Why your child doesn’t need a “Braveheart” pep talk

Ben and Mike are joined in the studio by Josh Paul, the social media powerhouse behind @fit_4_football to dissect the parental pre-game pep talk. Josh reveals why giving technical instructions to a young child is not only ineffective but also ignores the reality of how children actually learn and play.

The conversation explores the dangers of comparing grassroots players to the "wonder kids" seen in highly edited social media clips. From managing chaotic training sessions to using professional players as positive role models, this episode is a deep dive into keeping the pressure low and the fun high.

Ben and Mike get honest about their own past coaching mistakes and why the most important job a parent has is simply being their child's biggest fan.

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.

LoveAdmin takes the admin off your plate so you can spend more time coaching and less time chasing parents: https://loveadmin.com/

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/

Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(104)

Why tournament football drives coaches crazy

Ben and Mike reflect on another unforgettable weekend in grassroots football, where the highs of great performances were matched by the heartbreak of a cup final defeat. In this honest and relatable c...

6 Juli 1h 15min

Teach this skill before next season starts

What really helps young footballers improve? In this episode, hosts Ben and Mike sit down with Jason and Neil from Rondos Academy to uncover the coaching principles they've learned from more than 15 y...

29 Juni 54min

What scouts REALLY look for in grassroots players

What does it really take for a young player to make it in academy football and what are parents and grassroots coaches getting wrong? In this episode, Ben and Mike sit down with Sean Conlon, a former ...

22 Juni 1h 6min

The biggest lessons from 100 episodes

Episode 100 marks a milestone beyond numbers, as Ben and Mike reflect on how three years of coaching and honest self-examination have reshaped them from reactive, emotionally driven dads into more sel...

15 Juni 1h 8min

The ultimate 3v3 coaching guide from an elite academy coach

In this episode, hosts Ben and Mike are joined in the studio by Football DNA's head of coaching, Paul Barry, to break down the FA’s brand-new 3v3 format for under-7s—and what it really means for coach...

8 Juni 1h 12min

What should young footballers eat? Top nutritionists explain

This week, Ben and Mike, two grassroots dads doing their best not to ruin their kids’ football journeys, are joined by Kate and Fran from Performance Canteen, specialists in youth athlete nutrition wh...

1 Juni 1h 6min

Why England’s biggest grassroots club STOPPED keeping score

In this episode, Mike Clark and Ben sit down with Colin Windrow, the visionary club manager behind MSB Woolton—officially the largest grassroots football club in England. Colin shares the fascinating ...

25 Maj 1h 1min

What every coach and parent needs to know about 3v3

In this special episode, hosts Ben and Mike travel to St George’s Park to investigate "Future Fit"—the FA’s biggest youth football restructuring in over a decade.The episode dives into the new 3v3 for...

22 Maj 46min