I would use players to demonstrate, but I’d change what the group is looking for.
Instead of “watch Alex because he does this best”, say “watch where Alex’s first touch goes” or “watch how Mia changes direction”. Now the demonstration is about one detail, not who is the best footballer.
Use lots of different players across the season.
You can also ask for volunteers or use pairs so nobody is standing alone in front of the group.
If the technique is not perfect, that can be useful. Ask the group what they noticed and then let the player try again.
The player demo should make learning visible, not create a ranking.
From an observation point of view, you often learn a lot about the group by watching what different children choose to show and what their teammates notice in it.
