Twenty-two at training. Sixteen can play Saturday.

I’d make training competitive around the football task, not around the fear of Saturday selection. With 22 players, you have enough numbers to create excellent games and position-specific units. Rotate teams and groups so the same six players are not visibly labelled “the ones missing out”. Selection standards can still be clear: attendance, performance, role and behaviour matter. But players should not feel every small-sided game is a trial they can lose with one mistake. I’d also communicate selection timing consistently. If possible, players should know when decisions are made rather than spending the whole session guessing. Adult grassroots squads naturally contain competition. The environment becomes unhealthy when every action feels like a judgement. Use the numbers as a coaching advantage: more realistic 11v11 work, strong opposition in training, competitive replacements. The message should be that training helps everybody improve and helps coaches select — not that only the selected 16 had a successful week.