Episode Twelve - Dealing with Injuries and Setbacks

In Week 2 of Inside The Game, host Stuart Sharples explores how to handle one of football’s toughest challenges — injuries and setbacks. On the field, our curriculum topic is Switching the Play, and our core value is Respect.

We break down how switching the play is more than a long diagonal — it’s about inviting pressure, creating overloads, and respecting your teammates’ positioning and decision-making. Stuart shares a real-world example from Arsenal’s 5–1 win over Manchester City in February 2025 and a practical rondo-based session to develop patience, ball retention, and recognition of the right time to switch.

Our guest this week is Chris McKinney, former Steel United player, current RPI college player, and Steel Sports intern. Chris opens up about the injuries that challenged him after his freshman year, the habits that kept him engaged, and how setbacks shaped his mindset both as a player and as a coach.

We wrap up with the Coaching Question of the Week: Do your sessions look and feel like the actual game? A simple but powerful reflection to help you close the gap between training and matchday.

🎧 Step Inside The Game for tactical insights, personal stories, and practical challenges to take your coaching further.