Academy coaches reveal what grassroots football must fix now

In this unfiltered episode, former academy coaches Michael Fox and Olly Porteous join Ben and Mike to tackle the biggest issues facing grassroots football right now.

From 3v3 formats, silent weekends and heading bans to kick-ins, league tables and parent behaviour, the conversation goes beyond surface-level opinions and into what’s actually helping — and what might be quietly harming — player development.

Are we overcorrecting youth football? Are rule changes solving the real problem? And is adult behaviour, not structure, the issue that needs fixing most?

Drawing on years inside academy systems and grassroots environments, Fox and Porteous break down what needs to change, what needs to be protected and why balance—not extremes—is the key to developing confident, resilient young players.

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

Get FREE delivery when you spend over £100 at https://www.discountfootballkits.com/ using code IOKFFD — but hurry, it ends at midnight on March 31st, 2026.

Power your grassroots team with effortless payments — sign up with GoCardless today at https://gocardless.com/g/payments-sports-clubs/ and spend less time chasing fees, more time developing your players.

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Book a call with a VEO expert: https://get.veo.co/iokfootball

Olly Porteous: https://www.instagram.com/ollyporteous/

Michael Fox: https://www.instagram.com/foxmic15/

Fox Academy: https://www.instagram.com/f.o.x.football.academy/

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Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

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Episoder(115)

A warning to all grassroots coaches

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27 Aug 30min

Ex-Premier League Striker: Why Grassroots Means More Than My Pro Career

From scoring the winning goal on his Premier League debut for boyhood club West Ham to coaching his own children on a Sunday morning, Freddie Sears has experienced almost every level of the game. But ...

24 Aug 1h 8min

How a young footballer's brain works

Why do young players ignore instructions, forget skills they've mastered in training or simply want to play instead of listening? In this episode, hosts Ben and Mike, are joined by Laura Mellor-Bachma...

20 Aug 30min

Help your child score more goals this season

What does it really take to help a young footballer become a better goalscorer? In this episode, Ben and Mike are joined by former Football League striker and specialist finishing coach Dan Holman to ...

17 Aug 54min

The secret to raising a mentality monster

What separates the young footballers who keep improving from those who stand still? According to ex-professionals and Complete Football Academy coaches Kudus Oyenuga and Garry Richards, it isn't talen...

10 Aug 57min

Is 3v3 REALLY better for young footballers?

In this webinar, hosts Ben and Mike host an expert panel, featuring the FA’s head of grassroots coach, John Folwell, elite academy coach Michael Fox, professional goalkeeper Mark Howard, and youth lea...

6 Aug 1h 7min

Will playing a year up make your child better?

Ben and Mike dive into one of grassroots football's biggest debates: will playing a year up actually make your child a better footballer? Using their own team's pre-season as a real-life case study, t...

3 Aug 1h 2min