The LB Method: Developing Players for Football and for Life

by: Leo Burgess
September 2025
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Every academy, every coach, and every player has a philosophy. But very few systems connect the smallest details of technical development with the mental, emotional, and life lessons that football has to offer.

That’s where the LB Method comes in.

The LB Method is not just another coaching framework. It is a living system — one that molds players inward and outward, sharpening their technical ability, building their mental framing, and instilling disciplines that carry far beyond the game.

A Foundation of Technical Precision

Football at the highest level is a game of margins. One poorly taken touch, one rushed pass, one moment of hesitation can decide an entire match.

The LB Method tackles this reality head on by drilling the smallest details of the game until they become natural instincts.

Players learn ball mastery under pressure so that they don’t just keep possession, but can dictate the tempo of play.
Body and ball manipulation are taught with repetition, giving players the ability to shield, pivot, and create space even in tight areas.
Every technique — from first touches to finishing actions — is repeated in a way that simulates the chaos of real matches, not just clean cones and lines.

We don’t teach skills for the sake of skills. We teach the execution of techniques when they are required. That difference is what allows LB Method players to perform under the highest pressure.

The Mental Game: Confidence, Bravery, Creativity

But technical excellence on its own is not enough. The game constantly tests a player’s state of mind:

Can they stay composed after making a mistake?
Can they attempt a brave action even if it might fail?
Can they trust their creativity when others might play safe?

The LB Method integrates mental framing into every activity.

Confidence comes from repetition, achievement, and exposure to challenges that feel just out of reach. We want players to know they can handle adversity.
Bravery means more than just tackling hard — it’s the courage to keep asking for the ball, to take risks in possession, and to recover quickly when things don’t go to plan.
Creativity is nurtured through guided freedom: giving players problems to solve and the encouragement to find their solution, not just copy a coach’s answer.

This mental layer ensures that LB Method players are not just functioning in games — they are thriving, leading, and taking ownership of moments.

Discipline That Transfers Beyond Football

One of the most powerful aspects of the LB Method is that it equips players with disciplines that go beyond sport.

Preparation: arriving on time, bringing the right equipment, being ready to work.
Focus: paying attention to detail, blocking distractions, staying present.
Resilience: pushing through fatigue, setbacks, and disappointment.
Accountability: taking responsibility for actions instead of blaming others.

These habits matter on the pitch, but they also shape how players approach school, relationships, and eventually careers. In that sense, football becomes a training ground for life.

The LB Method provides a map that players can use to navigate:

The match itself — making quick and effective decisions under pressure.
The football world — handling competition, opportunities, and the challenges of moving up levels.
Life off the field — applying discipline, confidence, and resilience in whatever path they choose.

Game Situations: Learning Through Reality

Many programs rely heavily on static drills. While there is a place for repetition, the LB Method believes that the game itself is the best teacher — if it’s structured properly.

That’s why players are constantly exposed to real game situations in training.

Every exercise has conditions and constraints that force decision-making: play with limited touches, score only from wide areas, break a line before finishing.
These conditions are strategic, guiding players into the correct choices while still allowing for creativity.
Mistakes are treated as opportunities to learn — because the best learning happens at the edge of discomfort.

This way, when players step into a real match, they’ve already faced similar problems in training. The game feels familiar, and their instincts are sharper.

For Coaches: A Roadmap to Develop the Whole Player

The LB Method is not just for players. It’s a framework that coaches can adopt to enhance their own craft.

By blending technical detail with psychological awareness, coaches learn to:

Connect with players at their developmental stage (U7–U15 and beyond).
Create environments where players feel safe to take risks and grow.
Balance challenge with support — pushing players without breaking their spirit.
Reflect on their own behavior, language, and consistency as leaders.

For coaches, the LB Method provides tools to develop not just better athletes, but stronger people.

The Outcome: Players Who Can Thrive Anywhere

When the LB Method is applied, the result is clear:

Players who can execute under pressure.
Players who are mentally resilient in the face of setbacks.
Players who are brave enough to take responsibility and ownership.
Players who are creative and adaptable, solving problems others cannot.
Players who carry discipline and leadership into every part of life.

Why the LB Method Matters Now

In today’s football environment, players are often pushed toward winning at all costs or specializing too early. The LB Method takes a different path: it ensures that development is holistic, rooted in both detail and character.

It’s not about producing the next star — though that will happen. It’s about producing complete individuals who are capable of performing at their highest optimal levels, whether that’s in football, in education, or in their personal journey through life.

Final Word

The LB Method is not a shortcut. It’s not a gimmick. It’s a system of coaching and training that respects the player, challenges the player, and ultimately prepares them for the demands of the game and the demands of life.

Football is just the starting point. With the LB Method, the journey goes much further.

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