Youth Football

So the new Premier League season is finally upon us, and we get to see dozens of new players finally taking the field for their new clubs. However, we also get to see an exciting new crop of youngsters –many of whom could be the superstars of the future. While a few of these starlets made their professional bow last...

As the England team once again made its way home after yet another disappointing showing at an international tournament, the German team were blazing a trail to an historic World Cup victory on South American soil. Favourites from the start, Joachim Low’s men were worthy winners. So, can the FA learn something from this incredible German success story? Or is...

When you’re teaching kids football, you have a responsibility as their coach to install in them a good sportsman’s attitude and a sense of playing fair. However, when a difficult situation arises it can be hard to know how to deal with it, because the last thing you want is to upset your team! Here are some common problems you...

The offside rule is possibly one of the most difficult to understand rules in football, mainly because it is never described simply, so understanding it can be intimidating to kids. However, if you’re a coach there will be a point where you’ll have to try your best to make your young team understand – so here’s a simple guide to...

Parents all know it can be extremely hard to motivate your children these days. In a generation of kids that have become obsessed with computing games and technology, it seems almost impossible to tear them away from the popular networking sites. Sometimes, attempts as parents to motivate your children can feel like you’re losing an uphill battle. Let’s face it...

Emphasis To win ball & counter attack at speed. Set-Up Play takes place on half a pitch with 2 full size goals & the pitch split in half by cones. A supply of balls are placed in each goal with a keeper at either end. Organise 3 teams of 6. A team of white is in one half with 6...

In a recent local football tournament I was volunteered to referee some matches for 7 to 11 year olds. Although I am not a qualified referee I enjoyed the event and it was quite interesting to see football from a different perspective. The one thing that was highlighted by this experience was the discipline of young players and coaches. While...

So the FA have announced this week that football for under eights should not be played in a league system. The object of this is to put the fun back into football for young players and make winning games less important. This is a small step in the right direction from the FA, but most respecting leagues across the UK...