Why separating players by ability doesn’t work
In this episode, Ben and Mike welcome Chris Ramsey onto the pod. One of the most respected voices in player development and coaching in the English game, Ramsey's career spans roles at QPR, Tottenham,...
20 Apr 1h 5min
Should kids have set positions in grassroots football? Our response sparked a backlash
Is advertising for specific positions in youth football the right approach for development? Ben and Mike debate whether recruiting for roles like “defenders only” is a practical necessity or risks pig...
13 Apr 1h 15min
6 lessons from a pro goalkeeper that will transform your child’s confidence
What’s it really like for a child playing the most pressured position on the pitch? In this episode, Salford City goalkeeper Mark Howard shares honest insights from academy football at Arsenal to pare...
6 Apr 1h 1min
When adults go too far at kids football… Do you step in?
In this episode, Ben and Mike, talk about their experience of loud adult spectators unintentionally overwhelming young players. The hosts reflect on balancing resilience with responsibility, questioni...
30 Mars 1h 6min
The ultimate defensive cheat code for grassroots football
Every grassroots coach faces the same nightmare: a defence that’s "all over the place" and young players who just want to be on the ball.In this episode, Ben and Mike, chat with Mac Smith, a football ...
23 Mars 1h 6min
The sideline mistake most parent coaches don’t realise they’re making
Ben and Mike break down two intense matches, from a muddy “battle” to a frustrating defeat after a brilliant first half and reflect on the fine margins between development and results. The conversatio...
16 Mars 1h 4min
The Premier League Insider who now manages under-7s
What happens when a football insider with 165,000 followers, Premier League contacts and a career around the game ends up managing his son’s Under-7s team?In this honest conversation, Ben and Mike, me...
9 Mars 1h 11min
When kids want to quit: Tough love or sympathy?
Ben and Mike deliver an honest reflection on the reality of being a football dad, diving into the difficult balance between coaching a player and raising a son. They explore stoicism, discussing how t...
2 Mars 1h 17min
