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Futsal is a skilful and high-intensity game played by ten players on an indoor court with a heavy ball. Here, FA youth coach developer, Ian Bateman, explains why Futsal is the perfect game for indoor training over the winter period. 1) If you are taking your team indoors for winter training, getting them to play […]
The FA want to hear the opinions of everyone involved in Youth football, whether that is directly (e.g. as a coach, a manager, a parent of a youth player, a match official, a club or league admin role, etc) or indirectly (e.g. a spectator, in a previous role, etc). Take the Survey HERE […]
I could not believe what I saw, my own child buzzing the day before after an amazing training session and less than 24 hours later, he was back in my lap saying he did not want to do this anymore. Was this I do not want to do football anymore? Surely not after the huge […]
Read More… from Your child does not want to play! What do you do?
As a coach I have realised every coach is different and have both different temperaments and reasons for being involved in football. Some play for the win, striving for the precious 3 points a victory brings. Others do the job for the hope that their team and the individuals in the team will show improvement. […]
Read More… from Lessons I’ve learnt in my first year as a Grassroots Coach
So why did I want to be a football coach and what did I think I would get out of it? The answer is not as simple as you might think. Actually it’s a bloody tough one to consider but I’ll try and be as honest as I can. When a parent looks over and […]
Read More… from ‘Why do I only come on if we’re winning by loads or losing by loads?’
Oh Great! It’s Sunday! A Grassroots Substitutes Parent It’s Sunday, the day my son has been waiting for all week. It’s football day. For me it can be the worst day of the week, from waking up to an excited child to going watching all the excitement ebb away as his game time dribs away […]
Read More… from Oh Great! It’s Sunday! A Grassroots Substitutes Parents’ Matchday
Severs disease is the most common issue I have seen recently with children. The majority of them currently play football extensively! It’s also called calcaneal apophysitis and its not really a disease, but an over use injury where by the growth plate in the heel can become inflamed and painful due to excessive force and […]
Read More… from SEVERS DISEASE – Symptoms, Signs and Treatments
“Anyone who tells you they can spot a professional player at five years old is basically lying,” says former talent ID manager Nick Levett, an expert in the eight to 11-year-old age group. Scouting football players as young as five, persuading an 11-year-old to sign a contract with private school education or offering a teenager’s […]
Read More… from Are the Professional clubs getting scouting wrong with kids?
