Shouting From The Sidelines

Does playing up an age group actually make your child better at football?

Plenty of parents think it does. And sometimes it can help. But nobody talks about the hidden costs of always playing up, and that's what this episode is all about.

I break down how kids really improve at football through gradual overload, and why rushing them into older or higher ability groups can cost them their enjoyment, their time with their mates and the time and space they need to actually develop.

I explain when playing up does make sense, like for the bigger, stronger child who needs a level playing field, and why even academy players can benefit from one easier session a week where they can relax, try things and be top dog again.

I share how an underload session helped a Man City academy player and why two of our former players came back to us from academies just to play.

I also cover the child who's struggling and needs dropping down, why parents need to take ego out of it, and where to find the right sessions for your child. And I finish with the story of a dad who was worried his 5 year old would pick up bad habits at a holiday camp.

Kids just want to play. Let them play.

Foot-Tech Academy sessions and holiday camps in Leeds: https://foot-techacademy.co.uk/

Coaches, check out Online Football Courses: https://onlinefootballcourses.com/?gi=a5c1a13bb6887e052044a8c3ca01d318467a4c6e

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A friend's son, 13, has just been released from his JPL team for physicality, not football ability.
In this episode I share the advice I gave, what I'd do if it was my own child, and why the obvious first move (gym work, extra one-to-ones) can actually hold kids back.
A must-listen for any football parent who's been here or worried they might be.
Subscribe for more from Shouting from the Sidelines.
Join a Foot-Tech Academy session at foot-techacademy.co.uk or explore our coaching courses at onlinefootballcourses.com.

Street football is dying out, and it's not coming back the way it was.

In this episode I sit down with Nick from NM One to One Coaching to talk about why, and what kids actually need instead.

We get into why free play matters more than structured drills, how academies can accidentally kill a child's love for the game, why intrinsic motivation beats parental pressure every time, and why "late bloomers" so often turn out to be the most naturally gifted players.

If you're a football parent, a coach, or someone who grew up playing on the street and wants to understand what's changed, this one's for you.

Nick runs NM One to One Coaching in North Lancashire and South Cumbria. Find him on Instagram: nm1_2_1coaching

Brought to you by Foot-Tech Academy, coaching over 1,100 children a week across North and East Leeds.

Get our coaching ebooks: https://onlinefootballcourses.com

Live in Leeds? Get your child involved in our football sessions: https://foot-techacademy.co.uk/

What actually makes a great coach? It's not football knowledge. In this episode I explain why, and the six things that genuinely separate the coaches who develop children from the ones who don't.

It's not about badges or how much a coach knows. It's how they behave, how they communicate, and the environment they create. I walk through six behaviours that make the real difference, with practical advice for both parents and coaches, and the research that backs it up.

Want your child to train with us? Book a taster session: https://www.foot-techacademy.co.uk

Coaches, get our resources and ebooks: https://onlinefootballcourses.com

Seven in ten children quit organised sport before they turn 13. A huge part of the reason is how adults speak to them when things go wrong.

In this episode of Shouting from the Sidelines we talk about something that happens every single weekend at grassroots football - coaches and parents who genuinely care, but whose words are quietly doing damage. Not through malice. Just through habit, and not knowing any different.

This episode covers the research behind positive reinforcement in youth sport, the 5:1 Magic Ratio, and what good coaching feedback actually looks and sounds like in practice.

We also breaks down the "connect before correct" principle, explains why asking kids questions beats telling them every time, and gives parents three simple things they can do differently on the sideline this weekend.

Want to join one of our sessions in North and East Leeds? Book a free taster at: https://foot-techacademy.co.uk/

Looking to develop your coaching? Browse our ebooks at: https://onlinefootballcourses.com/

Foot-Tech Academy coaches over 1,100 children weekly across North and East Leeds, using a games-based approach built around child development and a genuine love of the game.

New episodes every month.