About
About and standards
How We Play is a free, visual football coaching resource for grassroots coaches.
We explain formations, playing principles and individual responsibilities through straightforward language and clear tactical illustrations. Simple pictures. Simple decisions. Play together.
How We Play is an independent project. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by The FA or England Football. Official rules link to their source with the date we checked them.
A playbook made for one team
The pictures and words started as a playbook for one grassroots youth team. This site adapts that method for any coach. It's one approach, not the only approach.
The original playbook is Niall Walsh's own work, adapted here with his permission.
Who writes and who checks
| Role | Who | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Author and editor | Niall Walsh, volunteer grassroots youth coach | Author of the source playbook |
| Coaching reviewer | Greg Williams | No coaching guidance is published until reviewed, with the date recorded |
| Official rule check | The editor, against England Football's published guidance | Checked 19 October 2026 for 2026/27 |
Three separate checks
Design, coaching content and official rules are checked separately. One never stands in for another: a verified rule doesn't make a tactic reviewed.
- Official rule verified · 19 October 2026
- An official competition fact checked against England Football, with the date and a link to the source. Rechecked each season.
- ✓ Coaching reviewed · date
- Our coaching reviewer has reviewed this guidance. Their name and the date are recorded.
- Coaching review required
- Written, waiting for review. Only visible in private previews.
- Draft
- Work in progress. Only visible in private previews.
- Exploratory
- An experimental coaching idea. Always shown with a yellow strip and dashed frame, and needs a separate public approval.
- Coming soon
- Planned. Nothing to read yet.
Our rules for ourselves
- Coaching guidance is published only after our coaching reviewer has reviewed it.
- Official rules link to their source and show the date we checked them.
- Tactical illustrations only: no photos of children, no player names, no club badges.
- No invented qualifications, reviews, testimonials or results.
- Every guide is free to read and share, with no sign-up and no payment.