David Garcia
@ijasport.bsky.social
UEFA A Licensed Coach | Coach Educator | Transform Today
Practical tools to improve your coaching: https://www.itsjustasport.com/
Practical tools to improve your coaching: https://www.itsjustasport.com/
If you’re designing your training environment around game-centered, player-forward, associative football, I’ve been adding new activities to the Library and reorganized the whole thing to make it simpler to use.
If you’re curious: www.itsjustasport.co...
If you’re curious: www.itsjustasport.co...
January 26, 2026 at 8:31 PM
If you’re designing your training environment around game-centered, player-forward, associative football, I’ve been adding new activities to the Library and reorganized the whole thing to make it simpler to use.
If you’re curious: www.itsjustasport.co...
If you’re curious: www.itsjustasport.co...
This is a fascinating read and shows how no matter what your game idea is, even if you think you are 'freeing' players, the WHO precedes the HOW.
🗣️ “For me, it was just a little bit too much too soon in terms of that change and quite a big change away from what the team had been." - McGregor
🗣️ “For me, it was just a little bit too much too soon in terms of that change and quite a big change away from what the team had been." - McGregor
January 24, 2026 at 6:31 PM
This is a fascinating read and shows how no matter what your game idea is, even if you think you are 'freeing' players, the WHO precedes the HOW.
🗣️ “For me, it was just a little bit too much too soon in terms of that change and quite a big change away from what the team had been." - McGregor
🗣️ “For me, it was just a little bit too much too soon in terms of that change and quite a big change away from what the team had been." - McGregor
THE ARTIST IS PART OF THE ART
Coaching isn’t objective. You’re in the picture, whether you admit it or not.
Hear me out... 🧵👇
Coaching isn’t objective. You’re in the picture, whether you admit it or not.
Hear me out... 🧵👇
January 21, 2026 at 8:32 PM
THE ARTIST IS PART OF THE ART
Coaching isn’t objective. You’re in the picture, whether you admit it or not.
Hear me out... 🧵👇
Coaching isn’t objective. You’re in the picture, whether you admit it or not.
Hear me out... 🧵👇
"You must work to build a project that allows players to fall in love with the game. Not that they have fun, but that they fall in love.” - Paco Seirul-lo
It starts with total experiences that immerse players in the magic of the game, not drills that just improve isolated parts of their play.
It starts with total experiences that immerse players in the magic of the game, not drills that just improve isolated parts of their play.
January 16, 2026 at 11:34 PM
"You must work to build a project that allows players to fall in love with the game. Not that they have fun, but that they fall in love.” - Paco Seirul-lo
It starts with total experiences that immerse players in the magic of the game, not drills that just improve isolated parts of their play.
It starts with total experiences that immerse players in the magic of the game, not drills that just improve isolated parts of their play.
I’ve always loved the 9v9 phase.
It gets overlooked because it sits between 7v7 and 11v11, but I’d argue it’s one of the most valuable formats for player development.
Here’s why... 🧵👇
It gets overlooked because it sits between 7v7 and 11v11, but I’d argue it’s one of the most valuable formats for player development.
Here’s why... 🧵👇
January 15, 2026 at 10:10 PM
I’ve always loved the 9v9 phase.
It gets overlooked because it sits between 7v7 and 11v11, but I’d argue it’s one of the most valuable formats for player development.
Here’s why... 🧵👇
It gets overlooked because it sits between 7v7 and 11v11, but I’d argue it’s one of the most valuable formats for player development.
Here’s why... 🧵👇
A short video detailing how to use individual intentions to help players contribute to the team more effectively. Let me know what you think!
How to Turn Team Principles into Player Behavior
In this video I explain how to link team principles with individual roles during the build-up phase.
Most coaches teach at the team level, but players actually execute at the individual level. When you connect the two, you can evaluate contribution, create intention-driven repetition, and design se
www.youtube.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:32 PM
A short video detailing how to use individual intentions to help players contribute to the team more effectively. Let me know what you think!
When watching high level players train, you sense their joy and freedom. They are free to play and explore without fear of getting reproached for experimenting.
How many coaches would reprimand players for trying 'tricks' like Dani Olmo?
Invite the magic 🪄
How many coaches would reprimand players for trying 'tricks' like Dani Olmo?
Invite the magic 🪄
January 12, 2026 at 8:33 PM
When watching high level players train, you sense their joy and freedom. They are free to play and explore without fear of getting reproached for experimenting.
How many coaches would reprimand players for trying 'tricks' like Dani Olmo?
Invite the magic 🪄
How many coaches would reprimand players for trying 'tricks' like Dani Olmo?
Invite the magic 🪄
We attempt to define talent as a concrete thing that players either have or don't when in reality talent is entirely circumstantial.
Talent is how individuals use their CURRENT capabilities to INTERACT with the CURRENT resources the environment provides.
This is ever-changing.
Talent is how individuals use their CURRENT capabilities to INTERACT with the CURRENT resources the environment provides.
This is ever-changing.
January 9, 2026 at 6:37 PM
We attempt to define talent as a concrete thing that players either have or don't when in reality talent is entirely circumstantial.
Talent is how individuals use their CURRENT capabilities to INTERACT with the CURRENT resources the environment provides.
This is ever-changing.
Talent is how individuals use their CURRENT capabilities to INTERACT with the CURRENT resources the environment provides.
This is ever-changing.
You don't even have to watch this video to know the ball is basically like an extension of Rayan Cherki's body.
🪄"Right, left, outside, inside.
He is able to adapt to game conditions and find solutions so easily because this guy absolutely loves the ball.
🪄"Right, left, outside, inside.
He is able to adapt to game conditions and find solutions so easily because this guy absolutely loves the ball.
January 7, 2026 at 8:34 PM
You don't even have to watch this video to know the ball is basically like an extension of Rayan Cherki's body.
🪄"Right, left, outside, inside.
He is able to adapt to game conditions and find solutions so easily because this guy absolutely loves the ball.
🪄"Right, left, outside, inside.
He is able to adapt to game conditions and find solutions so easily because this guy absolutely loves the ball.
The New Year price for HTC 1 ends today.
It’s a foundational course about coming back to the game and designing training environments with clarity.
Learn more: www.itsjustasport.co...
It’s a foundational course about coming back to the game and designing training environments with clarity.
Learn more: www.itsjustasport.co...
January 7, 2026 at 6:56 PM
The New Year price for HTC 1 ends today.
It’s a foundational course about coming back to the game and designing training environments with clarity.
Learn more: www.itsjustasport.co...
It’s a foundational course about coming back to the game and designing training environments with clarity.
Learn more: www.itsjustasport.co...
I recently posted a video of Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid playing a three team zonal game where one team sends four players to recover the ball and leaves three in the middle zone while the attacking team attempts to get it across the middle zone to the other attacking team.
January 6, 2026 at 8:38 PM
I recently posted a video of Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid playing a three team zonal game where one team sends four players to recover the ball and leaves three in the middle zone while the attacking team attempts to get it across the middle zone to the other attacking team.
💭 Let me describe what goes inside my head during the course of a season:
“I should really be doing more of this”
“I just read about something that I have never tried before”
“How come I don’t do more of that”
“I can’t believe i’m not good at this yet”
Thread on how to rediscover your way🧵👇
“I should really be doing more of this”
“I just read about something that I have never tried before”
“How come I don’t do more of that”
“I can’t believe i’m not good at this yet”
Thread on how to rediscover your way🧵👇
January 2, 2026 at 6:32 PM
💭 Let me describe what goes inside my head during the course of a season:
“I should really be doing more of this”
“I just read about something that I have never tried before”
“How come I don’t do more of that”
“I can’t believe i’m not good at this yet”
Thread on how to rediscover your way🧵👇
“I should really be doing more of this”
“I just read about something that I have never tried before”
“How come I don’t do more of that”
“I can’t believe i’m not good at this yet”
Thread on how to rediscover your way🧵👇
Games like this three team zonal game are great activation because they are constantly flowing with minimal stops, they recreate a build up / pressing moment, and they can be adapted so easily with passing goals, number of players per zone, and space constraints.
January 2, 2026 at 6:43 AM
Games like this three team zonal game are great activation because they are constantly flowing with minimal stops, they recreate a build up / pressing moment, and they can be adapted so easily with passing goals, number of players per zone, and space constraints.
Games like this three team zonal game are great activation because they are constantly flowing with minimal stops, they recreate a build up / pressing moment, and they can be adapted so easily with passing goals, number of players per zone, and space constraints.
January 1, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Games like this three team zonal game are great activation because they are constantly flowing with minimal stops, they recreate a build up / pressing moment, and they can be adapted so easily with passing goals, number of players per zone, and space constraints.
Hey coach! You are not as important as you think you are. Most likely you are getting in the way of your players improving as fast as they could be. The fact is players make each other better, not you.
THREAD ON YOUR ROLE AS A COACH 🧵👇
THREAD ON YOUR ROLE AS A COACH 🧵👇
December 31, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Hey coach! You are not as important as you think you are. Most likely you are getting in the way of your players improving as fast as they could be. The fact is players make each other better, not you.
THREAD ON YOUR ROLE AS A COACH 🧵👇
THREAD ON YOUR ROLE AS A COACH 🧵👇
Don’t watch the pass, watch what the pass sets up. That’s where development actually lives.
December 24, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Don’t watch the pass, watch what the pass sets up. That’s where development actually lives.
Relationism vs. Positionism: What's it really about?
Relationism vs. Positionism: What's it really about? — It's Just a Sport
I finally figured out Relationism vs. Positionism.
I have to admit it has taken me many months. Looking back at it, perhaps it
was my ego that prevented me from seeing what was there all along.
Eventually, the lightbulb moment came all at once in one quick swoop.
www.itsjustasport.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Relationism vs. Positionism: What's it really about?
Re-Position Play
Re-Position Play — It's Just a Sport
Re-Position Play: Players are moving in relation to where the opponent is,
where they can best the teammates with the ball in relation to other
teammates who are also trying to support the ball carrier, and where they
want to go. The result is constant Positional Play which is highly
relational.
www.itsjustasport.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Re-Position Play
The Science of Coaching: Interview with Saskia Giebl
The Science of Coaching: Interview with Saskia Giebl — It's Just a Sport
Saskia Giebl is a Human Learning and Performance Scientist at UCLA's Bjork
Learning Lab. More importantly, she’s passionate about sports and how we
can improve our methods to coach sports.
www.itsjustasport.com
December 7, 2025 at 5:31 PM
The Science of Coaching: Interview with Saskia Giebl
Creating and Exploiting Space Between Lines: Euro 2012 Final Spain Case Study
Creating and Exploiting Space Between Lines: Euro 2012 Final Spain Case Study — It's Just a Sport
In 2012 Spain played the Euro Final without any true strikers. The result
one of the finest most free flowing displays of football.
www.itsjustasport.com
December 6, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Creating and Exploiting Space Between Lines: Euro 2012 Final Spain Case Study
What if the game's entertainment value isn't the attacking team's responsibility?
December 6, 2025 at 3:54 PM
What if the game's entertainment value isn't the attacking team's responsibility?
Thinking Frameworks Solve Your Problems
Thinking Frameworks Solve Your Problems — It's Just a Sport
When you consistently use frameworks as guide rails, it maps out a process
for your mind to follow and better solve your problems. When you don’t have
a logical structure or framework you are leaving your mind exposed to
chaos.
www.itsjustasport.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Thinking Frameworks Solve Your Problems
The Future of Football Needs Goal-Scorers
The Future of Football Needs Goal-Scorers — It's Just a Sport
The future of football requires footballers who can score goals in less
space and time. Rondos and Positional Games do not provide players with the
opportunity to experience these finishing moments. Let me provide
alternatives…
www.itsjustasport.com
December 4, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The Future of Football Needs Goal-Scorers
Dribble or Pass: Have we conditioned risk-averse players?
Dribble or Pass: Have we conditioned risk-averse players? — It's Just a Sport
You'll often hear coaches, especially youth coaches, say something like
"Get it off your feet" as if dribbling is the riskiest action to take. But
is it?
www.itsjustasport.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Dribble or Pass: Have we conditioned risk-averse players?
Coaching Workflow: Manchester City
Coaching Workflow: Manchester City — It's Just a Sport
Let’s uncover Manchester City’s Game Model, Game Plan, and Game Prep.
www.itsjustasport.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Coaching Workflow: Manchester City