Neil Harris - Person Before Player

After a bit of a break over the summer, we’re back at it with a new podcast episode from an elite youth coach from the Manchester United Academy, Neil Harris.

From coaching grassroots football to working with future stars like Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay, and Kobbie Mainoo, Neil brings a unique perspective on what really matters in youth development. His journey from becoming a coach when his son's team was about to fold to becoming a trusted mentor at one of the world's most elite academies offers invaluable lessons for coaches at every level.

Throughout our conversation, Neil emphasizes a philosophy that cuts through all the modern complexity of youth football: "Players don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." This isn't just coaching speak - it's the foundation of his approach to building genuine relationships with young players. Neil advocates for knowing the child first - their family situation, who brings them to training, whether they have siblings or pets - before focusing on their football development. His "person before player" mentality shaped how he connected with hundreds of young athletes over his career.

Perhaps most importantly, Neil raises concerns about youth football becoming over-professionalized too early. When he describes 13-year-olds receiving tactical presentations with formation diagrams, you can hear the frustration in his voice. His emphasis on individual skill development, decision-making, and preserving the joy in football rather than drilling team tactics serves as a wake-up call for coaches who might be rushing young players toward adult-level expectations.

Whether you're coaching at the grassroots level or in an elite academy, Neil's insights on building trust, managing expectations, and focusing on individual development over team tactics will challenge how you think about your role as a youth coach. The core message is clear: coaching young players is fundamentally about human development first, football development second.

Takeaways

• Person before player - Get to know the child first (family situation, siblings, who brings them to training, school schedule) before focusing on their football development

• Youth football is becoming over-professionalized too early - 13-year-olds shouldn't be receiving tactical presentations with formation diagrams; focus on individual skills and decision-making instead

• Individual development over team tactics - Teach players how to receive the ball, make decisions under pressure, and be technically proficient rather than drilling specific formations

• Support networks are crucial - The best young players typically have strong, realistic family support systems that trust the coaching process

• Avoid rushing players up age groups - Use bio-banding principles and keep players with their peer groups socially and psychologically, even if they're physically advanced

• Set short-term, achievable goals - Focus on "can you get the next contract?" rather than Premier League dreams; make progress tangible and measurable

• Honest communication prevents bigger problems - Address issues directly with players and parents rather than "kicking the can down the road"

• Social media creates unrealistic expectations - Players like Max Dowman are outliers, not the norm; most successful players develop over longer timelines

• Create environments, don't solve problems for players - Let players make game decisions rather than shouting instructions from the sideline

• Sessions should be for the players, not the coach or parents - If your training is designed to impress spectators rather than develop kids, you're in the wrong profession

• Maintain the joy in football - Players remember "ice creams on the beach" and positive experiences, not specific training sessions; preserve their lifelong love of the game

Follow Neil at https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-harris1/ and https://www.instagram.com/neil_harris_0104/.

The CoachCraft Podcast