Planning For The Unexpected

As a coach, there’s nothing quite like the buzz of a well-planned training session coming to fruition on the field.

However, it's not always - in fact not often - things go to plan.

You’ve mapped out your objectives, organised your equipment, and set the area with precision. But just as you're about to start, two players drop out last minute, the wind picks up, and your bibs are still in the boot of someone else’s car.

Sound familiar?

Even the best-prepared coaches face unexpected hurdles. And while planning is essential, the ability to adapt under pressure is what separates good coaches from great ones.

In other words, it’s not just about sticking to the script, but it’s about being ready to rewrite it when the situation demands.

Why Planning For The Unexpected Matters

Our Plan, Prepare and Review CPD course on the MiMentor Coaching Platform, highlights this exact challenge.

Led by UEFA Pro Licence coach Ben Garner, the course focuses on helping coaches build not just great sessions, but flexible and responsive ones.

Whether you're coaching U10s or U18s, grassroots or academy, match day or midweek training, being prepared for the unexpected makes you more effective, less stressed, and ultimately a better coach for your players.

Common Coaching Disruptions – And What to Do

From weather issues to dropouts, here are some of the most common curveballs youth coaches face, and practical ways to respond:

Last-Minute Dropouts
Instead of panicking, split into smaller groups for rotations (e.g., technical station, small-sided game, finishing zone). It also adds variety and player-led flow.

Bad Weather
Shrink the pitch, reduce work:rest ratios to keep intensity high, and focus on technical outcomes like quick passing or 1v1s in tight areas.

Forgotten Equipment
Use cones and players to create 'goals'. Colour clash? Skip bibs and assign teams using similar colour tops or simply designate by footwear/shin pad colour.

Low Energy or Focus
Inject a challenge. Add a points system, go to a winner-stays-on format, or include time-limited challenges to raise tempo and engagement.

Plan B and Plan C – Build Them In

As UEFA Pro Licence coach Ben Garner, former boss at Colchester United and Charlton Athletic, among others, emphasises in the Plan, Prepare and Review course:

“The better you plan and prepare, the better the quality of the sessions and the more successful the outcomes.”

That doesn’t just mean scripting your session plan, it means preparing alternatives in advance. Consider this your coaching contingency checklist:

• What will I do if 2+ players drop out?
• Can I scale this practice for more/fewer players?
• Is there a game-based alternative if energy dips?
• What if I lose my space or need to share with another group?

Always have one or two adaptable, small-sided game ideas in your back pocket that require minimal setup and cater to any number of players.

Stay Calm, Lead Well

When things go wrong, your composure sets the tone and players watch how you respond.

If you’re calm and focused, they’ll follow. If you’re flustered, that energy spreads.

Stay anchored in the bigger picture: player development doesn’t require perfection, it requires purpose.

And remember, they don't know what you have planned, and whether it's going right or wrong. Composure is key!

Reflect and Learn

The final piece of the puzzle is reflection - it's one of the most important aspects of development and learning as a coach.

Our full course encourages all coaches to review not only the session, but also how they responded when things didn’t go to plan.

Use MiMentor’s downloadable reflection template to ask:

• Did I adapt effectively?
• What could I do differently next time?
• What did I learn about myself as a coach?

The best sessions often aren’t the most perfect ones, they’re the ones where learning happened, despite the obstacles.

Preparing for the unexpected won’t prevent every problem, but it will give you the tools and confidence to keep the session on track and the players progressing.

Want to go deeper?

Explore the full Plan, Prepare and Review CPD course on the MiMentor Coaching Platform and learn how to build adaptable, outcome-driven coaching sessions that support every player’s journey, whatever the challenge!

Click here to take your coaching to the next level...