Shouting From The Sidelines

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 &qu...

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, w...

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...

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 bac...

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 als...

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 whe...

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...

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...

Most parents worry when they see their child getting kicked, pushed, or knocked over in football — and that’s completely normal. But here’s the part nobody tells you: Those little bumps and tackles are one of the BEST ways for children to grow confidence, resilience, toughness and real game understanding. In today’s episode, we break down the physical side of kids’ football…what’s normal…what to i...

Just taken over a grassroots football team? In this episode, we break down 4 practical tips that’ll save you stress, help you connect with your players, and make your first season a success. From managing parents to keeping sessions fun and simple, this is your survival guide for grassroots football coaching. Whether you’ve volunteered to coach your child’s team or are just starting your grassroot...

Football isn’t just about skills and goals — it’s about how kids handle the tough moments. In this episode, we dive into how parents can help their children build resilience when they face setbacks like rejection, injury, or just having a tough game. We’ll cover: Why resilience matters for kids in sport and in life Common challenges young players face (injuries, rejection, mistakes) Practical thin...

What’s it really like being on both sides of academy football — as a coach and as a parent? In this episode we sit down with Leroy McIntosh, a former professional academy coach turned academy dad. Leroy’s journey started at Huddersfield Town before moving into a senior role at Barnsley FC, giving him a front-row seat to the realities of youth development in English football. Now, he’s living it fr...

Are you still making kids run laps and do bleep tests to “get fit” for football? There's a better (and more enjoyable way). In this video, we break down: ​What football fitness actually means for kids ​Why long runs and isolated drills don’t work ​The science behind children's recovery, VO2 max, and strength development ​What coaches and parents should do instead ​How to build football-specific fi...

Is play the missing piece in your child’s football development and overall well-being? In this episode, we explore why unstructured, free play is crucial for kids—not just for becoming better footballers, but for developing confidence, resilience, creativity, and social skills. From research-backed insights to real coaching experience in Leeds schools and sessions with toddlers to teen. We cover:...

“Keep your knee over the ball!” “Bend your leg!” “Lock your ankle” If you’ve ever shouted these phrases from the sideline (or heard a coach do it), this episode will change how you give instructions when coaching football or playing with your child in the garden. We break down the powerful difference between internal vs external focus — and why telling kids how to move could actually hurt their pe...

As kids football coaches, we wish we'd known a few things when we first started. Over the years we've made plenty of mistakes. In this episode, we're sharing 4 of our biggest coaching mistakes and the lessons we've learnt which make for useful tips for grassroots coaches and football parents. This honest, practical discussion is perfect for youth football coaches, grassroots soccer...

Should young footballers be placed into A & B teams? Is it helping their development or holding them back? In this episode, we dive into the pros and cons of ability-based team selection in grassroots football, how it affects player confidence, development, and motivation, and what parents and coaches need to know. Key Topics Discussed: - Why do clubs use A & B teams in youth football - Do...

Are agility ladders and hurdles really making your child or players faster on the pitch? For Football Parents & Coaches - whether you're coaching a team or supporting your child’s football journey, these insights will help you maximize their development. In this episode, we break down why traditional speed drills don’t translate to real football movement and what you should be doing instea...

As parents, we all want to see our children thrive, but is there such a thing as too much football training? In this episode, we dive into the delicate balance between helping your child develop their skills and ensuring they don’t lose their love for the game. We’ll discuss the signs of overtraining, why rest and recovery are just as important as practice, and how to recognize if your child’s sch...

Part 2 of our chat about the games-based model approach to children’s coaching. Here we discuss: How to use the game-based approach with beginners How kids learn the ‘skills’ they need without us doing unopposed ball mastery The difference between football technique & skill Is there a place for unopposed football training? Why it’s so important to maximise the time you have with your players Enjoy...

A few years ago we completely changed the way we coach at our football sessions. We'd previously had a big part of our sessions made up of individual ball-mastery and 'skills' work. In this episode we discuss: What is a games-based approach to football coaching What are 'constraints' and how we use them to make sure our players learn and improve for football Why we stopped SAQ at our sessions How...

One of the hardest things for a grassroots football manager to deal with is when a player is being left behind...and it starts to become obvious. It is a difficult thing to communicate to parents but we offer some help and advice in this video on how to navigate it. Often times a young footballer being left behind in terms of improving comes down to 2 things. We discuss what they are and how best...

Spend 10 mins at any junior football match and we all but guarantee you'll hear one of old cliché football phrases shouted from the sidelines. But a lot of what is being said is of little use and, if anything, does more harm than good when it comes to the football development of children. What are the things we should avoid? And what should you be shouting, if shouting anything at all? Listen...

'I would like to live in a healthier, happier world and I believe in using the power of sport to positively drive the changes to make this a reality.' - Jordan Liburd. We sat down with our very own Jordan Liburd who has the very unique experience of running a grassroots team, being on a club committee, coaching at Foot-Tech, refereeing and also undertaking leadership roles within the FA. O...

The demand for one to one football coaching is increasing - but is it worth it? 121 football training has been part of our business for almost 10 years. We’ve coached all ages & abilities and have done upwards of 1000+ sessions between our coaching team. We’ve tried and tested all sorts of different ideas, football drills and equipment. Are they right for everyone? What are the benefits (if an...