It's Only Kids Football

In part five of their coaching masterclass with Little Kickers, Ben and Mike sit down again with early childhood learning specialist Laura Mellor-Bachman to tackle grassroots football's most-asked-about topic: the parent-coach relationship. Laura explains why sideline meltdowns almost always come from one place, care, not chaos, and shares practical ways coaches can set expectations early so parents know exactly what to expect from day one. The trio get personal too, recounting a touchline incident where things turned genuinely nasty, and unpacking a strange encounter with aggressively positive opposition parents who unintentionally frightened their own players. Along the way, they explore why every sideline blow-up ultimately comes down to ego, how to keep a child's experience separate from a parent's own memories and expectations, and why Vygotsky's zone of proximal development explains why struggle is essential for kids to actually improve and build real, lasting confidence on the pitch. Honest, practical listening for any parent, coach or volunteer who's ever felt their blood boil on the touchline, with just one episode left in this six-part series.Start your journey with Little Kickers today at www.littlekickersfranchising.co.ukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootballInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootballYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootballFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben and Mike are back with a double dose of grassroots chaos: tournament tales, a brand new format, and a lot of soul-searching. Their Barking FC tournament run swings from two straight wins to a possible academy-ringer thrashing, before ending in heartbreak with a cup exit against old rivals.Ben opens up about the harsh words he regrets shouting at his own son mid-meltdown, and how tough love in another game got Alfie back out on the pitch to help the team storm to an 8-1 win. Then it's Charlie's turn, as the youngest Welch is thrown into the confusing, chaotic new world of 3v3 football, uneven numbers, unclear rules and all.Along the way there's a listener's kind message about Raph's newly diagnosed asthma, a LinkedIn post that changed how Ben parents, and honest reflections on season goals: calmer team talks and learning to treat your own kid like everyone else's.Design your own it with VeseyID: https://www.discountfootballkits.com/veseyidGet your team a free £300 Discount Football Kits voucher by using our exclusive link to collect subscriptions through GoCardless at https://www.itsonlykidsfootball.com/offersFootball DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/Sign up for the newsletter here: https://www.itsonlykidsfootball.com/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootballInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootballYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootballFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part four of our six-week masterclass with Little Kickers, Ben and Mike sit down with early childhood learning specialist Laura Mellor-Bachman to tackle one of the toughest moments in youth sport: the meltdown.Whether it's tears after losing the ball or a full-blown tantrum mid-match, Laura reveals why phrases like "suck it up" make things worse, and what to say instead.She breaks down the science behind emotional outbursts, explaining why kids can't just "snap out of it" and how acknowledging their feelings first is the fastest route back to calm.The episode also digs into spotting performative crying versus genuine distress, with a real example from Ben's own home. Packed with practical techniques, this is essential listening for any coach, volunteer or parent who's ever frozen on the sideline wondering what to say next.Start your journey with Little Kickers today at www.littlekickersfranchising.co.ukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootballInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootballYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootballFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Ben and Mike travel to Copenhagen to meet Henrik Teisbæk, co-founder of Veo, the AI-powered sports camera used by over 50,000 grassroots football clubs worldwide.Henrik reveals the real story behind Veo, born from a missed goal and a father who arrived too late to film his son's first strike, and how that frustration sparked a mission to bring professional-level video and analytics to Sunday League football.They explore how AI coaching technology is levelling the playing field for grassroots coaches and parents, why filming games quietly improves sideline behaviour and how to use match footage and data to give young players constructive feedback without overwhelming them.Henrik also looks ahead to Veo's new analytics tools, personalised player insights, and a future where every grassroots team could have elite-level coaching support. A must-listen for parents, coaches and volunteers passionate about improving youth football.Get VEO sports camera: https://www.veo.com/sales-callSign up for the newsletter here: https://www.itsonlykidsfootball.com/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootballInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootballYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootballFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giving feedback to young footballers after a game is one of the trickiest balancing acts in grassroots football. Whether you are dealing with a silent ride home, defensive reactions or outright disinterest, traditional post-match lectures often fall on deaf ears. In this episode, Ben and Mike sit down with expert Laura Mellor-Bachman to reveal how coaches and parents can transform full-time reactions into meaningful learning moments. Discover why swapping emotional car journey critiques for objective, observation-based feedback completely changes how children receive guidance. Learn practical sideline techniques - such as simple mid-game note-taking - that help you step back from matchday stress and deliver calm, targeted recaps. Packed with real-world examples and actionable communication tips, this episode provides the ultimate playbook for fostering intrinsic motivation, improving player engagement and ensuring your matchday advice actually sticks.Start your journey with Little Kickers today at www.littlekickersfranchising.co.ukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootballInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootballYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootballFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.