The key to unlocking the full footballing potential of a child involves regular, high-quality coaching sessions within an environment conducive to learning. Touch, control and technique are all mastered at a relatively early age, so concentration and dedication are prerequisites to successful player development. Unfortunately, concentration and dedication are not always attributes associated with youngsters. Keeping the attention of children...

As the end of another season approaches, the thoughts of footballers up and down the country turn to leisure, holidays and relaxation. But in order to hit the ground running at the start of next season, it’s always a good idea to stay in shape during the summer break. By making the following routines part of your weekly plans throughout...

The FA’s campaign to increase participation in grassroots football received a massive boost last month when Sheffield City Council granted planning permission for England’s first footballing hub - a decision that Greg Dyke described as ‘immense’. The FA has been under growing pressure to do more for football in local communities, and this latest success will undoubtedly be a relief...

Amid growing calls for increased investment in grassroots football, the FA has announced that Sheffield is to get the country’s first so-called football ‘hubs’. These facilities are aimed at increasing participation in the grassroots game, as well as improving standards amongst English youngsters. However, many critics still believe that the FA (along with the Premier League) is not doing enough...

Grassroots football is becoming increasingly competitive, and a professional approach is often required in order to gain the slightest of competitive edges. More and more coaches are turning to technology for this edge, which is why football coaching apps are so popular right now. With so many to choose from on the market today, it’s important to know what the...

Around 1.8 million people are involved in grassroots football in Britain, but participation levels have been on a downward trend for more than a decade. Indeed, according to the BBC, 100,000 people stopped playing for their local clubs between 2013 and 2014 alone. One of the reasons for this continuing trend has been the chronic shortage of investment in the...

The dream of becoming a professional footballer is one that hundreds of thousands of children aspire to achieve. And while hard work and determination will go a long way to making those dreams come true, the simple truth is that the vast majority of youngsters will fall short of what is required. Just one percent of children who play the...

The presence of parents at youth football matches and training sessions has been adivisive issue for many years. On one hand, mothers and fathers can give kids the motivation, sense of achievement and confidence that are crucial to player development. However, all too often parents allow their enthusiasm to boil over into interference, abuse, and on some occasions, violence. You can...

Futsal is the shortened form of football that is currently taking the world by storm. Labelled as ‘the fastest growing sport on the planet’ by Futsal and Education Programmes, the game is played with a smaller, heavier ball, on pitches similar in size to those used in the five-a-side version of the game. Increasingly used as a developmental tool for...

In order to deliver effective safe and enjoyable training sessions in your role as a football coach, you will need to ensure that you have the right equipment available. High quality, durable and safe equipment is absolutely essential for player development, but knowing what’s available and what your players require can be tricky. These items of equipment should be in...