Mastering the Pitch: Jan Esteller Subirats on Youth Development and Tournament Strategy

In this episode, David sits down with Jan Esteller Subirats, the visionary founder of Unique Sports, to explore the intersection of high-performance coaching and international sports management. Drawing from his extensive background as a former coach and his professional experience at major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup. KEY TAKEAWAYS The "Smart Football" Philosophy: True player development occurs when coaches move away from PlayStation coachingand instead ask the right questions to foster player autonomy. Logistics of Scale: Organizing international tournaments requires balancing intricate details from airport transfers and Olympic village-style accommodations to ensuring high-quality officiating. Football as a Life Skill: Youth tournaments are about more than just the score; they provide essential life experiences in team bonding, travel, and cultural adaptation. The Power of Feedback: Constant improvement in sports management is driven by real-time feedback loops where staff identify small logistical tweaks that significantly enhance the participant experience. Adapting to the Environment: Successful leadership in sports requires a "DJ-like" adaptability, tuning your management or coaching style to the specific needs and levels of your audience. BEST MOMENTS "I would compare a coach to a DJ... there is no good or bad DJ, it depends on the moment, the club, and your audience." "It’s super easy to give an instruction like 'pass the ball,' but the real challenge is finding the right question to help the player discover that they should pass it." "If we do the same things as everyone else, we’re just going to be the same. To grow, you have to be creative and assume the risk of doing things differently." "Most of these kids won't remember the final score of a tournament five years later, but they’ll remember the trip, the teammates, and the shared experiences." "Sports management is about taking the stress away from the coaches so they can focus entirely on the pitch." OUR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-chimbaza-/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessoffootballpodcast/ Tik Tok : https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoffootball HOST BIO Right out of the block, David Chimbaza took his International Football Business degree to do exactly what it says on the tin: Launch his own International Football Business, DTCMEDIAUK. His company works with professional leaders & business owners in the football industry to create, monetise & scale their brands for their business & professional gains. Having created and managed multiple of his own sports social media accounts from the age of 15, many of which have scaled thousands of pounds & millions of views across 3 different platforms, David has constantly found ways to bring new and engaging entertainment to his audience.  Now documenting his story of managing his Global business, his experiences in Stewarding, digital management & many more, David will bring you a fresh insight into how anyone can conquer the industry.  This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/