Why do children keep making the same “mistakes” in matches even when they seem to know what to do in training?

In this episode, we explore a common frustration for parents and grassroots coaches and explain why the answer is often not a lack of skill.

During games, children aren’t consciously recalling instructions or techniques. Instead, they rely on habits - the behaviours and decisions they’ve repeated most often in their football experiences.

That’s why:

• Players can look confident in training but freeze or play safe in matches

• The same mistakes keep showing up on game day

• Constant instructions from the sidelines rarely lead to better decisions

We discuss:

• How decision-making in football is largely unconscious

• The difference between training performance and match behaviour

• Why habits matter more than instructions

• What parents and coaches can focus on to support better long-term development

This episode is for:

• Parents trying to understand what they’re seeing on match days

• Grassroots coaches looking to improve decision-making without adding pressure