It's Only Kids Football

In this episode of hosts Ben Welch and Mike Clark are joined by Essex County FA Coach Development Officer Jake Ling to breakdown the FA’s brand-new Grassroots Coaching Fundamentals.

Jake walks through the eight updated pillars - from maximising active ball-rolling time and designing game-realistic practices to praising specific effort and actively seeking player feedback.

The conversation turns raw and honest as Ben and Mike open up about the overwhelming emotional strain and late-night fixation that comes with being a parent-coach on the touchline.

Together with Jake, they tackle the delicate dynamic of coaching your own child and discuss how to overcome the fear of parent judgment. The team also breaks down practical solutions like the FA’s "Stepping Over the Sidelines" initiative and local Monday night CPD workshops designed to give volunteer coaches a safe space to vent, learn, and collaborate.

Whether you are a brand-new volunteer or a seasoned grassroots manager, this episode delivers practical frameworks and a needed reminder: at the end of the day, it's just kids' football.

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In this episode, hosts Ben and Mike kick off with Grassroots Hero or Bizzy Rascal to call out the latest over-the-top sideline behaviours. The hosts quickly dive into match day realities, debating the frustrating costs of insisting on playing out from the back.

Ben opens up about a challenging touchline moment where a referee called out his aggressive shouting towards his son, sparking a vulnerable reflection on dad-coach pressures, tone of voice and avoiding treating young players like personal projects.

The pair also tackle operational headaches, contrasting the chaotic logistics of managing 3v3 formats with traditional 5v5 matches, alongside the struggle of balancing equal game time with bloated substitute benches.

Finally, drawing on insightful advice from youth performance coaches and AI perspectives, Ben and Mike explore how to alleviate parental "FOMO" and ensure the post-match car ride home remains a safe space for young players.

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In Part Two of this deep dive with Paul Barry — Head of coaching at Football DNA with experience at Crystal Palace, Arsenal, and Watford — Ben and Mike breaks down how to bring professional academy standards to grassroots teams.

Paul moves beyond sideline shouting to explain how academies systematically teach pressing, focusing on small-sided games (3v3s) and reading visual cues like heavy touches or backward passes.

He unpacks methods for escaping an intense press through brave positioning, goalkeeper management and making intentional "space passes" over pressure rather than aimlessly clearing the ball.

The conversation pivots to player psychology, revealing practical anchoring techniques, such as physical gestures like brushing off shoulders or tapping heads, that help young players reset instantly after mistakes and maintain concentration for their "next action."

Finally, the episode highlights team culture, introducing the "PROUD" framework (Progressive, Respectful, Optimistic, Unified, Dedicated). Paul explains how grassroots coaches can adapt top-level habits to foster maturity and discipline while keeping the game enjoyable, engaging, and age-appropriate for young players.

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In this episode Ben and Mike get honest about the pressure, obsession, and guilt that come with volunteer coaching. After taking their U11s to play Ipswich Town’s Category 1 Academy, a tough 80-minute lesson prompts a powerful reality check on expectations, burnout and remembering that at the end of the day, you're just a dad doing your best.

The episode takes an emotional turn as Ben shares the agony of missing his son Charlie’s match, only to hear how his U7s staged a sensational 4-3 comeback win. That pure, unforgettable victory feeling captures exactly why we fall in love with youth football in the first place.

Packed with relatable Sunday league banter—including the hilarious new "Grassroots Hero or Busy B*stard" debate—plus actionable coaching tips and listener Q&As on equal game time, this episode is a must-listen for every grassroots coach, volunteer, and parent navigating youth football today.

Get the Veo Go phone rig, tripod, and bag (a £50 value) for free when you sign up for £29/month using code IOKFOOTBALL. You can cancel anytime after month one and keep the gear: https://www.veo.com/product/veo-go

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What actually happens when a grassroots team takes on a Premier League Academy? In this episode, Ben and Mike break down their recent clash against Ipswich Town Under-10s —from holding their own in a 3-2 thriller to facing a brutal second-half reality check. Joined by Paul Barry, Head of Coaching at Football DNA with experience at Arsenal, Crystal Palace, and Watford, the guys dissect the massive gap between grassroots and academy setups.

Paul reveals why contact time changes everything, how to implement Individual Development Plans (IDPs), and why volunteer coaches must stop beating themselves up over results. The conversation dives deep into tactical masterclasses: teaching off-the-ball movement, coaching rest defence, and using the "IDEA" Framework to dramatically boost player decision-making.

Learn how to ask your players the right questions on the sideline, understand pitch perspective from a child’s eye level, and steal elite academy principles you can drop directly into your next Tuesday night session. Whether you are a parent managing expectations or a volunteer coach seeking practical training ideas, this episode delivers actionable, real-world advice.

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Ben and Mike break down a bittersweet weekend on the touchline. The main talking point revolves around the Under-11s’ gutting 3-1 derby opening-day loss to their local rivals, the Blues.

Despite a strong performance and a momentum-building equaliser, a mid-game overhaul of four simultaneous substitutions disrupted the team’s rhythm, leading directly to conceded goals and an elusive penalty call that went against them. The hosts candidly debate whether prioritising equal playing time and prepping for 9-a-side football is actively costing them results in tight matches.

Counterbalancing the defeat, Ben celebrates his younger son Charlie’s sensational 3v3 debut, where he netted 13 goals. The episode also covers their latest training drills and upcoming fixture against Ipswich Town's Premier League academy.

Finally, the hosts reflect on emotional listener feedback about parenting, emphasising the importance of staying present and cherishing every moment before the kids grow up.

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In the final episode of this six-part series, Ben and Mike join child development early childhood learning specialist Laura Mellor-Bachman to reveal how grassroots football coaches can build a united front with parents.

The episode addresses the real-world challenge of managing sideline expectations, shifting the narrative from rigid adult-style drills to essential play-based frameworks. Laura shares practical communication strategies for addressing challenging child behaviour, emphasising private consultation and treating parents as experts on their own children. The discussion highlights the balance between setting firm boundaries and avoiding people-pleasing, offering clear ways to delegate responsibilities to prevent coach burnout.

Additionally, the episode explores pitch-side conflict resolution, demonstrating how coaches can leverage neurological "mirror neurons" and "connection before correction" to de-escalate heated moments with adults and young players alike. Packed with actionable advice, this episode provides grassroots volunteers and coaches with the relational tools needed to build trust, foster long-term player retention, and ensure no coach ever becomes a child's last.

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Ben and Mike relive the Ballers Elite showcase game at Tottenham's training ground, where Ben's frustration watching his son turns into one of his proudest parenting moments. They share a new way of reviewing match clips, asking kids what they were thinking rather than telling them what went wrong and unpack why confidence at home doesn't always travel to unfamiliar pitches.

There's a fun new warm-up drill worth stealing, an honest SOS about giving 11 players fair game time in a 7-a-side squad and a heavy listener story about a tournament meltdown that spiralled out of control. As ever, the takeaway is the same: rehearse difficult moments before they happen, because staying calm matters more than any tactic ever will.

There's also a candid moment where Ben opens up about the hidden pressure that comes with being the coach's own child — the added scrutiny, expectation and subconscious weight that kids of coaching parents carry, simply because they're always around it and always want to make their dad proud. Honest, unfiltered grassroots talk for parents and coaches.

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In part five of their coaching masterclass with Little Kickers, Ben and Mike sit down again with early childhood learning specialist Laura Mellor-Bachman to tackle grassroots football's most-asked-about topic: the parent-coach relationship.

Laura explains why sideline meltdowns almost always come from one place, care, not chaos, and shares practical ways coaches can set expectations early so parents know exactly what to expect from day one. The trio get personal too, recounting a touchline incident where things turned genuinely nasty, and unpacking a strange encounter with aggressively positive opposition parents who unintentionally frightened their own players.

Along the way, they explore why every sideline blow-up ultimately comes down to ego, how to keep a child's experience separate from a parent's own memories and expectations, and why Vygotsky's zone of proximal development explains why struggle is essential for kids to actually improve and build real, lasting confidence on the pitch.

Honest, practical listening for any parent, coach or volunteer who's ever felt their blood boil on the touchline, with just one episode left in this six-part series.

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Ben and Mike are back with a double dose of grassroots chaos: tournament tales, a brand new format, and a lot of soul-searching. Their Barking FC tournament run swings from two straight wins to a possible academy-ringer thrashing, before ending in heartbreak with a cup exit against old rivals.

Ben opens up about the harsh words he regrets shouting at his own son mid-meltdown, and how tough love in another game got Alfie back out on the pitch to help the team storm to an 8-1 win. Then it's Charlie's turn, as the youngest Welch is thrown into the confusing, chaotic new world of 3v3 football, uneven numbers, unclear rules and all.

Along the way there's a listener's kind message about Raph's newly diagnosed asthma, a LinkedIn post that changed how Ben parents, and honest reflections on season goals: calmer team talks and learning to treat your own kid like everyone else's.

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In part four of our six-week masterclass with Little Kickers, Ben and Mike sit down with early childhood learning specialist Laura Mellor-Bachman to tackle one of the toughest moments in youth sport: the meltdown.

Whether it's tears after losing the ball or a full-blown tantrum mid-match, Laura reveals why phrases like "suck it up" make things worse, and what to say instead.

She breaks down the science behind emotional outbursts, explaining why kids can't just "snap out of it" and how acknowledging their feelings first is the fastest route back to calm.

The episode also digs into spotting performative crying versus genuine distress, with a real example from Ben's own home. Packed with practical techniques, this is essential listening for any coach, volunteer or parent who's ever frozen on the sideline wondering what to say next.

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In this episode, Ben and Mike travel to Copenhagen to meet Henrik Teisbæk, co-founder of Veo, the AI-powered sports camera used by over 50,000 grassroots football clubs worldwide.

Henrik reveals the real story behind Veo, born from a missed goal and a father who arrived too late to film his son's first strike, and how that frustration sparked a mission to bring professional-level video and analytics to Sunday League football.

They explore how AI coaching technology is levelling the playing field for grassroots coaches and parents, why filming games quietly improves sideline behaviour and how to use match footage and data to give young players constructive feedback without overwhelming them.

Henrik also looks ahead to Veo's new analytics tools, personalised player insights, and a future where every grassroots team could have elite-level coaching support. A must-listen for parents, coaches and volunteers passionate about improving youth football.

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Giving feedback to young footballers after a game is one of the trickiest balancing acts in grassroots football. Whether you are dealing with a silent ride home, defensive reactions or outright disinterest, traditional post-match lectures often fall on deaf ears.

In this episode, Ben and Mike sit down with expert Laura Mellor-Bachman to reveal how coaches and parents can transform full-time reactions into meaningful learning moments.

Discover why swapping emotional car journey critiques for objective, observation-based feedback completely changes how children receive guidance. Learn practical sideline techniques - such as simple mid-game note-taking - that help you step back from matchday stress and deliver calm, targeted recaps.

Packed with real-world examples and actionable communication tips, this episode provides the ultimate playbook for fostering intrinsic motivation, improving player engagement and ensuring your matchday advice actually sticks.

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In this episode, Ben and Mike stagger back from their holidays to face the glorious, chaotic mess of youth football pre-season. First up, Mike delivers a classic dad-guilt moment after realising his son wasn't just being lazy—he actually has severe asthma.

The boys then dive into the training pitch, breaking down high-energy 1v1 reaction drills, the 'Rivals' game, and how to stop screaming at your own flesh and blood when a drill goes sideways. Throw in the absolute nightmare of arranging 3v3 friendlies, snide football kits from abroad, and a quick reality check on why we’ll actually miss these freezing, muddy Sunday mornings, and you’ve got classic touchline therapy. Put the kettle on!

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Why do some coaches instantly capture a group's attention while others spend an entire session repeating themselves? In this episode, hosts Ben and Mike are joined by Laura Mellor-Backman, Director of Curriculum and Training at Stronger Youth Brands and an early childhood learning specialist, to uncover the secret to getting young footballers to actually listen.

Drawing on child development research and years of experience designing programmes for young children, Laura explains why listening isn't about speaking louder - it's about communicating differently.

Together, they explore how body language, storytelling, questioning, structure and play all help children stay engaged, while sharing practical strategies for supporting shy players, managing challenging behaviour and creating sessions that are both fun and purposeful.

This conversation will help you communicate more effectively, build stronger connections with your players and create an environment where every child can learn, grow and develop a lifelong love of football.

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From scoring the winning goal on his Premier League debut for boyhood club West Ham to coaching his own children on a Sunday morning, Freddie Sears has experienced almost every level of the game. But despite a career spanning more than 460 professional appearances, it’s grassroots football that now gives him some of his greatest enjoyment.

In this episode, Freddie joins Ben and Mike in the studio to reflect on growing up playing grassroots football, the coaches and parents who shaped him, and the unforgettable moment he fulfilled his childhood dream at West Ham. He also opens up about the challenges of coaching his own children, managing expectations, dealing with nerves and finding the balance between pushing young players and simply letting them enjoy football.

For parents and coaches, Freddie’s message is clear: football should be fun. His story is a powerful reminder that the friendships, memories and experiences created on a Sunday morning can mean far more than the result.

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Why do young players ignore instructions, forget skills they've mastered in training or simply want to play instead of listening? In this episode, hosts Ben and Mike, are joined by Laura Mellor-Bachman, Director of Curriculum and Training at Stronger Youth Brands and an early childhood learning specialist, to explore what's really happening inside a young footballer's brain.

Drawing on child development research and years of experience designing programmes for young children, Laura explains why play is the foundation of learning, how emotional safety shapes confidence and why coaches often expect more than children are developmentally ready for.

Whether you're a grassroots coach, volunteer or football parent, this conversation will help you better understand how young players think, learn and develop—giving you practical insights to create more enjoyable sessions and help every child build a lifelong love of football.

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What does it really take to help a young footballer become a better goalscorer? In this episode, Ben and Mike are joined by former Football League striker and specialist finishing coach Dan Holman to uncover the coaching principles that develop confident, clinical finishers.

From improving ball striking and mastering different finishing techniques to making smarter runs, finding space and bouncing back after missed chances, Dan explains how goalscorers are made through practice, patience and repetition—not just natural talent.

The conversation also explores how parents can support their child's development at home without over-coaching, why confidence is built through keeping promises rather than chasing perfection, and the small mindset shifts that can make a huge difference on matchday.

This episode is packed with practical advice that parents, volunteers and grassroots coaches can start using immediately.

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What separates the young footballers who keep improving from those who stand still? According to ex-professionals and Complete Football Academy coaches Kudus Oyenuga and Garry Richards, it isn't talent — it's mentality.

Joining Ben and Mike, they explore how parents and coaches can develop resilience, intensity and self-belief without crushing a child's confidence or love for the game.

Through stories from academy football, grassroots coaching and parenting their own children, they discuss why kids need to be challenged, why protecting them too much can hold them back, and how the right standards can unlock potential both on and off the pitch.

They also share practical advice on coaching your own child, giving feedback that motivates rather than discourages, and creating environments where young players learn to embrace mistakes, work harder and push beyond their comfort zone.

Get your team a free £300 Discount Football Kits voucher by using our exclusive link to collect subscriptions through GoCardless at https://www.itsonlykidsfootball.com/offers

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In this webinar, hosts Ben and Mike host an expert panel, featuring the FA’s head of grassroots coach, John Folwell, elite academy coach Michael Fox, professional goalkeeper Mark Howard, and youth league chairman Ryan Walker—to dissect the FA’s new 3v3 format for under-7s.

Drawing on extensively tested research and real-world rollout experience, John and Ryan explain how 3v3 maximises active playing time, touches, and player autonomy while simplifying match logistics for grassroots clubs.

The panel explores the core philosophy of giving the game back to the kids, highlighting how small-sided matches foster creative decision-making and fundamental movement skills without early parental or sideline pressure.

Beyond the general format, the discussion tackles heat-button debates—including the controversial removal of goalkeepers, logistical pitch setups, parent-facilitator roles, and managing mixed-ability squads. Packed with practical advice on matchday execution, training adaptations, and navigating adult mindset shifts, this session offers an essential roadmap for coaches and parents embarking on the 3v3 journey.

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