Football Coaching

If you live with a disability, it shouldn’t be a barrier to playing the beautiful game. Unfortunately, society just isn’t set up to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities. And a chronic lack of investment limits opportunities to get involved.  That said, para football is on the rise. An FA initiative along with a rise in the number of...

If you play football, you always run the risk of experiencing a debilitating injury. It doesn’t matter whether you play in the Premier League or the local Sunday League. So, when injury strikes, it’s a good idea to know what to do.  Here are five of the most common injuries grassroots footballers experience – and the best ways to treat...

Congratulations on graduating. Your sacrifice and commitment to your university education have paid off, and it’s not time to begin the next phase of your life. But getting back to normal isn’t always straightforward. And if you were an avid grassroots footballer before you packed your bags and headed to university, taking up from where you left off may be...

Your hydration levels affect every aspect of your performance – both on the training pitch and during the heat of competitive action. You can’t maximise your performance, endurance and recovery if your body isn’t getting the fluids it needs.  Whether you’re a professional or a regular participant in grassroots football, your body temperature, cardiovascular function and muscle efficiency all rely...

It’s not too often that we get positive news from the world of grassroots football in the UK, but that’s what happened in May 2024 when Statista revealed that the number of people regularly participating in English grassroots football rose in 2023 for the second year running.  More than 2.1 million people are now actively involved in organised football at...

When you ask most under-7s which position they’d like to play if they were to become a professional footballer, nine out of ten would probably say centre forward. Indeed, most youngsters enter the game vying for this position – but most don’t make it.  A huge number of professional midfielders and defenders once played as a striker or centre forward...

Technology is now part and parcel of professional football – for good or bad. While it usually enhances the game, it’s not without its critics. That’s mainly because there are laws, not rules. Just about every contentious decision is open to debate. Nevertheless, VAR, goal-line technology and the upcoming automated offside system are going nowhere.  But it’s not just the...

Whether you’re focusing on a career in the Premier League or your local grassroots Sunday football competition, the pathway to becoming a qualified football coach in the UK is clear for anyone with the determination to succeed. But what’s the best route into coaching these days? And which qualifications do you need to succeed? This article breaks it all down. ...

You don’t need to have a long and productive history in football to become an effective football coach. As long as you’re passionate about grassroots football, you’re reasonably fit and are prepared to learn, there’s nothing stopping you from becoming a coach in your local community. However, there’s a lot of hard work involved, and you’ll need to find quite...

If you’re playing in a local league, or even just with friends during the weekends, finding the time to work on your core football skills can be tough. Work and family commitments come first, so any opportunity to enhance your abilities should be embraced.  Fortunately, there are several ways to improve your game without the need to hit the training...