Five ways to make your sessions more challenging

A lack of challenge in a session is one sure-fire way for engagement levels to drop.

 

We certainly want players to experience success, especially at the start of a practice before layering in conditions or difficulty. But too much success, earned too easily, or for too long, can see players switching off quickly. Standards drop and learning stagnates.

 

Conversely, making training more challenging stretches players technically, tactically and mentally in ways that support long-term development. Here are five practical ways to increase challenge while keeping sessions purposeful and engaging.

 

1. Manage the space

Space is one of the most powerful coaching tools you have. Reducing space increases pressure on first touch, decision-making and movement, while larger areas challenge players to recognise when to play quickly and when to exploit space. If you’re working on a defensive, off-the-ball aspect, increasing the space will make it harder for them to regain possession. Small adjustments to pitch size can completely change the level of demand without altering the activity itself.

 

2. Add time pressure

Time constraints force players to think and act quicker. This might be limiting touches, setting countdowns for scoring or rewarding fast transitions. Time pressure replicates match intensity and exposes habits - both good and bad - far more effectively than adding more technical detail.

 

3. Layer constraints with purpose

Well-designed constraints guide behaviour without constant coach intervention. Directional play, scoring conditions, neutral players or positional restrictions can all increase cognitive load. The key is intention: every constraint should link to the learning objective rather than complicating the session for its own sake.

 

4. Increase decision-making, not just difficulty

A session becomes truly challenging when players must constantly scan, make decisions and adapt. Create scenarios where there is no single “right” answer -overloads that shift, targets that change, or defenders with freedom to press or drop. This develops game intelligence alongside technical execution.

 

5. Demand accountability

Challenge isn’t only physical or tactical, it’s behavioural too. Set clear standards around intensity, communication and reaction to mistakes - and hold players to them consistently. Using competition, peer challenge or self-reflection tasks can raise expectation and ownership without increasing volume or complexity.