Coachcast

Before the new season begins, many coaches are busy planning sessions, setting goals and thinking about their players. But one of the most valuable things you can do is to take a step back and reflect on yourself. In this episode, pathway coach developer Darel Tidman-Poole joins us to explore the power of self-reflection and how it can help develop your skills and prepare you for the season ahead....

A new season is upon us, and with it, brings a new format. That’s why, in this episode, Andy Dyke joins us to dive into what coaches should prioritise at the start of the new season and what exactly coaches need to know about the new format. As part of the play experience team within the grassroots division, Andy works to improve player choice and opportunity across the game, while also coaching a...

In this bonus episode, England men’s U21 head coach Lee Carsley shares the mindset, behaviours and decisions behind his coaching approach and back-to-back U21 European successes. Lee led the Young Lions to European Championship titles in 2023 and 2025, and, here, he reflects on his journey into coaching and the key lessons that have shaped his approach. The conversation goes beyond tactics, offeri...

With the season winding down, it’s a perfect time to start planning for the next one. The end of a season gives coaches a chance to reset. But preparation for the next season shouldn’t wait until it’s just around the corner. That’s why, in our final episode of the season, we’re joined by FA regional manager, Zahid Patel, to share how coaches can prepare effectively for the season ahead. Zahid pick...

Keeping players engaged throughout a session can be one of the biggest challenges coaches face.  When energy dips or attention wanders, it can quickly affect outcomes for players.  In this episode, James Riches returns to Coachcast to talk about managing training sessions and making them fun. We dive into how coaches can create environments where players are challenged while also enjoying practice...

Coaching goalkeepers can feel daunting for many grassroots coaches. That’s why, in this episode, Yilmaz Aksoy, goalkeeping coach development manager, joins us to break down how coaches can better support and develop goalkeepers at all stages of the game. Yilmaz shares practical, confidence-boosting advice to help grassroots coaches feel more equipped, even when specialised goalkeeper coaching is u...

Effective coaching isn’t just about making good session plans, it’s about who you are and how you show up.  Being an effective coach starts with being the best version of yourself, and in this episode, coaching and learning developer Conal Murnin, joins us to explore what personal effectiveness really means for coaches.  Conal shares practical ways to improve communication, build stronger relation...

Players don’t all develop at the same rate. And changes in physical development can affect confidence, performance, and even whether a young person stays in the game at all. And that’s why it’s essential for all coaches to have a good understanding of how young players develop and how to create a safe environment for them. In this episode, we’re joined by senior lead for performance education, Sta...

Every coach runs into moments where they’re not sure how to navigate a particular coaching challenge, or they would simply benefit from a second opinion. And that’s why we’re answering more of your coaching questions in this episode.  Chris Lowe returns to Coachcast to answer your questions from across our channels. As part of the grassroots coach development team, Chris brings a clear and practic...

Fewer players turning up, lack of engagement, and lost momentum during training sessions. These can all be symptoms of the very different environment that winter training brings. But with the right preparation and planning, coaches can keep that momentum going throughout winter. That’s why, in this episode, Paul Holder returns to Coachcast to share practical advice on session management and how to...

Every player likes to win. But matchday success isn’t just about the final score.  Matt Jones returns to Coachcast in this episode to share his formula for matchday success, regardless of the outcome.  We dive deep into what sort of matchday environment we’re aiming for and how coaches can make it happen. We also explore what great matchday behaviour looks like and how coaches can set the tone.  M...

Reflection is one of the most powerful tools a coach has – yet it’s often the first thing we let slip when the season gets busy. That’s why in this episode, we take a mid-season reset to talk about reflection, and how it can transform your coaching. In this episode, Women’s pathway lead coach developer, Sam Griffiths, returns to Coachcast to explore how coaches can reflect more effectively during...

Helping your players develop the ten core skills is an essential part of coaching football. We see them all when we observe matches, but it’s important to give each of them space in your sessions before matchday. In this episode, Emily Senior returns to Coachcast to unpack exactly how to implement all ten core skills into your practices. You’ll hear how to design practices that challenge your play...

Winter weather can throw even the best-planned training sessions off track, but it doesn’t need to mean a wasted hour. In this episode, Vinny Halsall returns to share his advice on keeping outdoor sessions effective, safe, and enjoyable when conditions get cold and wet. We talk about the realities of coaching through cold and rain and navigating the unpredictable nature of winter weather. With the...

With the colder months upon us, outdoor training isn’t always possible. But with limited space, indoor training can feel like a challenge. In this episode, Marc Forrest joins us to explore how that challenge can be turned into opportunity. We dive into how coaches can make the most of indoor sessions and discover the huge benefits of futsal for both player and coach development. Marc has worked ac...

In our first-ever community questions episode, we’re answering your coaching questions. We’ve gathered coaching questions from across our community and social media channels, and Lee Brown returns to Coachcast to answer them directly. We’ve squeezed in as many of your questions as possible, covering several aspects of coaching, from training to game formats to matchday. With practical advice drawn...

Communicating well with parents is one of the most important parts of grassroots coaching, and it can be one of the most challenging. But with the right approach, it can transform the experience for everyone involved. In this episode, FA coach developer Mark Leigh returns to Coachcast to share practical communication tips to help coaches build positive relationships with parents and handle tricky...

From the nerves and pressure of the run-up to matchday to the highs and lows of winning or losing, emotions are part of football. For young players in particular, these emotions can feel overwhelming. They can affect their performance and their enjoyment of the game, and in turn, the rest of the team. That’s why coaches have a huge role to play in helping them manage these emotions. In this episod...

Matchday can be one of the most stressful times for players and coaches. From pre-game warmups to full-time talks, emotions are high and it can feel overwhelming. That’s why, in this episode, Amanda Greenslade returns to Coachcast to share her advice on how experienced coaches can manage matchday with confidence and get the most out of the day, whatever the outcome. Amanda breaks down the key mome...

What separates a good training session from a great one? In part two of our ultimate guide to training with Katie Sorenson, we dive into the details that make the difference for coaches. In this episode, we cover a range of essential training topics from recognising when players are engaged, to adapting for different needs, to making interventions that move the session forward rather than disrupt...

Do you want every training session to be the highlight of your players’ week? This episode is your blueprint. In part one of this ultimate guide to training, Katie Sorenson shares her proven strategies for planning and delivering sessions that players love, while helping them achieve their learning objectives. From designing practices players respond to, to linking your training seamlessly to matc...

Tournaments are a great way for players to bond and prepare for the season ahead, but they can also present challenges. In this episode, Emily Senior, an FA regional coach developer, joins us to explore how coaches can make the most out of tournaments. Pre-season tournaments offer a pressure-free environment for building physical and social skills, and Emily shares practical ideas to help coaches...

Getting back into training after the summer holidays can be a challenge for players (especially the younger players). Players may be out of practice, their fitness levels can vary, and their focus might not be where it was at the end of last season. Coaches often face the pressure of trying to rebuild momentum and reconnect with players all while planning engaging sessions. That’s why, in this epi...

Pre-season is a chance to welcome players back, set the tone for the season ahead, and create an environment where they can thrive. In this episode, Matt Jones returns to Coachcast to talk about how coaches can prepare for the new season. From what to do (and the pitfalls to avoid) in your first session back, to building strong relationships with players and parents, Matt shares expert advice for...

Format changes are coming to the grassroots game for the 2026-2027 season, and in this episode, you’ll find out exactly what’s changing and why. John Folwell, head of grassroots coach development, returns to Coachcast to talk about supporting players as they move between formats – from 3v3 to 5v5 and beyond. He also shares a clear breakdown of the new changes coming next season, and how coaches ca...