Series 2 - Episode 9 - Youth Football Parents Q&A With Pez & Geoff

The Inner Huddle - The Football (Soccer) Development Podcast for Parents & Coaches of Young Aspiring Players

In the penultimate episode of series two, Pez and Geoff answer more questions from parents to do with youth football. The following eight questions were used to trigger many different discussion points and is a must listen for all parents and coaches! There's lots of great advice for parents & coaches to help children fulfil their potential. Please subscribe, share and rate the podcast to help us grow and reach more like minded parents around the world.

1. My son plays for a team with his friends, many of them have also started playing for another team. He’d really like to go along with them and play but by his own admission, he’s not as good as them. Do you have any tips on how he can improve quickly to help catch up…?

2. I have run an U10 team for two seasons and have really enjoyed it. However, I’ve found it hard to keep players for this season as many left to join another club that play in a more glamourous league. One of the player’s dads literally “tapped” them all up towards the end of the season (having joined us at the start of the season) and they left in the summer. Although one has already come back as it was far too serious and not much fun. It’s really knocked my confidence and the way I’ve been treated has had an effect on my enthusiasm, to the point I’m not sure I want to do it anymore. Is tapping up a normal part of children’s football and should I quit if my enthusiasm has gone?

3. My question is about academy football- my son loves to find space and pass and move, but when he’s at academy training and they do small sided matches…no one else passes. In fact you see players running into 6 opponents with their head down. And it’s encouraged. I get the 1v1 idea, beat the man etc. but even this surely needs coaching? Do I get my son to come and snatch the ball and copy others trying to take on the team untill they lose it or stick to making the choices he wants on standing off the play yelling for the ball which inevitably never comes! And will those coaches recognise his spatial awareness or see it as him not being involved?

4. I have a daughter that plays u12’s football for a grassroots side. In pre-season a local academy held ‘elite’ trials, recommended to us by her coach she did them and was successful. The coach did not realise at the time that the ‘elite’ training clashes with her team training. She’s been doing half of her club then onto the elites straight after (her choice) now it’s dark that’s not possible and the coach has said if she chooses elites she will have to start on the bench come game day. Ultimate question is what should she do? She will improve with the elite training playing with better players but miss out on starting games. I’ve left all this up to her and she’s made all of the decisions around it so far.

5. What is/are the biggest misconceptions about coaching youth football that you hear all the time?

6. If my child wants a career in football (not necessarily as a player), other than the FA qualifications, what should they do to help support their future career?

7. Why does playing Futsal enhance your football training?

8. Who do you think is the best Futsal player in the world and why (past or present)

Please send any questions you want answered/discussed to Pez at [e-mail] or 07818225592

This episode was sponsored by SR Health, Safety & Engineering Ltd:

https://www.srhse.co.uk/

Your hosts are:

Perry Cocking (Pezzaz Street Soccer & formerly Southampton FC) -

www.pezzazstreetsoccer.com

https://www.facebook.com/perrycockingauthor

Geoff Bonner (Wessex Futsal Club) -

https://www.facebook.com/wessexfutsal