Football Questions
Explore football questions, useful answers, Verified Coach perspectives and community discussion across age groups and playing formats in The Coaches' Room.
This section covers the wider football challenges people face, including player confidence, communication, behaviour, development, training environments and the everyday realities of football.
GOT A General QUESTION?
Latest Football Questions
One of the parents keeps shouting instructions from the touchline that are completely different to what I am asking the players to do. How should I de
One of the parents keeps shouting instructions from the touchline that are completely different to what I am asking the players to do. How should I deal with it...
One of my U11 players is really confident in training, but after making one mistake in a match they stop asking for the ball and hide from the game. H
One of my U11 players is really confident in training, but after making one mistake in a match they stop asking for the ball and hide from the game. How should ...
Is it safe for your children to play football in the snow
Is it safe for your children to play football in the snow
Parents are getting different touchline messages from different coaches
We have more than one coach around the U10 group and parents are starting to copy whichever instruction they hear most. One coach says let them play, another is...
Two development centres have invited my child in — is doing both a bad idea?
My U9 has been invited to train with two different development centres on different evenings. Neither has asked for exclusivity and he wants to do both because,...
How much should a referee talk to young players?
At youth level I tend to explain small decisions if I think it helps the game, especially when a player genuinely doesn't understand what I've given. I don't wa...
Player came back from a trial saying he's not good enough
An U13 in our group had a trial last week and wasn't taken on. Since then he's been noticeably quieter and has started comparing himself with the boys who did p...
When I play advantage, should I explain it straight away?
I referee mainly U13-U16. Sometimes I signal advantage and the player who was fouled immediately looks at me as if I've missed it. A quick 'seen it, play on' us...
Is training up an age group actually useful for development?
I've got an U11 player who is doing very well in our group and we've discussed occasionally training with the U12s. I'm not looking to move him permanently. The...
How involved should the grassroots coach be with a player's development-centre work?
One of our U10s trains at a development centre as well as with us. I don't want to interrogate him every week about what they did or start copying their session...
CAN'T FIND EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?
One mistake and I spend the rest of the game expecting to be taken off
I'm one of the youngest in the team and if I make an obvious mistake I immediately look at the bench and assume the manager is going to change me. It makes the ...
I'm helping younger teammates so much that I sometimes forget my own game
I'm one of the more experienced midfielders in our side and I naturally talk younger players through matches. I like that responsibility, but there are games wh...
I'm 35 and not first-choice every week anymore – how do you stay useful without pretending it doesn't bother you?
I've gone from starting most weeks to sharing the striker role and sometimes coming on for the last half hour. I understand why and I still think I can contribu...
How do you review your own game without analysing every single mistake?
I like thinking about football and I want to improve, but after matches I can spend two days replaying every bad decision. Even in a decent game I'll find six t...
How do you help younger teammates without turning into the bloke coaching everyone?
I've played adult football for years and sometimes I can see a problem before a younger player does. I want to help, but I also know nobody wants a teammate giv...
Another team says I'd start for them – when is moving actually the right answer?
I've been patient this season and I am getting minutes, but I'm still mostly the substitute. Another local team has asked if I'd be interested and says they nee...
I like being the reliable one but I'm getting moved position every week
I'm usually the player the manager moves when someone is missing because he knows I'll just get on with it. I don't want to make it about me, but I also feel li...
Is it normal to ask the manager for a proper feedback chat?
I don't really speak to our manager unless he speaks to me first. I'd genuinely like to know what he thinks I need to improve, but I'm one of the younger player...
I dropped a cross for a goal and now I'm second-guessing every high ball
I made a bad mistake from a cross two games ago and since then I've been staying on my line for balls I would normally attack. Nobody has really said anything, ...
Another goalkeeper has joined and I'm suddenly thinking about every mistake
We've signed another keeper who's a bit older than me and now every training session feels like an audition. I was fairly settled before and I've started judgin...
GOT A QUESTION OF YOUR OWN?
One bad game and I start questioning whether I'm ready for adult football
I had a game where I gave the ball away a few times early and after that I stopped showing for it. I know hiding probably makes it worse, but when you're one of...
How do you challenge a teammate who keeps blaming the back four?
One of our midfielders is very vocal after we concede and it often turns into the defence getting blamed even when the problem starts higher up. I don't want a ...
How do you ask for a preferred position when being flexible is why the manager trusts you?
I know being easy to move around gets me on the pitch, so I don't want to suddenly sound precious about where I play. At the same time I'd like a run of games i...
Manager keeps using me wide even though I see myself as a number 10
I've played the last few games from the left because the manager says he wants my technique there. I'm getting minutes so I can't complain too much, but I feel ...
Work, training and matches – how much extra football is actually useful at 34?
I train once with the team and play at the weekend. I sometimes feel like I should be doing extra ball work because younger players are, but I also have work an...
A younger striker is scoring and we're starting to rotate – how do you handle that well?
I've been first choice for a while, but a younger lad has come in and is scoring regularly so we're sharing more minutes. I'm competitive and obviously want to ...
Would you ever bench a player for repeated dissent?
One U15 questions nearly every free kick. It is not abusive, but talking has changed nothing. Would you ever take a player off specifically for repeated dissent...
Our assistant coach is enthusiastic but only turns up about half the time
I am grateful for any volunteer help, but I plan sessions assuming there will be two adults and then quite often end up running everything alone. I do not want ...
Committee keeps getting involved in football decisions
I am happy for the club committee to set budgets, behaviour standards and safeguarding expectations, but they are now questioning team selections and asking why...
Coach is correcting the referee from the touchline
Our U10 coach is usually calm, but when a young referee gets something wrong they shout the law across the pitch. It is not aggressive, but the players have sta...
Should a grassroots team have trials when there is a waiting list?
Our U10s have more children asking to join than we have spaces. Some people want a trial so the strongest players get the places; others think that is completel...
Two clubs have approached the same player in the middle of the season
An U14 in our team has been contacted by two stronger local clubs within a few weeks. The family are flattered but also overwhelmed and the player's current for...
Do youth players need GPS trackers and fitness data?
Our U13s may start using GPS vests for distance and speed data. Some parents love it; others think it is unnecessary. What would the numbers genuinely be used f...
School match and club match at the same time – who should a child choose?
My son has been picked for a school football event on the same morning as his normal U8 club game. Both adults say there is no pressure, but he thinks he is let...
My son wants to move clubs because his team keeps losing
He still likes his coach and his teammates, but he has started saying he wants to join a 'better team' because they lose most weeks. I do not want to dismiss ho...
Girls' team numbers are dropping just as the football is getting better
Our U14 girls have improved a lot, but attendance is becoming less consistent and two players are talking about stopping. The reasons seem bigger than football:...
New signing has changed the dressing-room dynamic immediately
We added a very good player midway through our adult season and results have improved, but a couple of long-standing players are clearly unhappy about losing mi...
Parents are asking for individual feedback after almost every session
Several U7 parents now wait behind to ask how their child did. I understand why they want to know, but it can turn a fun hour of football into a mini performanc...
Three teams, school football and PE – nobody sees the whole week
One of our U12s trains with us twice, plays for another side, has school football and sometimes a development session. Each individual commitment looks reasonab...
Coaching your own child – how do you stop being harder on them than everyone else?
I help coach my daughter's U11s and I have realised I correct her much faster than I correct the other players because I am trying not to look biased. She has n...
Everyone seems to be doing private one-to-one coaching now
A few U9s now have private technical sessions and parents talk as if everyone needs them. My son enjoys his normal football. Is there actually a reason he needs...
Lead coach is leaving in October and nobody is ready to take over
Our U14 coach has given plenty of notice, but we have no obvious replacement and the assistant does not want the full role. The club is talking about finding so...
Parents are still contacting the coach for U18 players
A few of our U18 players are very independent, while others still have parents messaging about availability, positions and playing time. At what point should th...
Team social events are getting expensive as well as the football
Meals out, bowling, end-of-season activities and tournament weekends are all being suggested for our U13s. None is unreasonable on its own, but together the soc...
Saturday job means a U17 can only make half the matches
A player has started a weekend job and now misses around two matches a month. They still train well and are one of our better players. Do you treat availability...
A friendship group is making the new player feel like an outsider
Three of our U9s are very close away from football and they naturally pair up with each other for everything. A new child has joined and is not being bullied, b...
Captain every week or rotate it around the whole U9 squad?
One U9 is a natural organiser and would probably be captain every week if we let them. Is there real value in that, or should everyone rotate through it?
Do U11s need formal player reviews twice a season?
Our club is introducing written player reviews for every team. I can see the value in clear feedback, but the template looks quite formal for ten and eleven-yea...
Coach's own child is captain and parents are starting to talk
There has been no obvious favouritism, but the coach's son has been captain most weeks and a few parents are saying nobody else gets a chance. He may genuinely ...
Trial rejection was one line – should clubs give children more than that?
My daughter attended three sessions with another club and then we received a short message saying they were not offering a place. She is disappointed but mostly...
Players are starting to copy adults and argue every decision
A few of our U12s now appeal for everything and turn towards the referee after most tackles. The coach does not encourage it, but there is plenty of noise from ...
Best friend left the team and now my child wants to leave too
My seven-year-old still likes football, but the friend they joined with has moved clubs and now every training session starts with 'I don't want to go'. Would y...
End-of-season awards are becoming more important than the season
Our U12s are already debating who will get player of the year, most improved and top scorer. Last year a couple of children were really upset by the awards nigh...
We have a different parent referee every week – is that actually helping?
We often have no appointed referee at U9, so a parent gets asked five minutes before kick-off. Some know the rules, some do not. Is there a better club system f...
Should clubs give referees a way to feed back on team behaviour?
As a referee I sometimes leave a youth match thinking the club would genuinely want to know how their players and adults behaved, but the only formal route feel...
Our squad is full but a complete beginner wants to join
We have the maximum number we can realistically manage at U8 and a local child has asked to join halfway through the season having never played organised footba...
Development-centre training now clashes with the grassroots team
My daughter has been offered a weekly development-centre session that falls on the same night as her U11 team training. She wants to do both but obviously canno...
Leadership group sounds good but the loudest players have taken over
We introduced a small U14 leadership group so the players had more ownership. In practice, the same confident three now speak for everybody and quieter players ...
Is using AI to build sessions useful or does it make coaches lazier?
Some coaches at our club are using AI to generate session ideas. It saves time, but plenty of suggestions look good without fitting the players. Where is the us...
One coach is doing absolutely everything and looks exhausted
Our U10 lead coach runs training, manages fixtures, answers every parent message, sorts the kit and does the admin. They are good at it, which is probably why e...
Overseas tournament looks brilliant but half the team cannot afford it
The club has been invited to a three-day tournament abroad and some families are really excited. Others have already said the cost makes it impossible. Is there...
Who owns training video once players start using it for analysis?
We film some U16 training and matches for coaching purposes. Players are now asking for clips for trial reels and parents sometimes download footage. Do clubs n...
Player-coach keeps selecting himself – when does that become a problem?
I manage and play for an adult side and still think I am in our best XI. Because I choose the team, should someone else have a say on my own selection?
Player has asked me for a written reference for another club
An U15 I coach has been invited to trial elsewhere and the family has asked me to write a reference. I want to support the player, but I do not want to oversell...
A scout is coming to watch one player – should the team be told?
We have been told a professional-club scout is coming to watch one U10 player. The family knows. Does anyone else actually need to know before the game?
Football, cricket and athletics all want the same child
Our U13 enjoys three sports and is good enough that each coach is asking for more commitment. Football has added an extra night, cricket wants winter nets and a...
He is talking about quitting because he never starts
My U15 gets reasonable minutes but is almost always on the bench at kick-off. He has stopped seeing himself as a proper part of the team and is talking about gi...
Tournament only allows eight players – do you take the strongest eight?
We have 11 regular U9 players and a tournament with a strict squad limit of eight. Everyone has trained and played all season. Selecting on ability feels harsh,...
Teenager has started gym sessions with an adult trainer
My U15 has joined a gym programme through a friend and the trainer is not connected to the football club. I am not asking for a medical programme, but from a fo...
Playing up has gone well but now she misses her own age group
My daughter has spent most of the season playing a year up and has handled the football well. The issue is that she now says she misses training and trips with ...
Individual targets are useful until everyone has six of them
We started with one target per player. Some U13s now have five or six from different adults and barely remember them. How many individual targets would you acti...
Fundraising has turned into a minimum amount per family
Fundraising started as optional, but parents are now being given a target per player and chased if they have not sold enough. Is a team target fairer than effec...
How much should a volunteer coach be paying for out of their own pocket?
I keep picking up cones, bibs, replacement balls and little bits because it is quicker than putting in an expenses request. None of it is huge on its own, but o...
Sponsor wants every player in social-media content
A local sponsor has been brilliant for our U12s and paid for a new kit, but they now want regular photos and short videos with the players for their business pa...
Can a used-kit scheme work without making families feel singled out?
Our club wants to start a boot and kit exchange because plenty of good stuff is being grown out of after a few months. I think it is a great idea, but one paren...
Club fees have gone up halfway through the season – what is fair?
Our U8 club has increased monthly fees because pitch and league costs have gone up. I understand costs change, but some families joined based on the original pr...
Player turns the same way every single time
Give him the ball with his back to pressure and he will roll onto his right side almost automatically. It works because he is good at it, but defenders are star...
Is switching the play realistic in 5v5?
My daughter’s team gets stuck attacking down the same side even when the other side is empty. I hear coaches talking about switching play, but on a small 5v5 pi...
Running laps as a punishment – does anyone still do this?
I have seen another team send players for a lap if they mess about or do not listen. I cannot see how making running equal punishment helps football or behaviou...
How do you teach shielding without it turning into wrestling?
They are getting stronger and some have discovered they can use their body to protect the ball, which is great. A few have now moved into grabbing arms and lean...
An academy trial has become team gossip
One player has a trial coming up and somehow all the parents and kids know. Now teammates keep asking if he is leaving and adults are watching him like every to...
Late evening training – would you coach differently?
ours train 7.30-8.30 because thats only pitch slot. by last 15 min concentration drops. should we plan the hardest learning early and finish simple, or does cha...
Do home practice challenges actually help?
Coach is thinking of sending one optional five-minute ball challenge each week. I like the idea if it stays fun, but I do not want children feeling they have fo...
Parents shout 'forward!' whenever we pass backwards
The kids are starting to treat any pass towards our own goal as a mistake because the touchline reacts straight away. Sometimes going back is clearly the best w...
Agility ladders at U9 – worth the time?
Every coaching feed seems to have kids doing ladders, quick feet and little sprint patterns. We only get an hour a week. Is there much value in spending ten min...
Some of ours are doing football four or five times a week
Between school, team training, development centres and extra sessions, a few U9s seem to have football nearly every day. They still say they enjoy it. Does the ...
Our players shoot and then stand still watching it
A lot of goals at this age come from rebounds, but ours hit a shot and admire it. The defenders often react first. Do you coach following shots at U9, or should...
Two clubs both expect the same player to be available
We have a child registered in two different environments and both schedules keep clashing. The player ends up feeling like they are letting somebody down whiche...
Would you tell an U9 that a scout is watching?
heard before game someone from pro club was there looking at few players. nobody had told kids yet. i would rather they just play, but some say player deserve k...
Our Tuesday session is flat because everyone arrives tired from school
some weeks they fly, other weeks half group look exhausted before we start. i dont want cancel learning every time energy low. do you change session on the nigh...
First touch is always too big because they are desperate to go forward
A few of ours have learned that first touch can take you past someone, which is great, but now every reception becomes a huge touch into space whether that spac...
Parent pays for 1-to-1 coaching and now wants a specific position
One family has started private sessions focused on attacking. They now keep asking if their child can play higher up on Sundays so the extra work 'is not wasted...
What do you change when the other team are miles ahead of you?
we played a side last weekend who were much further on than us and for long spells our kids could barely get out. do you change anything during the game to help...
Kids laugh when a teammate slips or miskicks
not bullying, more silly u9 humour, but same two or three laugh whenever someone completely misses ball or falls over. player laughs too sometimes but not alway...
Strong wind turns the whole game into adults shouting 'kick it!'
Wind was ridiculous at the weekend and both touchlines started telling the kids to hit everything long. I understand the conditions change things, but surely th...
How do you build scanning without shouting 'check your shoulder' every pass?
As a parent I can see what the coach wants: look before the ball arrives. But once you start hearing 'check shoulder' 40 times it just becomes background noise....
Player of the match – useful or just another status badge?
We give one out every week and I am starting to wonder whether it adds much. Same confident kids seem to care about winning it, quieter ones pretend not to. Has...
Great at shielding the ball, never looks up afterwards
We have an U8 who is brilliant at getting his body between player and ball. Problem is he can protect it for ages and still has no idea what is around him. What...
One player blames teammates whenever something goes wrong
My daughter has a teammate who points at someone else after nearly every goal or lost ball. The difficult bit is he does it after his own mistakes too. It is st...
My son compares himself with the same teammate every week
It is always 'he scored more than me', 'he started', 'he beat more players'. They get on really well, but my son seems to use this one teammate as the measure o...
The goalkeeper gets blamed whenever we concede
My daughter has started noticing teammates saying things like 'you should have saved that' whenever a goal goes in. They are eight and I do not think they are t...
Are we over-coaching 'open body'?
Coach keeps asking every player to receive side-on. I understand why, but sometimes the pressure or the next action means a different body position makes sense....
One player is getting by almost entirely on speed
He is rapid and at U8 it solves nearly everything. Bad touch? He catches it. Defender in front? He knocks it past and wins the race. I do not want to take away ...
Everyone shouts for the ball and the player freezes
We have got them talking, maybe too well. One child gets it and three teammates all scream their name at once. You can see the player panic and just pick the lo...
Should anyone be tracking goals and assists at U9?
One parent has started keeping a spreadsheet of goals and assists for our team. The kids now ask who is top. I am not against stats, but at nine it feels like w...
One player dribbles across our own goal all the time
He is confident and technically good, but he will carry the ball right across the face of our goal even with pressure coming. Sometimes it works, sometimes it i...
How much should an U8 goalkeeper be talking?
Our keeper is happy catching and using the ball but barely says a word. Another coach keeps asking him to shout instructions constantly. Is communication someth...
Keeper comes flying out for absolutely everything
our keeper is brave which is great but now he run out for every through ball even when defender can deal with it. sometimes he get there and sometimes goal empt...
Should we teach words like 'time' and 'man on' this young?
I like players talking to each other, but half the time the shout comes late or is wrong and the player on the ball reacts to the voice instead of what they see...
My daughter stops playing the moment she loses the ball
She is happy to try things with the ball, but if she gets tackled she stands still for a few seconds looking disappointed while the game goes the other way. I d...
Do weaker opponents need us to invent restrictions?
Nothing annoys me more than hearing 'you can only score with your weak foot now' because a game is one-sided. It feels patronising to both teams. If your U8s ar...
New girl joining a group of boys – how much do you actually mention it?
Girl joining our U8s next week. She can play and knows one child already. I want her to feel welcome, but I also do not want every adult making a big point of '...
Some kids hate it when we mix the teams in training
We change bib colours and teammates a lot so everyone plays with everyone. A couple of U8s get really upset if they are not with their usual friends and spend t...
How long do you stay on one coaching theme?
If we work on support or 1v1 defending one week, I sometimes feel we move on before the kids have really had enough of it. Is there anything wrong with staying ...
Are individual player targets useful at U9?
I am thinking about giving each player one simple target for a block of weeks, things like checking before receiving or reacting quicker when we lose it. Good i...
Do you abandon the session plan when the first practice needs longer?
I am guilty of planning three parts and then feeling I have to reach part three because it is on the plan. Sometimes the first game is giving us loads to coach ...
Our 2v1s become two attackers standing next to each other
In 2v1 practices the player without the ball keeps running alongside the ball carrier, so the defender can cover both with one movement. What has helped your U9...
How do you handle an own goal at U8?
One of ours scored an own goal last week and looked absolutely crushed. The other kids were actually fine about it but every adult immediately rushed over to re...
Only four players turn up – is that still worth a session?
We had four available at late notice and nearly cancelled. In the end we played loads of 1v1 and 2v2 and they probably had more touches than usual. Would you al...
Our football looks completely different on grass and 3G
We train on 3G where the ball runs nicely, then some away games are on heavy grass and the kids look shocked by how slowly everything moves. Do you deliberately...
Parents asking 'how many did you score?' after every game
I keep hearing parents greet the kids with 'did you score?' or 'how many did you get?' before anything else. Nobody means harm, but I wonder what message that g...
Do you still ask U8s to play the same way on a muddy pitch?
Really wet grass last weekend and every short pass died after about three yards. I like us trying to use the ball, but at what point does 'stick to how we play'...
player wont shake hands after losing
u9 gets angry after defeat and walks straight off. not rude normally, just hates losing. do you insist he goes back and shakes hands there and then or deal with...
One player asks the score every two minutes
We do not make a big deal of results, but one of our U8s constantly wants to know the score. If we are ahead he plays differently and if we are behind he gets f...
We win the ball and immediately kick it forward
Our biggest issue is not winning possession, it is the first second after. Whoever gets it just hits it away before even looking. How would you help U8s recogni...
We score and then switch off at the restart
Our U8s can put together a really good goal, celebrate it, then seem completely surprised that the other team have already restarted. We have conceded a few alm...
Their back three always has one spare centre-back carrying at us
We play two strikers. Chasing all three just opens midfield. What is the sensible answer?
We are down to 14 regular players for the final two months
Work, injuries and lads drifting into adult football have reduced the group. We can call U16/U17 players up, but I do not want to take their football just to ma...
Preparing players for adult physicality without turning training into wrestling
We know some of these lads will be in men's football within months. They need to cope with stronger opponents, protect the ball and compete properly, but I do n...
Best player has started reacting badly every time he is substituted
Not shouting at coaches, just obvious sulking and sitting away from the group. He plays a lot. It is starting to affect the bench. How do you deal with it witho...
How much should U18 players run their own standards at training?
I want more ownership before adult football, but if I leave warm-up, equipment and tempo to the group the same three players organise everything. At what point ...
Centre-back dominates U18 football physically – does he need adult games now?
He wins nearly every aerial duel and can defend most strikers without being stretched. The worry is that he is not learning much from situations he can solve ph...
Front three rotate loads. Looks clever until nobody threatens in behind.
How much freedom is too much?
Opponent analysis has made our players think more about them than us
We gave the group a few clips before a cup game and they loved it. The problem was matchday: every team talk comment became about their winger, their 6, their s...
both centre mids jump to press and one pass takes them both out
looks aggressive until their 10 receives with nobody near him. do you make one midfielder hold or can the pair learn when only one should go?
Short corners look clever until we end up 25 yards backwards
We started using more of them against teams who pack the six-yard box. Sometimes they create a better crossing angle, but just as often the two takers pass betw...
Senior coach wants our winger converted to full-back because that is where the pathway is
He is a good winger. Senior side has loads of them and no right-back. Is changing his role smart pathway work or fitting the player around a first-team shortage...
Keeper has it. Back four drop. Midfield run away. Forty yards of nothing.
How do you stop build-up stretching itself?
Our striker is also our best defender at corners
Great. Every clearance comes straight back because he is in our six-yard box.
Head coach and assistant are giving opposite instructions during games
One is telling the full-back to go, the other is shouting for them to hold. One wants us pressing, the other is asking everyone to drop. The players are startin...
Winger holds width, their 8 runs the half-space, our full-back gets pinned
Who deals with the underlapping runner without dragging the centre-back out?
Training keeps becoming starters v subs and everyone knows which group is which
We need realistic team work, but the same players wearing the 'other' bib every week cannot be great. How do you practise units without creating an A team and B...
Substitutes are mentally out of the game by the time we need them
With rolling subs we can use players several times, but some who start on the side barely watch the first 20 minutes and then need five minutes after coming on ...
Red card after 25 minutes. Which role do you sacrifice first?
Depends on score obviously, but what are the main considerations when choosing the new shape?
How do you coach a midfielder to control the tempo rather than just play quickly?
We praise playing forward and moving the ball quickly, but our best 8 is starting to understand that sometimes the game needs slowing down for two passes before...
Some players want detailed tactical answers and others switch off after ten seconds
At U16 the difference in football understanding inside one team can be huge. A few players ask exactly how the 8 should move against a double pivot; others need...
Full-back comes inside. Winger comes short. Nobody runs behind.
Nice football. Zero threat.
Our U18s play 4-3-3, the first team play direct 4-4-2 – how much should we prepare them for that style?
The youth team has clear possession principles and the senior side is much more direct, plays off two strikers and attacks second balls. Several U18s are close ...
We are playing against ten men and somehow creating less
Opposition drop everyone behind the ball, our full-backs go high, midfield stand around the edge and every player wants to occupy the final third. The extra pla...
Trial rejection on Monday. Wants another trial somewhere else by Friday.
Give them momentum or slow the process down?
Two goalkeepers share the season because of shifts and the back four never settles
Both are decent, just very different. Is rotating keepers a bigger tactical issue than rotating outfield players?
Our final game always loses the session theme
We might spend an hour working on support or defending inside, then the final game starts and everyone goes back to normal. Do you add a condition to the game s...
When should we stop trying to win it back and recover?
Our players have bought into reacting quickly after losing possession, which is great, but sometimes three or four chase a ball that is already gone and make th...
Weak-side winger never recovers when play switches
When we defend on one side our far winger stays high waiting for a counter. It works occasionally, but if the opposition switch quickly our full-back is immedia...
The session looked worse after we coached it
We worked on playing through midfield and by the end the players looked less fluent than at the start because they were thinking about every movement. I left wo...
Our midfielders never run beyond the strikers
Theyre happy receiving in front of the opposition midfield but once a striker comes short nobody attacks the gap behind. We end up with loads of players around ...
Why do players get told off for backheels and flicks?
If it works and they saw it, why kill the idea?
If the full-back comes inside, who keeps the width?
We have an outside defender who naturally carries into central areas and combines well with midfield. I do not want to stop that, but when the winger also comes...
Players change completely when a scout is watching
Had this twice now. Someone comes to watch and the player who normally wants the ball starts playing safe, forcing passes or trying to impress. I understand the...
our two strikers press the same centre-back
both go because they see pressure, then one pass takes both out. how are people getting the second striker to recognise the next pass instead of joining the cha...
How do you teach receiving on the blind side?
Our midfielders often stand where the defender can see both them and the ball. I want them to understand moving onto the defender's blind side, but the phrase i...
Should U12s watch professional players in their position?
My son has been told to watch a Premier League midfielder and copy their movement. Useful in theory, although he mostly watches the ball and remembers the goals...
Should video review show good moments as well as mistakes?
We have started using short clips after games and I notice most of the ones selected are things to fix. I understand why, but I wonder if players will start see...
Do you ever train 8v9?
Not as punishment. Just learning to solve being a player down.
One player takes every throw because they can throw furthest
Would you rotate it even if the shorter throws lose possession?
How much should U12s know about the league table?
My son knows there is a table because other teams talk about it, but our coach barely mentions it. I quite like that, although part of me thinks learning to com...
Defending 2v1 wide without the full-back diving out
When our full-back sees the winger receive they sprint straight at them, which lets the overlapping player run behind. If they hold position, the winger can dri...
Zonal or player-to-player at corners?
Interested what people keep simplest at U13.
Two goalkeepers in one squad – how do you split the development?
We have two players who both genuinely want to be goalkeepers. They rotate match minutes well, but in training one is often in goal while the other becomes an o...
My son has been told to play quicker and now plays one-touch everything
He has taken the feedback very literally. Even when he has time, he tries to bounce the ball straight back because he thinks taking two or three touches is now ...
My son thinks being subbed after a mistake is punishment
Twice recently he has lost the ball and been substituted a minute or two later. The coach says the change was already planned, but my son has connected the two ...
Do U13s need to understand half-spaces?
I hear the phrase all the time on coaching courses and online. I understand the area it refers to, but I am not sure the players need another label. Is there a ...
Late arrivals keep changing our starting team
We have three or four players who regularly arrive just before kick-off. The coach ends up changing the planned starting team or leaving them on the bench, whic...
Is overload-to-isolate worth teaching at U13?
The idea would be to attract extra defenders to one side, then find our strongest 1v1 player on the opposite side. I like the principle because it links possess...
U13 wants to become a full-time goalkeeper
hes played in goal for years and now says he doesnt want any outfield minutes at all. I can see why specialising gives him more goalkeeper development, but I al...
Club, school and development centre – how much football is too much?
One of our players has club training twice, a match, school football and a development-centre session most weeks. They love all of it and the parent sees every ...
Our midfielder watches runners go past them
When the opposition midfielder makes a run beyond, ours often keeps watching the ball and lets the runner go. I do not want to make midfielders follow people ev...
Should defenders swap left and right sides?
Ours have a preferred side already. Is it worth changing them around?
Do you tell U13s where they are in the table before kick-off?
I am fine with players knowing the league table, but I am less sure about saying 'win today and we go second' before a match. It can create a useful competitive...
How do you defend third-player runs?
We can deal with the player on the ball and usually the first receiver, but the runner arriving beyond them keeps getting free because our defenders get fixed o...
Do you ever coach a whole quarter in silence?
No instructions at all. Just watch what the players solve.
After goalkeeper makes a save, everyone relaxes
Our keeper save first shot but defenders stop for one second and striker score rebound. We say react again but same happen. What practice can make players think...
Do you practise defending free kicks?
Not walls for twenty minutes. Just who deals with what when the ball comes in.
Keeper receiving a back-pass under pressure – what should we train?
Our goalkeeper is comfortable passing from restarts but looks much less comfortable when a defender returns the ball with a striker closing quickly. The first t...
Single 6 or double pivot in 9v9?
We have used one deeper midfielder most of the season, but against teams with two strong central players I can see an argument for having two underneath the bal...
When is the goalkeeper the right reset pass?
Our centre-backs are happy using the keeper to switch the point of attack, but the touchline gets nervous whenever the ball goes back across our own goal. I wan...
How do you keep five substitutes involved with one coach?
When we have 14 available, the coach is trying to watch the game, manage rolling subs and speak to the players coming off. The five waiting can end up just chat...
The back-pass rule still confuses our players
I referee and coach, and I still hear players shouting that every ball back to the goalkeeper means they cannot pick it up. What is the best way coaches are tea...
Overload one side to free the other – too advanced for U12?
I want the players to understand that drawing opponents towards the ball can create space somewhere else. Not a rehearsed switch, more the idea that three playe...
Our far-side defender switches off when we attack
When the ball is down our right, the left defender often watches rather than moving with the team. Then one clearance leaves a huge gap between the defenders. W...
Are match stats useful for U12s or mostly for coaches?
We can now track things like shots, entries into the final third and where we regain the ball. I can see how that might help the coach spot patterns, but I am l...
My son does not want to head the ball
Heading is part of the game at this age, but my son is uncomfortable with it and sometimes moves away from an aerial ball even when he could challenge. I do not...
Both strikers keep making the same run
We play with two forwards and both naturally want to run in behind. It gives us depth, but there is nobody coming short to connect with midfield and they often ...
Winger receives with back to goal and always comes backwards
One of ours gets into good wide positions but when the pass arrives with a defender behind them, the first thought is always to play back. Nothing wrong with ke...
We panic and go long as soon as teams press us
Our players are comfortable in possession until the opposition really commit to a high press. Then everyone seems to decide the only safe option is a long clear...
Free kicks turn into five players standing over the ball
We dont have routines, but every attacking free kick ends up with half the team coming towards the ball asking to take it or play short. Nobody stretches the pi...
Coach asks players to rate themselves after every game
My son is asked for a score out of ten for his own performance after each match. He now seems more interested in whether he was a seven or an eight than what he...
One individual target each on matchday – useful or too much?
Thinking of giving every player one small focus before the game, like scan before receiving or recover inside after losing it. I can see it helping, but I can a...
How do you coach the second ball from a long goal kick?
When the opposition keeper goes long, our defenders compete for the first ball but everybody else seems to wait and see where it lands. We are losing the next t...
Is unopposed practice still useful at U12?
I use opposed games for most of our session, but sometimes I want players to feel a movement or passing detail without pressure first. There seems to be a view ...
Should the goalkeeper ever invite the press?
Our keeper normally moves the ball as soon as it arrives. I wonder if there are moments where taking an extra touch and letting the first striker come closer wo...
Parents are taking photos of every child at Play Phase
Most parents are just taking pictures of their own child, but because the games are so small almost every photo includes several other children. We have consent...
How should a coach record an injury after the session?
We had a player leave training after an injury and realised afterwards that nobody had written down what happened, what first aid was given or who the child lef...
Portable goals look secure but who is actually responsible for checking them?
At our training venue different teams move the goals and sometimes nobody knows who set them up. Coaches tend to give them a quick shake and get on with the ses...
Changing rooms at U8 – do people just avoid using them?
An away ground has told us changing rooms are available, but our team normally arrives in kit and leaves straight after. I know there are safeguarding considera...
Can coaches add U9 players directly to a team WhatsApp group?
A few children now have their own phones and one coach suggested putting players into the team chat so they see match information directly. I assumed communicat...
How long should clubs keep medical and emergency-contact information?
We collect a lot at the start of each season: contacts, medical details, consent and sometimes injury records. Players move clubs or turn 18 and I am not sure e...
U17 travelling with an adult team – are they still treated as a child?
One of our 17-year-olds is starting to travel with the first team. The senior players arrange cars, changing rooms and occasional away-day stops very informally...
One child is being mocked in the team group chat
Most of it is being described as banter, but one U12 is clearly the target more often than everybody else and has stopped replying. Because it is happening away...
How much travel is reasonable for a player trying to reach a higher level?
My son is considering a club that would mean around 75 minutes each way for training twice a week plus matches. He sees it as the next step, but it is a lot alo...
My daughter does not want to use the shared changing room
The team are starting to use changing facilities more often at U12, but my daughter would rather arrive changed and leave without using them. Nobody is forcing ...
Adult team has two 17-year-olds – does the away-day culture need to change?
The senior team has started including two 17-year-olds. Most away games are straightforward, but the group also stops at pubs after some fixtures and transport ...
Thunder starts during training – do clubs have a written weather policy?
We have clear rules for frozen pitches but almost nothing written for lightning, extreme heat or very high winds. Coaches make sensible calls, but they are not ...
How far is too far to travel for U5 football?
We have been offered games that would mean nearly an hour in the car each way for a group of four and five-year-olds. There is no league table and the football ...
My son is being asked to share a hotel room with players he barely knows
The team has an overnight tournament and room plans have been made mainly around numbers. My son is not comfortable with the proposed room but does not want to ...
What medical details do we need before taking a player abroad?
We are looking at a tournament outside the UK. The football side is easy compared with passports, insurance, emergency contacts, medication, allergies and what ...
U14 players travelling to matches without parents – what changes?
A few players now get lifts with teammates or travel independently rather than having a parent at every game. It feels normal at this age, but it also means coa...
Player is fasting during a tournament day
An U16 player will be fasting for religious reasons during a long tournament. I do not want the coaching staff making medical judgements or asking them to chang...
Who keeps the inhaler during training?
We have an U8 with asthma and the parent normally hands an inhaler to whichever coach is nearest. That feels too casual because coaches swap groups and sometime...
First-aid kit looks full but half of it is years old
Our team bag has plasters, bandages, cold packs and bits collected over several seasons. Nobody can say when it was last properly checked. Do clubs normally hav...
Who makes the final call when the pitch looks dangerous?
We had a game where both coaches were keen to play, parents had travelled a long way and parts of the surface were still frozen. It becomes difficult because ca...
What should be in an emergency plan for a tiny grassroots venue?
We train on a small school pitch with no clubhouse and a gate that is locked from one side. We know where the first-aid kit is, but I am not convinced we have p...
What do you do when a parent is 25 minutes late collecting an U7?
Training finishes at six and one parent is regularly late enough that a coach ends up waiting alone with their child after everybody else has gone. We obviously...
AED is in a locked building nobody can access on Sunday
Our ground advertises that it has a defibrillator, but we found out the building it sits in is locked during some Sunday fixtures. That seems worse than simply ...
Do we need a first-aider at every single U7 training session?
We have several coaches but only two currently have in-date football first-aid training. Holiday weeks can leave us with qualified coaches but nobody with the m...
Coach's safeguarding and first-aid certificates expired mid-season
The coach completed everything originally, but both records now show as out of date and fixtures are continuing while renewal is being arranged. I am less inter...
Do welfare officers need to be involved in every team trip?
Our coaches sometimes organise day tournaments directly with parents and only tell the club afterwards. Nothing improper is happening, but travel, supervision a...
Two-hour round trip for an U8 league game seems excessive
We have several away fixtures that are roughly an hour each way. My child enjoys football, but by the time we travel, warm up, play and drive home it takes most...
Overnight tournament at U11 – what safeguarding questions should parents ask?
The club is looking at a two-day tournament that would involve a hotel. It sounds like a brilliant experience, but it is the first time the team would travel ov...
Player gets injured on an away trip two hours from home
If a child needs hospital assessment and the rest of the team still has a long journey home, the practical decisions get complicated very quickly. Should every ...
How do you handle a child saying something worrying without interrogating them?
An U7 said something during a water break that sounded like it could be a safeguarding concern, but it was vague and the coach was unsure whether to ask more qu...
Child is repeatedly turning up without breakfast
One U10 has arrived at several early games saying they have not eaten. I do not want to make assumptions about the family or embarrass the child, but it is beco...
Heat warning on matchday – who decides whether the game should go ahead?
We have had hotter summer tournaments and I am never sure where the responsibility sits between organisers, referee, clubs and parents. There is plenty of advic...
Suspected concussion but the player says they are fine
We had a collision where the player wanted to carry on and the parent initially thought they looked okay. Nobody wants to diagnose from the touchline, but coach...
How much medical information should travel with the team?
For home games parents are usually nearby. Away days are different, especially when children travel with another family. Should the team manager have emergency ...
How much notice is reasonable for a two-hour away journey?
We were told on Friday night that Sunday's fixture had moved to a venue almost two hours away. Some families simply could not rearrange work and siblings at tha...
Sixteen-year-old helping coach younger teams – what safeguarding rules apply?
One of our U16 players wants coaching experience and is brilliant with the younger age groups. Because they are still a child themselves, I assume the club cann...
Adult spectator threatens a teenage referee – what should the club do afterwards?
The immediate match was dealt with, but the U16 referee was clearly shaken and the conversation afterwards became mostly about reports and discipline. What supp...
One child has a severe allergy – who should actually know what?
A parent has told us their U5 has a serious allergy and carries emergency medication. I do not want every volunteer discussing private medical information, but ...
Player tells me they are taking painkillers so they can play
An U13 mentioned before a match that they had taken pain relief because a leg injury still hurt. I am not looking for medication advice, but it made me realise ...
Coach offering lifts to matches – helpful or something clubs should formalise?
Our U7 coach has offered to pick up children whose parents cannot get to an away game. It is clearly meant kindly and nobody is suggesting anything is wrong, bu...
Away tournament wants us there at 7:30am – when is travel too much for the event?
The tournament itself looks brilliant, but it is nearly 90 minutes away and check-in is very early. For U8s that means some families leaving home before six. Ho...
Player has diabetes – how much should the coach be expected to manage?
A new U11 player has diabetes. The family are very organised and have explained what they need, but the coaches are nervous about either taking on responsibilit...
Player turns 18 halfway through the season – do safeguarding arrangements change overnight?
We have an U18 squad where some players are 17 and some have already turned 18. It creates practical questions around communication, travel and changing facilit...
One parent live-streams matches on social media
They are proud of the team and the stream is mostly watched by grandparents, but it includes every child, opponents and sometimes location details. It feels dif...
At what point does weekly travel become too much for U10?
We are looking at a stronger league that would probably mean 45–70 minutes each way most weekends. My son would love the football, but it changes the commitment...
Can a team use a parent's minibus for away games?
A parent has access to a minibus and offered to drive several players to longer away fixtures. It would make travel much easier, but I assume club-arranged tran...
What is the plan if a child needs an ambulance and their parent is not there?
Most parents stay at U9, but occasionally a child arrives with another family. It made me realise I do not know who would travel with the child, who contacts th...
Do coaches ever transport one child alone?
I sometimes drive straight from work to training and have been asked whether I can collect one U11 whose parent is stuck. It would solve a genuine problem, but ...
Can we publish match clips with player names on the club website?
We want to use video better and the club has suggested posting short clips with captions naming the players involved. For U14s that feels more identifiable than...
Private message from an U14 player asking for advice
A player messaged me directly after a difficult game saying they were upset and wanted to talk. I want them to feel they can ask for help, but I am conscious th...