coaching Archives - Team Grassroots

“Its easy to pick a team, isnt it?”

GRF Admin 06/02/2020

Have you ever wondered how hard it is to pick a team? They’re only 5 who can play on the pitch at any one time and I’ve got 9 to pick from, I want to put them all on! This is so…

The Press up Rondo warmup

GRF Admin 07/01/2020

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF COACHING YOUR OWN CHILD

GRF Admin 04/12/2019

At grassroots level thanks to all the help given by wonderful parent volunteers there is the scenario that the parent may end up being responsible and coaching their own child as part of a team. It is a wonderful opportunity for parent…

Top tips: Grassroots Coaching practices

GRF Admin 28/11/2019

Les Howie, FA head of grassroots coaching, looks at five key issues for coaches to consider when delivering practices. 1. How do I ensure the players leave my coaching session with a smile on their face? Creating a positive learning environment with…

‘Why do I only come on if we’re winning by loads or losing by loads?’

GRF Admin 18/11/2019

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…

An alternative approach to talent identification

GRF Admin 11/11/2019

The most interesting aspect to talent spotting are those players that are continually left behind. The forgotten ones are almost always the youngest and smallest in a year group. In England, where age-groups begin in September few players born in the second…

10 Top Tips for Winter training from the FA

GRF Admin 10/11/2019

Over the coming months, many coaches will brave winter conditions to deliver coaching sessions to young players. Here, FA regional coach development manager, Martin Dighton, provides ten top tips to help fully engage with players when working outdoors. 1) Young children are…

The Expectations Vs The Reality of Grassroots Football

GRF Admin 10/11/2019

Over the years I have had the privilege of meeting some fantastic people through coaching here in the UK. I’m not talking solely about coaches, I’m talking about good honest people in and around the game who are players, parents, referees, club…

Over training in children – How to Spot the Signs

GRF Admin 07/11/2019

It might seem strange reading about over training in children. Especially in an age where kids are supposedly less active! But it’s a very real possibility. I run a sports injury clinic and have seen a massive rise in the number of…

Are the Professional clubs getting scouting wrong with kids?

GRF Admin 16/10/2019

“Anyone who tells you they can spot a professional player at five years old is basically lying,” says talent ID manager Nick Levett, an expert in the eight to 11-year-old age group and one of several FA appointments encouraging clubs to improve…

20-0 !!! Coach speaks out, Why are we seeing these scores every week??

GRF Admin 13/10/2019

20-0 games are soul destroying and can take weeks, months to re build a child’s self esteem so why do we witness it week in week out ! And who benefits from this score line? So this weekend I’ve seen some interesting…

Message from a Grassroots Coach, a letter I will never send.

GRF Admin 11/07/2019

Today I heard a comment made about me behind my back. I started to turn around and look, but then decided better of it and kept my eyes on the field. My wife hears things like this more often than I do,…