Youth club football

Bringing the four types of play to life

2024-05-26T10:40:00Z

In my 53 years, being a child, teenager, adult, sister, teacher coach, play has been central to everything I enjoy. I have had my most inspiring moments of learning when I have been involved in play or leading through play. Whether this has bee...(read more)

The power of child-friendly language to help nurture young players in football

2024-03-28T13:49:56Z

As coaches, parents, and captains of play, we often hold the keys to unlocking a child's potential on and off the football pitch. Just as a well-placed pass can lead to a goal scoring opportunity, our words can shape a young player's understa...(read more)

Sleep as a superpower: the importance of sleep for growth, maturation and performance in grassroots football

2024-02-20T19:00:00Z

Oliver Topping is a health and wellbeing physiologist for Nuffield Health, helping people understand how lifestyle behaviours (i.e., exercise, diet, sleep etc.) can impact their health, mind, and body. He has also previously been involved with resear...(read more)

The Greater Game: take a shot at improving your player’s wellbeing

2024-02-20T18:55:32Z

Viki Dyke is a senior cognitive behavioural therapist at Nuffield Health working with both children/young people, and adults who have mental health difficulties. In this blog, she explains why thinking well for young people is key for the overal...(read more)

The Greater Game: what does dehydration really mean for on-pitch success?

2024-02-20T18:49:51Z

Dom Edwards, is an experienced youth football coach, having held roles in both the boys' and girls' games within grassroots, academy, and university football. Dom uses his experience of working with the 12-16-year-old age grou...(read more)

The Greater Game: finding ways to encourage physical activity away from training

2024-02-20T18:41:39Z

Dom Edwards, the greater game support officer, shares ways to encourage physical activity away from training. Dom is an experienced youth football coach, having held roles in both the boys' and girls' games within grassroots, academy, an...(read more)

Adapting activities to engage all children

2024-01-25T10:34:00Z

If you think back to your first memories of playing football, the chances are that it was not with a size-five football on a full-size pitch with seven-metre-wide goalposts. For me, my first Wembley stadium was my Mum and Dad’s front room. The...(read more)

Five blogs you may have missed

2023-12-20T09:15:59Z

As we approach the end of the year, we’ve rounded up five blogs you may have missed from us in 2023. 1. Top tips for coaching transition Coach development officer Victoria Fishershares some top tips on how you can incorpo...(read more)

Five podcast episodes you may have missed in 2023

2023-12-15T07:00:00Z

As we approach the end of the year, we’ve rounded up five podcast episodes you may have missed from Coachcast in 2023.(read more)

A first playing experience

2023-12-13T09:06:00Z

As the rain clouds finally parted, the U11’s girls were preparing for their first football match. An in-house game was organised to ensure their first enjoyable experience. The 6v6 game lasted for around 45 minutes, with the coaches split...(read more)

Five articles you may have missed in 2023

2023-12-08T07:00:00Z

As we approach the end of the year, we’ve rounded up five articles you may have missed from us in 2023.(read more)

Five sessions you might have missed in 2023

2023-12-01T13:19:08Z

As we approach the end of the year, we’ve rounded up five session ideas you may have missed from us in 2023. Save, support, repeat Want to engage goalkeepers in your practices? This small-sided game from Ian Bateman gives your GKs plenty of opp...(read more)

Play phase : the role of smaller formats

2023-11-27T14:11:30Z

Clare Daniels, senior national development manager of solutions and innovations for the FA, explains why smaller game formats are being introduced through the play phase and how to deliver them as captains of play. Children who attend ...(read more)

How to work with parents who are concerned about player’s playing time

2023-09-28T11:36:00Z

Youth coach developers, Pav Singh and Suey Smith, discuss how coaches can work with parents who are concerned about player’s playing time. They discuss line up announcements and how to play subs. vimeo.com/.../94267bc320 vimeo.com/......(read more)

Play phase - how can we get our children off to the perfect start?

2023-09-26T11:09:15Z

“Spread out” and “pass it” are all wonderful things to do when playing football and when you see players at the highest level do it effectively, it is a joy to watch. However, this level of competence will have been achieved t...(read more)