In this episode of hosts Ben Welch and Mike Clark are joined by Essex County FA Coach Development Officer Jake Ling to breakdown the FA’s brand-new Grassroots Coaching Fundamentals.

Jake walks through the eight updated pillars - from maximising active ball-rolling time and designing game-realistic practices to praising specific effort and actively seeking player feedback.

The conversation turns raw and honest as Ben and Mike open up about the overwhelming emotional strain and late-night fixation that comes with being a parent-coach on the touchline.

Together with Jake, they tackle the delicate dynamic of coaching your own child and discuss how to overcome the fear of parent judgment. The team also breaks down practical solutions like the FA’s "Stepping Over the Sidelines" initiative and local Monday night CPD workshops designed to give volunteer coaches a safe space to vent, learn, and collaborate.

Whether you are a brand-new volunteer or a seasoned grassroots manager, this episode delivers practical frameworks and a needed reminder: at the end of the day, it's just kids' football.

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In this episode, hosts Ben and Mike kick off with Grassroots Hero or Bizzy Rascal to call out the latest over-the-top sideline behaviours. The hosts quickly dive into match day realities, debating the frustrating costs of insisting on playing out from the back.

Ben opens up about a challenging touchline moment where a referee called out his aggressive shouting towards his son, sparking a vulnerable reflection on dad-coach pressures, tone of voice and avoiding treating young players like personal projects.

The pair also tackle operational headaches, contrasting the chaotic logistics of managing 3v3 formats with traditional 5v5 matches, alongside the struggle of balancing equal game time with bloated substitute benches.

Finally, drawing on insightful advice from youth performance coaches and AI perspectives, Ben and Mike explore how to alleviate parental "FOMO" and ensure the post-match car ride home remains a safe space for young players.

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In Part Two of this deep dive with Paul Barry — Head of coaching at Football DNA with experience at Crystal Palace, Arsenal, and Watford — Ben and Mike breaks down how to bring professional academy standards to grassroots teams.

Paul moves beyond sideline shouting to explain how academies systematically teach pressing, focusing on small-sided games (3v3s) and reading visual cues like heavy touches or backward passes.

He unpacks methods for escaping an intense press through brave positioning, goalkeeper management and making intentional "space passes" over pressure rather than aimlessly clearing the ball.

The conversation pivots to player psychology, revealing practical anchoring techniques, such as physical gestures like brushing off shoulders or tapping heads, that help young players reset instantly after mistakes and maintain concentration for their "next action."

Finally, the episode highlights team culture, introducing the "PROUD" framework (Progressive, Respectful, Optimistic, Unified, Dedicated). Paul explains how grassroots coaches can adapt top-level habits to foster maturity and discipline while keeping the game enjoyable, engaging, and age-appropriate for young players.

Get the Veo Go phone rig, tripod, and bag (a £50 value) for free when you sign up for £29/month using code IOKFOOTBALL. You can cancel anytime after month one and keep the gear: https://www.veo.com/product/veo-go

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In this episode Ben and Mike get honest about the pressure, obsession, and guilt that come with volunteer coaching. After taking their U11s to play Ipswich Town’s Category 1 Academy, a tough 80-minute lesson prompts a powerful reality check on expectations, burnout and remembering that at the end of the day, you're just a dad doing your best.

The episode takes an emotional turn as Ben shares the agony of missing his son Charlie’s match, only to hear how his U7s staged a sensational 4-3 comeback win. That pure, unforgettable victory feeling captures exactly why we fall in love with youth football in the first place.

Packed with relatable Sunday league banter—including the hilarious new "Grassroots Hero or Busy B*stard" debate—plus actionable coaching tips and listener Q&As on equal game time, this episode is a must-listen for every grassroots coach, volunteer, and parent navigating youth football today.

Get the Veo Go phone rig, tripod, and bag (a £50 value) for free when you sign up for £29/month using code IOKFOOTBALL. You can cancel anytime after month one and keep the gear: https://www.veo.com/product/veo-go

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What actually happens when a grassroots team takes on a Premier League Academy? In this episode, Ben and Mike break down their recent clash against Ipswich Town Under-10s —from holding their own in a 3-2 thriller to facing a brutal second-half reality check. Joined by Paul Barry, Head of Coaching at Football DNA with experience at Arsenal, Crystal Palace, and Watford, the guys dissect the massive gap between grassroots and academy setups.

Paul reveals why contact time changes everything, how to implement Individual Development Plans (IDPs), and why volunteer coaches must stop beating themselves up over results. The conversation dives deep into tactical masterclasses: teaching off-the-ball movement, coaching rest defence, and using the "IDEA" Framework to dramatically boost player decision-making.

Learn how to ask your players the right questions on the sideline, understand pitch perspective from a child’s eye level, and steal elite academy principles you can drop directly into your next Tuesday night session. Whether you are a parent managing expectations or a volunteer coach seeking practical training ideas, this episode delivers actionable, real-world advice.

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Ben and Mike break down a bittersweet weekend on the touchline. The main talking point revolves around the Under-11s’ gutting 3-1 derby opening-day loss to their local rivals, the Blues.

Despite a strong performance and a momentum-building equaliser, a mid-game overhaul of four simultaneous substitutions disrupted the team’s rhythm, leading directly to conceded goals and an elusive penalty call that went against them. The hosts candidly debate whether prioritising equal playing time and prepping for 9-a-side football is actively costing them results in tight matches.

Counterbalancing the defeat, Ben celebrates his younger son Charlie’s sensational 3v3 debut, where he netted 13 goals. The episode also covers their latest training drills and upcoming fixture against Ipswich Town's Premier League academy.

Finally, the hosts reflect on emotional listener feedback about parenting, emphasising the importance of staying present and cherishing every moment before the kids grow up.

Michael Fox's warm-up game: https://www.instagram.com/reels/Dc9GdKeIrHz/

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In the final episode of this six-part series, Ben and Mike join child development early childhood learning specialist Laura Mellor-Bachman to reveal how grassroots football coaches can build a united front with parents.

The episode addresses the real-world challenge of managing sideline expectations, shifting the narrative from rigid adult-style drills to essential play-based frameworks. Laura shares practical communication strategies for addressing challenging child behaviour, emphasising private consultation and treating parents as experts on their own children. The discussion highlights the balance between setting firm boundaries and avoiding people-pleasing, offering clear ways to delegate responsibilities to prevent coach burnout.

Additionally, the episode explores pitch-side conflict resolution, demonstrating how coaches can leverage neurological "mirror neurons" and "connection before correction" to de-escalate heated moments with adults and young players alike. Packed with actionable advice, this episode provides grassroots volunteers and coaches with the relational tools needed to build trust, foster long-term player retention, and ensure no coach ever becomes a child's last.

Start your journey with Little Kickers today at www.littlekickersfranchising.co.uk

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Ben and Mike relive the Ballers Elite showcase game at Tottenham's training ground, where Ben's frustration watching his son turns into one of his proudest parenting moments. They share a new way of reviewing match clips, asking kids what they were thinking rather than telling them what went wrong and unpack why confidence at home doesn't always travel to unfamiliar pitches.

There's a fun new warm-up drill worth stealing, an honest SOS about giving 11 players fair game time in a 7-a-side squad and a heavy listener story about a tournament meltdown that spiralled out of control. As ever, the takeaway is the same: rehearse difficult moments before they happen, because staying calm matters more than any tactic ever will.

There's also a candid moment where Ben opens up about the hidden pressure that comes with being the coach's own child — the added scrutiny, expectation and subconscious weight that kids of coaching parents carry, simply because they're always around it and always want to make their dad proud. Honest, unfiltered grassroots talk for parents and coaches.

Michael Fox's warm-up game: https://www.instagram.com/reels/Dc9GdKeIrHz/

Get your team a free £300 Discount Football Kits voucher by using our exclusive link to collect subscriptions through GoCardless at https://www.itsonlykidsfootball.com/offers

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

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