Picture a typical grassroots football training session.
A few players arrive early.
Some are kicking a ball around. Others are chatting with their teammates, waiting for everyone else to turn up.
The coach is putting out cones, setting up goals and getting everything ready.
It's a familiar scene at football clubs across the country.
But what if those few minutes before training could become an opportunity to develop something just as important as technical ability?
**A player's ability to think, recognise situations and make decisions on the pitch.**
That's one simple way coaches can use Become Unplayable cards.
Five minutes before training can make a difference
Coaches already have a lot to fit into their sessions.
Passing drills. Movement. Defending. Attacking. Small-sided games.
Finding additional time to develop decision-making isn't always easy.
But you don't necessarily need more training time.
You could use the time players already spend waiting for the session to begin.
All you need is one Become Unplayable card and a few questions.
Start with one scenario
Before training, choose a card that relates to something you're planning to work on.
For example, perhaps your session is focused on attacking movement.
You might choose a scenario where a player has the ball and a teammate is unmarked nearby.
As players arrive, show them the card.
Ask one simple question:
**"What would you do here?"**
Let them look at the pitch diagram.
Give them a moment to think.
Then ask:
**"Why would you make that decision?"**
You might get several different answers.
One player wants to pass immediately.
Another thinks they should carry the ball forward.
Someone else notices the position of a defender.
That's where the conversation gets interesting.
Don't rush to tell them the answer
As coaches, it's natural to want to explain what players should do.
But there's value in allowing young footballers to work through situations themselves.
Instead of correcting their first answer, try asking:
- What can you see?
- Where is the space?
- What are your teammates doing?
- What might the defender do next?
- Would your decision change if the defender moved?
These questions encourage players to look beyond the ball and consider the whole situation.
And importantly, they begin to understand **why** they're making a decision.
Because during a match, the coach can't make every decision for them.
The players have to recognise what's happening and respond themselves.
Bring the scenario into your training session
Here's where this approach becomes particularly useful.
Let's say you've used a Become Unplayable card about recognising an unmarked teammate.
Your training session includes a small-sided game focused on passing and movement.
Before the game starts, remind the players of the scenario.
**"Remember the card we looked at earlier? See if you can recognise a similar situation during this game."**
Now the players have something specific to look for.
They're not being told to pass every time.
They're being encouraged to recognise when a pass might be the best option.
And when a similar situation happens, you can use it as a coaching opportunity.
Ask what they noticed.
Discuss the options.
Then let them try again.
The card introduces the situation.
The training session gives them an opportunity to explore it.
Get players talking to each other
Another way to use the cards is to let players discuss the scenario in pairs or small groups.
Give them a card and ask them to agree on what they would do.
You might hear:
"I'd pass because he's in space."
"But the defender could intercept it."
"What if you dribbled first?"
These conversations encourage players to consider different perspectives.
They also give quieter players an opportunity to explain what they're thinking.
You might even discover that a player who doesn't say much during training has a really good understanding of the game.
Keep it short and enjoyable
This doesn't need to become a classroom session.
You don't need a whiteboard, projector or lengthy tactical explanation.
And you certainly don't need to work through ten cards before training.
**One card. One scenario. Five minutes.**
That's enough to introduce an idea, encourage discussion and give players something to recognise during the session.
The aim isn't to overload young footballers with information.
It's to help them develop the habit of looking at situations and thinking about their options.
Better decision-making starts before the ball arrives
Football is full of decisions.
Where should I move?
Who can I pass to?
Is there space to dribble?
Should I press or hold my position?
Some of these decisions happen in seconds.
And the more comfortable young players become with recognising different situations, the better equipped they may be to respond when those moments happen in matches.
That's what Become Unplayable is designed to encourage.
Not simply telling players what to do.
But helping them understand what they're seeing and why certain options might make sense.
Try it at your next training session
At your next session, take one Become Unplayable card with you.
Choose a scenario relevant to what you're coaching.
As players arrive, gather a small group and ask:
**"What would you do?"**
Let them discuss their answers.
Then see whether they recognise similar situations once training begins.
It's a simple addition to your routine that can encourage players to become more thoughtful and confident decision-makers.
And it doesn't require another hour on the training pitch.
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Help Your Players Think Quicker and Make Better Decisions with Become Unplayable
The **Become Unplayable Foundation Pack** uses visual football scenarios to encourage young players to think about the decisions they face during matches.
Coaches can use the cards before training, during coaching sessions, as football homework or to start conversations with their players.
They're designed to encourage discussion, not simply test whether a player knows the right answer.
**One card can start a conversation that changes how a player looks at the game.**
[Explore the Become Unplayable Foundation Pack](https://becomeunplayable.com/foundation-pack)
