The Impact Starts Here
Block 1 is our first cohort. You'll help us prove what we already know: behavioral training transforms players.
Let's Be Honest
We haven't run Block 1 yet. This is our first cohort in Ennis. We don't have before/after photos, parent testimonials, or FQ improvement data to show you.
What we do have is 16+ years of evidence that this approach works.
What We Already Know Works
From years at FAI Regional Centre, LOI academies, and elite youth development
FAI Centre Experience
Declan's coached hundreds of players through the FAI Regional Centre. The ones who progressed to LOI and international level? Rarely the most talented. Usually the most resilient, confident, and coachable.
Coaching at Rep/LOI Level
Anton's trained players from grassroots to professional. Same pattern: the players who make it aren't just skilled—they handle pressure, learn fast, and bounce back from mistakes.
Daily Practice Model
Sport science research is clear: consistent daily practice (even 15 minutes) beats weekly 2-hour sessions. Our 6 days app-guided + 1 day coached model is based on how humans actually develop skills.
How We'll Measure Impact
By April 20th, we'll have real data to show you. Here's what we're tracking.
FQ Assessments
Week 1 Baseline: Every player assessed across physical capacity, technical quality, and game confidence.
Week 8 Final: Same assessment. We'll show exact improvement in each area.
Unlike subjective "they're doing great" feedback, FQ gives you numbers. Did first touch improve? By how much? Is decision-making faster? Measurably so.
What Parents Notice
Based on similar programmes, here's what parents typically report after 8 weeks:
- • More confidence trying skills in matches
- • Better at handling mistakes/setbacks
- • Actively practicing at home (without being asked)
- • Improved weak foot ability
- • Better decision-making under pressure
We'll survey parents at Week 4 and Week 8 to track what you're seeing at home and in matches.
Coach Tracking
Every session, we log:
- • Session focus and what we worked on
- • Individual player observations
- • Behavioral patterns (coachability, resilience, effort)
- • Technical improvements noted
Your Week 8 report will include specific examples of growth we've observed, not generic feedback.
Practice Consistency
The app tracks daily practice:
- • Days practiced per week
- • Which drills completed
- • Session duration
- • Consistency over 8 weeks
Research shows: players who practice 5+ days/week improve 3x faster than those who only show up to coached sessions.
Help Us Build the Evidence
Block 1 is our founding cohort. The 32 players who register now will be the first to prove that behavioral training—practiced daily, measured objectively—creates better footballers than traditional weekly coaching alone.
By April 20th, we'll have FQ data, parent feedback, coach observations, and practice consistency metrics from 32 real players. That data will show whether PlayerBuilder works.
We're confident it will. But we need Block 1 to prove it.
If you register now, you're not just signing your child up for coaching—you're helping build the evidence base for a new approach to player development in Ireland.
What You'll See by April 2026:
- • Your child's individual FQ growth report (baseline vs final)
- • Cohort-wide average improvements across all 32 players
- • Specific areas where your child improved most
- • Coach observations and behavioral development notes
- • Practice consistency data (days trained, drills completed)
Check Back April 2026
After Block 1 completes (April 20th), this page will show real results from our first 32 players:
Growth Data
Testimonials
Transformations
We'll publish aggregated results (cohort averages, typical improvements) and individual success stories (with permission).
Want to be part of creating this story?
Block 1 registrations close when we hit 32 players. Be part of the founding cohort that proves behavioral training works.
⚡ REGISTER FOR BLOCK 1Why We're Confident It Works
PlayerBuilder is built on proven principles from sport science, behavioral psychology, and elite player development
1. Deliberate Practice Research
Anders Ericsson's research (the "10,000 hour rule" guy) showed that quality of practice matters more than quantity. PlayerBuilder's app guides players through focused, progressive challenges—not just "kick the ball around."
2. Habit Formation (James Clear, Atomic Habits)
Small improvements daily beat occasional big efforts. Our 6+1 model (6 days self-practice, 1 day coached) builds the habit of daily improvement rather than dependence on a coach showing up.
3. Growth Mindset (Carol Dweck)
Players who believe effort creates ability improve faster than those who think talent is fixed. Every PlayerBuilder session reinforces: "You're not good yet. Practice makes you better."
4. Weak Foot & Ball Mastery
Research from Barcelona's La Masia academy: players who develop both feet early have 40% better chance of progressing to elite level. We dedicate structured time to weak foot every session.
What Block 1 Will Prove (or Disprove)
Hypothesis 1: Players who practice 5+ days/week will show measurably greater FQ improvement than those who only attend coached sessions.
Hypothesis 2: Game confidence scores will improve as much as technical skills (proving behavioral coaching works).
Hypothesis 3: Weak foot ability can improve significantly in 8 weeks with daily focused practice.
Hypothesis 4: Parents will report visible changes in how players handle mistakes and setbacks.
We'll publish the results—good or bad—after Block 1 ends.
If it doesn't work? We'll figure out why and adjust for Block 2. If it does work? We'll have the data to prove that behavioral training belongs in Irish youth football.
Be Part of Block 1
The first 32 players. The founding cohort. The ones who'll prove this works.