Parent education

How to Improve Focus in Young Footballers (Without Shouting)

If you’ve ever watched a kids’ football session, you’ve probably seen it before. A coach shouting instructions from the side. Repeating themselves over and over again. Getting louder… and more frustrated. And the players? Still not listening. Still distracted. Still doing their own thing. If you’re looking to improve focus in young footballers, here’s the …

How to Improve Focus in Young Footballers (Without Shouting) Read More »

Why Mistakes in Youth Football are Important (And How Parents Should Respond)

Mistakes in youth football are often seen as something negative, something players should avoid. But in reality, mistakes are one of the most important parts of how young players learn the game. I remember watching a school football tournament a few years back, and one moment has always stayed with me… A young goalkeeper made …

Why Mistakes in Youth Football are Important (And How Parents Should Respond) Read More »

youth soccer match action in huainan china

Why Young Players Panic on the Ball (And How to Fix It)

If you watch youth football regularly, you’ll see it all the time. A player gets the ball… And within a second, it’s gone. Cleared.Rushed.Forced into something that wasn’t really on. From the outside, it can look like a lack of ability. But I’ll be honest… Most of the time, it isn’t. It’s panic. What Panic …

Why Young Players Panic on the Ball (And How to Fix It) Read More »

a boy playing soccer

Why The Best Football Players Are Hard To Read

And What That Means For Player Development If you watch enough football, you start to notice something interesting. The best players are often the hardest players to read. Defenders struggle to predict what they’re going to do next. Sometimes they pass when you expect them to dribble. Other times they dribble when everyone expects a …

Why The Best Football Players Are Hard To Read Read More »

a boy kicking a ball

Developing Game Intelligence in Young Footballers!

“Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I will remember. Involve me and I will understand.” – Laozi I’ve come back to that quote many times over the years. It resurfaced again recently while I was reading some of Horst Wein’s work on developing footballers with game intelligence. His ideas around small-sided games …

Developing Game Intelligence in Young Footballers! Read More »

Empowering Young Footballers: The Impact of Goal Setting in Youth Football Coaching

The article explores the importance of goal setting in youth football coaching, discussing how it shapes players mindset, helps their development, and enhances their performance and motivation, while also providing strategies for effective goal setting by coaches and the role of parents in supporting the process. The Importance of Goal Setting in Youth Football Coaching …

Empowering Young Footballers: The Impact of Goal Setting in Youth Football Coaching Read More »

The Role of Parents in Youth Football: Empowering Support and Skill Development

Parental support plays an integral role in the development and success of young football players. Research has consistently shown that when parents are actively involved in their child’s sports education, it can have a significant impact on their participation in the sport. In the context of youth football, parental involvement is particularly crucial as it …

The Role of Parents in Youth Football: Empowering Support and Skill Development Read More »

boy, sport, football-7056003.jpg

From Practice to Performance: Why Does Your Child Look Great in Football Training But Struggle in Matches?

Back when I was a child, I used to love training! I vividly remember counting the hours until it was time for me to go and get my football fix every Tuesday for my local junior soccer team. I did not want to miss a minute, so being on time was important to me (unfortunately …

From Practice to Performance: Why Does Your Child Look Great in Football Training But Struggle in Matches? Read More »