Ben and Mike call in the big guns, elite coach Edu Rubio, to help them crack formations, teamwork and how to stop their lads from bunching. Along the way, they confront their own coaching disasters, debate England vs. Spain’s youth setups and uncover the real secret to coaching kids: it’s not tactics - it’s psychology.
The key takeaways? Get to know your players and make them feel valued, because coaching isn’t just about formations and winning. Praise progress, not just results and focus on developing skills rather than chasing the win.
Involve players in decision-making to boost their engagement and learning and above all, stay calm and lead by example - if you lose your head, they will too. If you’ve ever wondered how to get an 8-year-old to listen, this one’s for you.
The former West Ham and Wolves first-team coach also shares his thoughts on the FA’s latest steps to improve grassroots youth football in England.
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