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When the launched its in 2021, the goal was to create an online hub where coaches, players, and educators across the world could access cutting-edge knowledge about soccer. Today, 51���� is represented on that global platform through the work of Dr. Stephen Harvey, Professor of Sport Pedagogy in the Patton College of Education, who recently . 

The opportunity places Harvey again in front of a worldwide audience, sharing ideas with coaches working across FIFA’s 211 member associations. 

“FIFA’s recognition shows that rigorous research from 51���� can shape the way millions of players are taught worldwide,” Harvey. “It reflects the strength of the Patton College of Education, where we focus on preparing future leaders in health, physical education, and sport coaching pedagogy who can bridge research and practice in ways that shape communities worldwide.” 

How soccer coaches can use game-based learning to improve player development 

At the center of Harvey’s research is what he calls game-based learning. 

“My research has focused on how coaches and teachers can structure practices that go beyond drills and isolated skills to help players truly understand the game,” Harvey explained. “That means building tactical awareness, decision-making, and adaptability in real situations, not just rehearsing technique.” 

This approach emphasizes learning through playing the game rather than repetitive skill sequences. 

“In simple terms, it’s learning the game through playing the game,” says Harvey. “Instead of starting with drills and hoping players eventually connect them to real situations, we flip the model. We start with small-sided games that highlight a tactical problem, then work with players on developing solutions to the problem through targeted practice, and finally return to another game form that more closely resembles the matchday format.” 

Harvey continues, “Central to game-based learning is the coach or teacher’s ability to guide learning through questioning, purposeful manipulation of game conditions, and the provision of just-in-time feedback. Rather than telling players what to do, coaches and teachers create game situations that challenge them to think, adapt and solve problems. 

This approach empowers players to transfer what they learn in practice directly into real-game situations.” 

These ideas are captured in the Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) model, which teaches players to think strategically by learning through game situations, and the Play, Practice, Play (P–P–P) format, which combines small-sided games, targeted practice, and full-game scenarios that mimic match play. U.S. Soccer has embedded these approaches into its coach education programs, and FIFA is now amplifying them to a global audience. 

“Through my work, we’ve shown that when teachers and coaches are supported with mentoring, resources, and backing from parents and administrators, they can successfully adopt game-based approaches,” Harvey said. “The result is that players not only develop their technical skills but also learn how and when to apply them under pressure. And that’s what the game ultimately demands.” 

FIFA Training Centre: Why global recognition matters 

The FIFA Training Centre provides coaches, players, and educators worldwide with access to standardized, cutting-edge soccer training and education. Thousands of coaches, from grassroots volunteers to professionals in elite academies, use the platform to refine their practice and develop players. National associations across all member countries rely on its resources to shape youth programs and advance coaching standards globally. 

Contributing to this platform is both an honor and a responsibility for Harvey. 

“It’s rewarding, not only personally but also as a representative of 51����,” he said. “FIFA’s recognition shows that our commitment to improving how young people learn and play sports resonates far beyond our campus.” 

By sharing his expertise with soccer coaches on a worldwide stage, Harvey helps translate research-backed coaching methods into practical strategies for players and educators. 

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Long-term impact of game-based coaching on soccer development 

One of Harvey’s goals with the Training Centre is to help coaches translate research into actionable strategies. 

“Long-term, I hope coaches worldwide will be more confident using player-centered, game-based methods because they have developed their knowledge and understanding of them to encourage their application in real-world contexts,” said Harvey. 

He believes that when coaches use game-based methods, they help create more thoughtful and adaptable players who are also intrinsically motivated to stay engaged in the sport. That sustained connection is valuable, whether players continue as athletes, coaches, referees, or administrators. 

“That aligns perfectly with 51����’s mission to create knowledge that serves communities locally and globally,” Harvey added. “And it reflects the Patton College of Education’s mission to prepare leaders who can have a broad impact at the local level.” 

Opportunities for 51���� students in global sport education 

How does Harvey’s work with FIFA translate into learning opportunities for 51���� students? 

“For our students, it shows the practical but global value of what they’re learning,” he said. “They can see how ideas developed here are influencing how the world’s biggest sport is being taught and coached.” 

This visibility, Harvey argues, is more than symbolic. 

“It opens new opportunities for students to connect with international networks, pursue innovative projects, and imagine careers in coaching, education, and sport science that operate on the world stage,” he said. “In short, it gives them a front-row seat to see how ideas developed at OHIO can shape the future of sport worldwide.” 

Patton College of Education's sport pedagogy on the global stage 

University leaders point to Harvey’s recognition by FIFA as evidence of the Patton College’s international impact.  

“Dr. Harvey’s work with FIFA shows just how far the Patton College of Education’s influence reaches,” said Lisa Harrison, dean of the Patton College of Education. “Having our faculty recognized internationally highlights the real-world relevance of the research and teaching happening at 51����, and the positive impact it has on sport, education, and communities everywhere.” 

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From Athens to FIFA: Turning research into global coaching practice 

Harvey’s career combines rigorous research with hands-on coaching experience. He has published academic research, co-developed the, coached at the junior international level, and worked with national governing bodies and the U.S. Olympic Committee as a coach educator. This combination of scholarship and practice made him an ideal contributor to FIFA’s Training Centre. 

Through his work, 51���� research reaches coaches across the globe, reflecting the Patton College’s mission to prepare leaders who bridge research and practice to make a real-world impact. Harvey’s sessions provide practical tools and insights that support coaches in adopting evidence-based methods in their training. 

As the FIFA Training Centre continues to grow, Harvey’s involvement keeps the Patton College of Education in the conversation about how the world’s most popular game is taught and coached. 

“By coaches using game-based approaches, this can help develop more thoughtful, adaptable players who love the game and stay involved longer,” he said. “That benefits not just soccer, but the communities those players are part of.” 

From Athens to the global stage, Harvey’s work shows how faculty expertise can shape the future of the beautiful game of soccer as well as all sports, and how 51���� students are positioned to be part of that story now and for years to come.