From Professional to Grassroots: How Charlie Mulgrew Transforms Youth Football with Video Analysis

Charlie Mulgrew's career uniquely spans both eras of football analysis. He played during the transition when video analysis became a standard tool at the professional level. Having earned his coaching licenses before retirement, including his A license in 2023, he now applies these professional techniques to youth coaching.

"I realized the benefits of video analysis in the second half of my career," says Mulgrew. "When I started watching my son's team, I found it frustrating because I could see simple things that could be put in place to help them improve."

When asked to coach the team, Mulgrew implemented a consistent playing style that has transformed their performance.

"The difference in the players is frightening," he explains. "Some players who people would have said aren't very good are now completely different because they're given a way of playing and the confidence that comes with it."

Creating Habits Through Video

At the heart of Mulgrew's approach is using video to reinforce positive behaviors rather than highlighting mistakes.

"It's so easy for coaches to show what players are doing wrong," Mulgrew says. "But I think it's more important to show them when they are doing things well. That's how you develop a habit."

By showing players footage of when they execute principles correctly, he helps them develop what he calls "unconscious habits" – actions that become second nature.

"When the habits become unconscious, players have a lot less to think about in games. They're thinking about their own game rather than worrying about positioning and basics."

Focused, Efficient Analysis

Mulgrew keeps video sessions remarkably brief – just five minutes before training sessions.

"At professional level, you'll maybe get a 10-15 minute window for video. At grassroots level with my team, I find I have five minutes max, and you need to cram in the main points," he explains.

"We get the lads to come five minutes early on Tuesday, and we've got a small projector. I'll clip the game on Monday night, picking out just two or three examples of what we want to see."

Using Veo's technology, Mulgrew reinforces specific tactical concepts that might otherwise be difficult to explain:

"We play a high press and I want our team to go after everything," he demonstrates with footage. "When we lose the ball in their half, we instantly swarm it to win it back. Every player, especially the front five, is after the ball."

The interactive camera feature has proven particularly valuable.

"One of the best features is the interactive camera. A big thing we try to do is have our keeper nice and high. When I show the footage, I can demonstrate how this positioning prevents the team from having to make 70-yard recovery runs."

Beyond the Scoreline

Mulgrew's philosophy transcends results, focusing instead on playing style.

"I stress to the lads that we don't care about the score. Winning is a byproduct of playing good football, but it's not about winning," he insists. "Whether we're 5-nil up or 5-nil down, nothing changes in how we play."

This approach has nevertheless led to impressive outcomes, with his team winning promotion to the top central league in Scotland.

"We play teams that will take boys from academies and different areas, whereas 90% of our lads are in the same class at school. They're all friends and loving their football, and that's the most important thing."

The Impact of Video Technology

Mulgrew has seen clear acceleration in player development since introducing video analysis.

"We've been together for about two years now, but in the last three-four months, it's been the quickest the boys have excelled. I don't think there's any coincidence that it's because we've been using Veo."

The statistics feature helps reinforce the team's playing philosophy.

"We can show them we're a possession-based team with 62% of the ball and 155 completed passes compared to their 101. It shows the lads that success comes through playing the game properly."

For Mulgrew, this grassroots coaching experience has become a fulfilling chapter in his football journey.

"I take real pride in taking these sessions, and it's great to see our work coming to fruition through video and through training on the grass. The boys are loving it – they're given a way of playing, they're secure in how they're playing, and the video technology helps reinforce that."

His experience demonstrates how video analysis has become an essential tool for players at every level of the game – bridging the gap between professional insights and grassroots application.

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