With grassroots football facing an existential crisis in the UK right now, anything that can boost participation and retention levels is welcome. Technology is already being used in the game, but until relatively recently its impact has been limited.  Fundraising But things are slowly changing. Back in 2019, a Durham-based entrepreneur created a mobile app that helps local football clubs...

Grassroots football across the UK is back after another lengthy Covid-19 lockdown. Local teams across the country were forced to stop playing in December after infections rose considerably. But since Monday 29 March, children and amateurs across the country have been back in action — albeit outdoors only.  Outdoor sporting facilities can now open, and organised football is permitted —...

The COVID-19 epidemic has wreaked unprecedented damage to societies around the world. At all levels of the game, football has suffered. EFL clubs require an emergency bailout, and even the Premier League has suffered severe revenue losses. While these stories make news headlines, the crisis within grassroots football has gone largely unnoticed by the UK’s media outlets. In particular, the...

Grassroots football training has to be adapted in order to minimise the risk of Covid infections. Last week, we talked about non-contact football drills that minimise cross-contamination. These drills were aimed at giving each player their own ball, thus reducing the risk of call contamination. But if you’re comfortable with players sharing footballs, there are different Covid-safe drills you can...

Grassroots football is back underway in many areas of the UK after its Covid-related absence. But the situation is fluid, and future lockdowns are a very real possibility for many regions. To ensure your players are both safe and match-ready, you need to ensure training sessions are as Covid-friendly as possible. It’s important to keep abreast of Covid-related restrictions in...

There is a huge range of both plastic and metal football goals available to buy. Which goal to go for depends on a number of factors. Where the goal is to be used Is the goal to be used on a grass or hard surface Does the goal need to be portable? Do you need to store the goal away...

The Bleep Test The Bleep Test, also known as the beep or multistage fitness test, is a method of testing the fitness and aerobic capacity (stamina) of an athlete. It is used by military and police organisations worldwide. From a football point of view, it is an extremely useful tool to determine the fitness of a player. What is The...

What size football do I need? I cannot stress enough the importance of choosing the correct ball size for youth football. This is one area of football equipment you need to get right. How many times do you see small children trying to kick a size 5 ball around, nearly tripping over it because it is too large? The FA...

The FA has been grappling with the growing problem of bad behaviour in grassroots football for many years. National campaigns, educational programmes and increasingly strict rules regarding the issue don’t seem to have worked.  There is still a serious behaviour problem in community football — and more drastic action is needed.  This year sees the launch of a new rule...

Football is a simple game. It involves 22 players, two goals and a ball. And when it’s done right, it’s a beautiful thing. The vast majority of resources and skills within the grassroots game have to be spent on the players and the people who look after them. But there’s a bureaucracy in the game that is diverting funds away...