How Much Extra Training Should Young Athletes Do Outside Team Sessions
Team training forms the foundation of most young athletes’ development.
It provides structured coaching, feedback, and opportunities to practise within a team environment. However, many athletes and parents begin to wonder whether additional practice outside team sessions is necessary for further improvement.
Understanding the role of extra training can help families support development in a healthy and balanced way.
Why Team Training Is Important
Team training sessions are where athletes receive structured coaching and learn how to apply their skills within the game.
These sessions typically focus on:
• technical development
• tactical understanding
• team organisation
• decision-making under pressure
Coaches design sessions to guide learning and help athletes progress through different stages of development.
However, team sessions are often limited in time, which means athletes may not always get the number of repetitions needed to fully develop certain skills.
The Role Of Extra Practice
Additional practice outside team sessions can provide opportunities for athletes to repeat and refine specific skills.
Extra training may include activities such as:
• individual skill work
• ball control and technique drills
• small-sided games with friends
• movement and coordination exercises
These additional repetitions can help reinforce learning from team training.
Over time, small amounts of consistent extra practice can significantly improve technical confidence.
Finding The Right Balance
While extra training can be beneficial, balance is essential.
Young athletes still need time for:
• recovery
• school commitments
• social activities
• enjoyment of sport
Excessive training volume at a young age can lead to fatigue, injury risk, and reduced motivation.
The goal should be steady development rather than excessive workload.
Quality Over Quantity
The effectiveness of extra training is not determined by the number of hours spent practising.
Short, focused sessions can be extremely valuable when athletes concentrate on specific areas of improvement.
For example:
• practising a particular skill repeatedly
• refining movement patterns
• improving coordination and control
Purposeful practice often produces better results than simply adding more training time.
Encouraging Independent Development
One of the most valuable outcomes of extra training is that it encourages athletes to take responsibility for their own improvement.
When athletes begin practising independently, they develop habits such as:
• discipline
• self-motivation
• curiosity about learning
• persistence through mistakes
These qualities often play a major role in long-term athletic development.
The Bigger Picture
Extra training should support development rather than replace the structured guidance provided by team sessions.
When used appropriately, additional practice helps reinforce skills, build confidence, and encourage independent learning.
The most successful athletes usually combine structured coaching with small amounts of regular practice outside formal sessions.
Development happens through consistent effort over many years, not through sudden increases in training volume.
Our resources support multi-sport development pathways, helping families make informed decisions throughout each stage.
Explore:
to find the right support for your stage.