Meet Joseph Taylor - Creator of The Total Player
“Training should make players better - not just ready for the weekend.”
Joseph Taylor’s journey in football began with a dream - one shared by millions of kids around the world. But unlike most, Joseph didn’t just chase that dream - he dissected it, challenged it, and ultimately reshaped it.
From competing on professional pitches across Singapore, England, and Italy to becoming the founder of The Total Player, Joseph’s path has been anything but traditional. Along the way, he learned a hard truth about athlete development: elite performance doesn’t come from replication - it comes from transformation.
From the Pitch to the Science Lab
Joseph grew up playing football in Australia, driven by one clear goal: to become a professional player. At seventeen, he checked that box, debuting for the reigning Singapore Premier League champions, Tampines Rovers. It was the start of a decade-long career spanning clubs and countries.
But as he progressed, something didn’t sit right.
“As a player, so much of our preparation was geared toward the match at the weekend, which meant my individual growth and development were never really the priority.”
His frustration with standard training methods pushed him toward something deeper - the science of movement. Joseph began studying sports science to understand how the body genuinely adapts and performs, rather than simply “survives” another match cycle. What he uncovered reshaped his purpose.
A New Way to Train - One Player at a Time
After retiring from playing, Joseph immediately put his newfound understanding to work - first in coaching and soon after with elite players across England, including pros from clubs like Manchester City and Manchester United. Within three months of coaching, he was already making waves.
His mission was sharply defined: give players the individual attention and development he never had - a training approach built on real-world performance demands rather than predictable gym routines.
“Everything I do now is about giving players the individual development I never had, so they can actually improve their game - not just prepare for the weekend.”
Today, Joseph runs one-to-one coaching, elite training camps, and talent ID showcases across Europe. These programs aren’t simply about drills - they’re about transforming how players move, think, and perform under pressure.
Why Traditional Training Falls Short
One thing Joseph constantly returns to is the mismatch between traditional training and the realities of competitive football.
Most sessions are predictable and linear - designed to replicate rehearsed movements rather than match intensity. But real games are anything but predictable. They are fluid, reactive, and dynamic.
This became evident in studies following the Covid period, where injury rates surged in part due to sudden drops in exposure to unpredictable movement stimuli. Joseph took this insight and applied it to his coaching philosophy.
“Elite athletes need far more exposure to the unknown, the unexpected, and the unforeseeable.”
This belief is central to how he trains - and it’s where BlazePod has become an indispensable tool.
BlazePod - Creating Game-Like Pressure in Training
Joseph uses BlazePod not as a gimmick, but as a movement and decision-making catalyst. Instead of static drills with set patterns, BlazePod introduces authentic unpredictability - forcing players to react, perceive, and move exactly as they would in competition.
“It shifts the drill from predictable repetition to genuine game-like decision making.”
BlazePod also gives Joseph objective performance data - benchmarks that help him fine-tune training, support return-to-play protocols, and even aid clubs in identifying and selecting talent.
Sessions That Players Love
Joseph’s training sessions are fast, competitive, and engaging. One of his go-to drills uses a square grid of Pods where players react to lit targets, return to centre, and complete passes - all under time pressure. This drill isn’t just effective - it’s often the highlight of the session.
For testing, he frequently uses the 5-10-5 Pro Agility drill, tracking acceleration, braking, and change of direction - three foundational elements for football performance.
Joseph also designs bespoke BlazePod sequences to challenge perception, first-touch technique, and split-second decision making - all while training players to adopt authentic movement patterns.
Advice for Coaches and Creators
Joseph has learned a lot from working with elite athletes and brands alike. His message to coaches starting out is honest and grounded:
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Pursue relationships, not hype. Working with pros isn’t glamorous - it’s demanding and often unpredictable.
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Only promote what you genuinely believe in. Authenticity matters in both training and brand partnerships.
“If a product isn’t for you, or you don’t genuinely believe in it, there’s no point forcing a partnership.”
What’s Next for The Total Player
Looking forward, Joseph’s focus remains clear: refine his training approach, expand online and remote programming, grow his summer camps, and develop more talent ID showcases across Europe - all with the same core philosophy: build better players through smarter, more authentic training.
He credits his relentless drive to the passion that first brought him into the game - and keeps him showing up every day.
“If you don’t love this job, it’s not for you. But if you do, showing up every day becomes the easiest part.”
