UPHQ Animation Session of the Year – The Masterclass Award
Celebrate the most innovative and inspiring animated football coaching sessions from Ultimate Player HQ.
The Masterclass Award recognises world-class session design, creativity, and coaching insight across four key areas of the game:
- Atletico Madrid Attacking Duo Station Activity – a dynamic attacking session focused on combination play and finishing.
- A.S. Roma Pre-Season Shooting Circuit Activity – an elite shooting session designed to improve finishing under pressure.
- Torino FC Defending Square Game – a defensive masterclass that builds compactness, communication, and team shape.
- FC Bayern Third Man Running Game – a passing session showcasing intelligent movement and third-man combinations.
Each animated session brings real professional detail to life, helping coaches at all levels learn, plan, and deliver modern, engaging football practices.
Tactic Board Session of the Year – The Tactical Genius Award
The Tactical Genius Award recognises world-class tactical design, innovative practice structure, and deep coaching insight across key areas of the modern game:Richard Walker – 1v1 Dominance (3-Part Session) – a progressive attacking and defending series focused on developing player confidence, control, and creativity in 1v1 situations.Danny Barham – Developing Individual Possession Activity – a technical and tactical session built to enhance ball mastery, spatial awareness, and effective decision-making under pressure.Chris Sargeant – TNS v FC Astana UEFA Conference League Tactical Analysis – an in-depth tactical review of a European fixture, highlighting team structure, pressing strategy, and in-possession patterns.James Shan – Three Goal Counter Attacking Drill – a fast-paced attacking transition practice designed to sharpen quick reactions, forward runs, and finishing in dynamic counter-attacking situations.
Drills from Pros – The Pro Edge Award
The Pro Edge Award celebrates elite-level coaching content created by top professional practitioners from around the world. These sessions showcase advanced tactical insight, world-class methodology, and expertly designed practices that help coaches elevate player performance in real game environments.
Elena Sadiku – Zonal GameA highly detailed positional play practice designed to develop players’ understanding of zonal responsibilities, tempo control, and collective movement patterns. This session sharpens awareness, scanning, and fluid rotation while encouraging intelligent decision-making in structured possession phases.
Fabrizio Piccareta – 3-Team ExerciseA dynamic multi-team rotation game focused on transition moments, pressing reactions, and coordinated possession play. This exercise challenges players to adapt quickly between attacking and defensive roles, improving spatial organisation, communication, and split-second problem solving.
Michael Beale – Attacking in Waves Against a Low BlockA progressive attacking practice aimed at breaking down compact defensive structures. Players learn to create overloads, manipulate defensive lines, and exploit key spaces between units. The session enhances timing of forward runs, combination play, and finishing efficiency in the final third.
Marcio Sampaio – Rondo ActivityA high-intensity rondo designed to sharpen ball retention, collective pressing cues, and rapid passing rhythm. The practice builds technical speed, awareness under pressure, and quick circulation—core behaviours required for modern possession-based football.
Member Create Session of the Year 2025 Award
The Member Create Session of the Year Award celebrates the outstanding creativity, innovation, and football insight shared by the coaching community. These member-designed sessions showcase practical detail, tactical understanding, and real-world coaching value across different areas of player development.
WelfareAssistantGoyFC – HTFC Rondo VariationA dynamic rondo-based practice designed to sharpen quick decision-making, intelligent movement, and combination play in tight spaces. This variation encourages fast circulation, pressure recognition, and high-tempo transitions—ideal for improving possession quality and tempo control.
Ross Flintoft – Press vs PossessionA competitive practice that blends pressing triggers with structured possession play. The session challenges players to balance defensive aggression with composure on the ball, developing team shape, counter-press reactions, and confidence under pressure.
Coach Sharing Network – Combination Set-UpA fluid attacking pattern focused on coordinated movement, support play, and combination timing. This session enhances understanding of third-man runs, wall passes, and positional rotation—providing a technical and tactical framework for breaking lines and creating chances.
Thomas Young – Crossing from the Golden ZoneAn attacking delivery practice built around the modern “golden zone” crossing principles. Players work on wide-area timing, delivery accuracy, and coordinated arrival into finishing spaces. The session promotes high-quality service, movement synchronization, and end-product efficiency.
Master of the Splash Board 2025
The Master of the Splash Board Award recognises exceptional session design, clarity of teaching detail, and creative player-development ideas submitted by members throughout the year. These four shortlisted Splash Board sessions represent high-quality coaching practice across core areas of the modern game, from technical execution to defensive understanding.
Sophie Ibberson – Passing and Receiving (Week 2)A technically focused practice designed to improve the fundamentals of receiving, body shape, and ball circulation. This session helps players develop cleaner first touches, quicker passing decisions, and sharper movement patterns—ideal for building confidence in possession.
CRCoaching – CCFC Junior Academy SessionA dynamic academy-style session combining movement, ball mastery, and decision-making activities. The practice delivers age-appropriate challenge while promoting coordination, awareness, and problem-solving within realistic football scenarios.
Simon Clancy – U9 1v1 DefendingA detailed defensive session centred on 1v1 principles for young players. The focus is on stance, pressure distance, angle of approach, and learning when to tackle or contain. This foundation activity builds discipline, resilience, and defensive intelligence at early ages.
Ian Skinner – Splash Board SessionA well-structured player-development practice offering clear progression, purposeful organisation, and practical coaching triggers. The session supports key behaviours such as movement off the ball, ball security, and understanding of small-group dynamics.
