Youth Football

The huge riches that await the very best young footballers in England are beyond the wildest dreams of most. Worldwide fame, untold riches and the opportunity to do something they love for a living can be attractive pull factors to the game for youngsters. But the biggest rewards are reserved for less than one percent of the children who are...

Some youngsters need to see first-hand the joy and excitement football can generate before they can be persuaded to take up the game. So when it was announced that the inaugural Grassroots International Youth Football Festival was coming to Glasgow in July 2016, local coaches must have jumped for joy. The Scottish capital will host the hugely prestigious international tournament...

As part of the FA’s drive to improve footballing standards amongst English youngsters - and increase grassroots participation levels - a series of ‘City Hubs’ were put into development, and the first of them are now opening. Around 30 hubs are planned for towns and cities across the country, which are all aimed at people who want to play football...

The typical British pre-season has come a long way since the days of cross-country runs and endless practice matches. Mental preparation and conditioning are equally as important as cardiovascular fitness in the modern game - which is why coaches are always on the lookout for new and interesting ways to prepare their players. The continental approach Clubs such as Barcelona...

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...

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...

2014 was the year that England, once again, failed miserably at a World Cup Finals. But there were signs that a major corner was turned at grassroots level. The fate of England’s national team will always be inextricably linked to the health of the game at local level. Thanks to a number of initiatives, 2014 has been a year of...

It has been mooted amongst those in the professional game that bad behaviour amongst parents may be one of the reasons for the lack of talent coming through the ranks in English football. Gary Lineker recently called for a ‘parental cultural revolution’ after declaring that he was fed up with maniacal parents shouting ill-advised advice and abuse from the touchlines...

Starting a football club can be a daunting prospect. As well raising funds, attracting players and securing a permanent home for your new club, there is also the matter of FA affiliation to attend to. While there are several prerequisites to affiliating with the county FA, doing so can deliver several benefits to your fledgling team. Whilst there is a...

Another Football League Season is well under way. But while the Premier League looks forward to yet another bumper payday of television riches, several Football League will simply be hoping to unearth a few hidden gems from the ranks of their youth systems. With money growing increasingly scarce at the lower end of England’s professional footballing ranks, the need to...