, listen to the referee, and shake hands at the end. Supporters encourage every player on the pitch - both teams - and leave the coaching to the coaches and the refereeing to the referee.