The best young players don’t just have good technique.
They see things earlier. They recognise space. They understand where their teammates and opponents are. And when the ball arrives, they already have an idea of what they want to do next.
That’s the kind of thinking we’re trying to develop with Become Unplayable.
And you don’t need another training session to work on it. In fact, one of the easiest opportunities might already be part of your weekly football routine: the journey to training or a match.
Turn 10 minutes in the car into football development
We’ve seen parents taking their Become Unplayable cards in the car and using the journey to football to work through a couple of scenarios with their child.
It’s simple. Pick a card. Look at the situation together. Then ask: “What would you do?”
Don’t rush to give them the answer. Let them think. Ask them what they can see. Where is the space? Where are the defenders? Where are their teammates? What options do they have?
And importantly: why would they make that decision?
You’re not testing whether they can remember the ‘correct’ answer. You’re encouraging them to think about the game.
Before training: get their brain warmed up too
Players warm up their bodies before training. Why not their football brain?
Choose one or two Become Unplayable cards on the journey and talk through the situations. Perhaps it’s about scanning before receiving. Maybe it’s recognising space. It could be deciding whether to pass, dribble or make a run.
Then put the cards away. That’s it.
When they step onto the pitch, there’s a good chance they’ll start noticing some of those situations for themselves.
Before a match: give them something to spot
On matchday, you can take it one step further. Choose one card that’s relevant to their position or something they’ve been working on.
Talk through it together. Then give them a simple challenge: “See if you can spot a situation like this today.”
Not: “You need to do this today.”
There’s an important difference. You’re not adding another instruction to the long list young players often hear before a game. You’re encouraging them to recognise situations and make their own decisions.
Because ultimately, when they’re on the pitch, they have to make the decision themselves.
What about the journey home?
This can be an even better opportunity.
As parents, it’s easy to watch a match and immediately see everything our child could have done differently. The pass they didn’t make. The run they didn’t spot. The space they could have moved into.
But rather than turning the journey home into another coaching session, use the cards to start a conversation.
If you remember a situation from the match, find a similar Become Unplayable scenario. Then ask: “Did anything like this happen today?”
You might be surprised by the answer. Your child may have seen something completely different from what you saw from the touchline. That’s valuable.
You’re getting them to think about their own decisions rather than simply being told what they should have done.
You don’t need to be a football coach
That’s one of the reasons we created Become Unplayable. Parents don’t need to understand every tactical detail of football to help their child develop.
The cards provide the scenario. Your job is simply to get them thinking.
Ask questions. Listen to their answer. Ask why. And let them work it out. Five or ten minutes is plenty.
Help them see the game differently
Technical ability matters. But football isn’t played without opposition. Players constantly have to recognise situations, process what’s happening around them and decide what to do next.
Those decisions can be worked on.
So next time you’re heading to training or a match, take your Become Unplayable cards with you. Pick one or two scenarios. Start a conversation.
And help your child begin to see more, think quicker and make better decisions on the pitch.
Start with the Become Unplayable Foundation Pack
The Become Unplayable Foundation Pack contains 50 game scenarios designed to challenge young players to think about what they see and what they would do next.
Use them at home, in the car, before training, before matches or whenever you’ve got a few minutes to talk football.
