Shouting From The Sidelines

Does playing up an age group actually make your child better at football?

Plenty of parents think it does. And sometimes it can help. But nobody talks about the hidden costs of always playing up, and that's what this episode is all about.

I break down how kids really improve at football through gradual overload, and why rushing them into older or higher ability groups can cost them their enjoyment, their time with their mates and the time and space they need to actually develop.

I explain when playing up does make sense, like for the bigger, stronger child who needs a level playing field, and why even academy players can benefit from one easier session a week where they can relax, try things and be top dog again.

I share how an underload session helped a Man City academy player and why two of our former players came back to us from academies just to play.

I also cover the child who's struggling and needs dropping down, why parents need to take ego out of it, and where to find the right sessions for your child. And I finish with the story of a dad who was worried his 5 year old would pick up bad habits at a holiday camp.

Kids just want to play. Let them play.

Foot-Tech Academy sessions and holiday camps in Leeds: https://foot-techacademy.co.uk/

Coaches, check out Online Football Courses: https://onlinefootballcourses.com/?gi=a5c1a13bb6887e052044a8c3ca01d318467a4c6e

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A friend's son, 13, has just been released from his JPL team for physicality, not football ability.

In this episode I share the advice I gave, what I'd do if it was my own child, and why the obvious first move (gym work, extra one-to-ones) can actually hold kids back.

A must-listen for any football parent who's been here or worried they might be.

Subscribe for more from Shouting from the Sidelines.

Join a Foot-Tech Academy session at foot-techacademy.co.uk or explore our coaching courses at onlinefootballcourses.com.

Street football is dying out, and it's not coming back the way it was.

In this episode I sit down with Nick from NM One to One Coaching to talk about why, and what kids actually need instead.

We get into why free play matters more than structured drills, how academies can accidentally kill a child's love for the game, why intrinsic motivation beats parental pressure every time, and why "late bloomers" so often turn out to be the most naturally gifted players.

If you're a football parent, a coach, or someone who grew up playing on the street and wants to understand what's changed, this one's for you.

Nick runs NM One to One Coaching in North Lancashire and South Cumbria. Find him on Instagram: nm1_2_1coaching

Brought to you by Foot-Tech Academy, coaching over 1,100 children a week across North and East Leeds.

Get our coaching ebooks: https://onlinefootballcourses.com

Live in Leeds? Get your child involved in our football sessions: https://foot-techacademy.co.uk/

What actually makes a great coach? It's not football knowledge. In this episode I explain why, and the six things that genuinely separate the coaches who develop children from the ones who don't.

It's not about badges or how much a coach knows. It's how they behave, how they communicate, and the environment they create. I walk through six behaviours that make the real difference, with practical advice for both parents and coaches, and the research that backs it up.

Want your child to train with us? Book a taster session: https://www.foot-techacademy.co.uk

Coaches, get our resources and ebooks: https://onlinefootballcourses.com

Seven in ten children quit organised sport before they turn 13. A huge part of the reason is how adults speak to them when things go wrong.

In this episode of Shouting from the Sidelines we talk about something that happens every single weekend at grassroots football - coaches and parents who genuinely care, but whose words are quietly doing damage. Not through malice. Just through habit, and not knowing any different.

This episode covers the research behind positive reinforcement in youth sport, the 5:1 Magic Ratio, and what good coaching feedback actually looks and sounds like in practice.

We also breaks down the "connect before correct" principle, explains why asking kids questions beats telling them every time, and gives parents three simple things they can do differently on the sideline this weekend.

Want to join one of our sessions in North and East Leeds? Book a free taster at: https://foot-techacademy.co.uk/

Looking to develop your coaching? Browse our ebooks at: https://onlinefootballcourses.com/

Foot-Tech Academy coaches over 1,100 children weekly across North and East Leeds, using a games-based approach built around child development and a genuine love of the game.

New episodes every month.

This month, we were invited onto Robert Ursell's podcast Raising Footballers Unfiltered - and the conversation was too good not to share with with out listeners!

Rob is a former professional footballer and England Futsal international, now based in Dubai where he runs The Futsal Academy.

We have been going back and forth on Instagram for a couple of years - agreeing on some things, pushing back on others and this episode is that conversation in full plus loads more.

We cover:

What is the constraint-led approach and does it actually work?We break down how Foot-Tech structures sessions from the moment kids arrive, why 100% opposed training is non-negotiable and how we get even complete beginners learning through the game.

"They're not ready for opposed training yet" — the biggest myth in youth football?Both coaches address the most common pushback they receive head-on, and share why the research tells a very different story.

Red flags every parent should know aboutFrom sessions that look more like dance rehearsals than football, to coaches using kids as extras in their own highlight reels, to the "we'll get your child scouted" promise - we break down the content and coaching practices parents should be wary of.

Green flags to look for when choosing a sessionIf you've never played football yourself and you're trying to find the right environment for your child, we explain exactly what to look for (and it's simpler than you might think).

Why academy success is not the only measure of successOne of the most important conversations in this episode. We challenge the idea that getting into an academy is the only goal and make the case for what football really gives kids over a lifetime.

What authentic coaching content actually looks likeAs two coaches who both put content out regularly, we talk honestly about the difference between content that genuinely helps parents and content that's just selling a dream.

This one is honest, unfiltered and packed with stuff every football parent in the UK needs to hear.

To find more out about Rob and The Futsal Academy see here - https://thefutsalacademyuae.com/

Coaches, for games-based session plans that we use at Foot-Tech head over to https://onlinefootballcourses.com/

If you're a parent in Leeds looking for a high quality, fun football training program for your child come along for a free taster session at one of our classes - https://foot-techacademy.co.uk/

Some parents think 1-to-1 football coaching is the fastest way to help their child improve…but the reality is more nuanced than that.

In this episode, we break down what we’ve learned from delivering over 1,000 one-to-one football sessions with young players.

We talk about why parents seek out 1-to-1s, what they’re really hoping for, and what these sessions can (and can’t) realistically do.

We also share where 1-to-1 coaching genuinely helps, where it can actually hold players back, and how it fits into a child’s overall football development.

If you’re considering 1-to-1 coaching for your child, this will give you a clear, honest understanding of whether it’s the right step and how to approach it properly.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why parents look for 1-to-1 football coaching
• What parents really mean when they make certain requests
• What 1-to-1 sessions can’t fix
• Where 1-to-1 coaching can make a real difference
• Who benefits most (and who may not)
• When 1-to-1s can work against development
• What good 1-to-1 coaching actually looks like
• Why environment matters more than just “more training”

This is an honest conversation designed to help you make better decisions for your child’s development without the noise of social media.

If you found this helpful subscribe for more parent-first insights into children’s football and development.

Parents in Leeds, try one of our football sessions - https://foot-techacademy.co.uk/

Grassroots football coaches, check out our games-based session plans to use with your team - https://onlinefootballcourses.com

Sometimes the hardest part of parenting in sport is accepting where your child is right now.

In this short solo episode, we talk about why parents often feel pressure to push children into higher groups, A teams, or “elite” squads and why development doesn’t always work that way.

We explore:

• Why comparison creates pressure
• What “development isn’t linear” actually means
• When challenge helps and when it becomes too much
• Why playing with better players doesn’t automatically lead to improvement
• What a good coach is really thinking when they suggest a different group

This episode isn’t about holding children back.It’s about giving them the right environment to build confidence, keep enjoying football and develop at their own pace.

If you’re a parent feeling unsure, pressured or worried your child is “behind”, this one is for you.

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and subscribe.

Join our football sessions in Leeds: https://foot-techacademy.co.uk/

Grassroots coaching drills & ebooks: https://onlinefootballcourses.com/

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

In today’s episode, we dive into three BIG questions from grassroots football parents and coaches.

The kind of issues every junior football team eventually faces.From mixed-ability under-7 teams, to how much football a young kids should do, to handling misbehaviour and lack of focus…we break it all down with honest, experience-based advice.

We start with a dilemma many clubs will recognise: mixed teams vs A/B teams.

When some parents want results, others want development, and friendship groups matter…what’s the right answer?

This question gives a real insight into just how tough coaching at grassroots level can be, especially when volunteers are caught between player needs and parent expectations.

Next, we tackle a huge parent worry: How many football sessions should a young child do?

We discuss enjoyment vs overload, balance, spotting signs of genuine passion, and why parent-led pressure can quickly turn football into a job rather than a joy. This is essential viewing for any parent with a football-mad child.

Finally, we dig into one of the most common coaching challenges: misbehaviour, lack of focus, and keeping players engaged.

We share practical solutions around session design, arrival activities, transitions, behaviour expectations, praise strategies, and communicating with parents.

If you coach primary-age footballers, this part is gold.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• Why mixed teams can work and when they start causing problems
• How to manage parent expectations without compromising your ethos
• The real answer to “How much is too much football for a young child?”
• Why enjoyment should guide everything
• Practical behaviour-management tools that work in real sessions
• How to design sessions that reduce messing about and increase engagement

Comment on the episode:

Tell us — what’s the biggest challenge YOU face as a grassroots parent or coach?

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So you don’t miss future episodes supporting football parents and coaches.

Coaching resources:

Visit https://onlinefootballcourses.com/ for ebooks, guides, and practical tools for grassroots coaches.

Join our sessions in Leeds:

Give your child a fun, pressure-free football environment they’ll love. Try a free taster session - https://foot-techacademy.co.uk/