Episoder
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Ben and Mike are buzzing after a couple of wins â turns out, it only takes a sniff of success to turn these two into emotional wrecks planning birthday parties like they're 21 again.
But don't get comfy, because controversy is never far away. Ben's managed to spark a full-blown touchline war and attract the wrath of the social media police.
Plus, there's a deep dive into the joys and stark lessons of 7-a-side football and Ben's trying to smooth things over with a box of chocolates after upsetting another coach's wife. Will they ever learn? Probably not. But it's bloody funny listening to them try.
Use the coupon code IOKF20 at www.playgreatsoccer.com to receive 20% off. This offer is valid until May 31, 2025.
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The lads are back, and this week, itâs all about the minefield that is coaching your own kid. Benâs convinced heâs holding his son to impossible standards, Mikeâs trying (and failing) to stay calm and theyâre both wondering if they should start charging parents just to keep themselves in check.
But things get deeper (and a bit existential). How do you actually know if youâre pushing your kid too hard or not hard enough? Catalan Soccerâs Matt Ogden in the hot seat, dishing out wisdom on coaching thousands of kids, why heâs banned scouts from his academy and what parents get wrong when trying to develop their children. Expect big lessons, big laughs and possibly a midlife crisis or two.
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Manglende episoder?
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Ben and Mike are back and this week theyâre breaking down two big games: one where they were unlucky and one where they were actually good (a rare moment of self-praise) and of course, there's reflection on their latest emotional breakdown.
But controversy is never far away. Ben is accused of breaking touchline rules (again) and sparking s touchline war with rival fans, while Mike is begging for sponsorship (again) and the boys put in their best team performance yet.
Plus, how coaching from both sides of the pitch got some parents raging and is this finally the week the lads figure out how to win a close game? Whatâs the best way to lose a match but still feel positive? And did a camera REALLY mistake Benâs head for the ball?
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Ben and Mike call in the big guns, elite coach Edu Rubio, to help them crack formations, teamwork and how to stop their lads from bunching. Along the way, they confront their own coaching disasters, debate England vs. Spainâs youth setups and uncover the real secret to coaching kids: itâs not tactics - itâs psychology.
The key takeaways? Get to know your players and make them feel valued, because coaching isnât just about formations and winning. Praise progress, not just results and focus on developing skills rather than chasing the win.
Involve players in decision-making to boost their engagement and learning and above all, stay calm and lead by example - if you lose your head, they will too. If youâve ever wondered how to get an 8-year-old to listen, this oneâs for you.
The former West Ham and Wolves first-team coach also shares his thoughts on the FAâs latest steps to improve grassroots youth football in England.
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Benâs losing his voice, Mikeâs losing his mind, and the kids are losing their markers. A 5-1 win had them dreaming, but a 7-4 battering brought them crashing back to earth.
A shambolic training session saw Ben and Mike lose their rag with their own lads, bringing on instant regret and damage control. In a bid to lift the mood, Mike unleashed his inner Ted Lasso with an American Soccer Dad routineâspoiler: total disaster. Then, to top it off, he went full Wolf of Wall Street, popping champagne after Raph bagged a brace.
Now weâre asking: are our sessions actually helping or just leaving the kids more confused? If youâve got a player who listens and tracks back, hit us upâthe transfer window is still wide open.
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In this episode, Ben and Mike and joined by The Athletic's Rory Smith. Rory has spent his career dissecting elite football, interviewing some of the greatest minds in the game, but none of that prepared him for the minefield of coaching his sonâs under-7s team.
Rory confesses to a few questionable touchline moments, wrestles with the impossible task of getting kids to understand positioning (spoiler: they donât) and wonders if teaching them to "play out from the back" is just setting them up for failure.
Heâs also baffled by the number of dads screaming "PRESS!" at children who still struggle to put their boots on the right feet. But itâs not all stress and shouting, Rory also reflects on the good bits, like watching the kids grow in confidence, problem-solving on the pitch and occasionally kicking the ball in the right direction.
Oh and thereâs the small matter of trying to coach your own kid without losing the plot. Plenty to unpack, plenty to laugh at.
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Mikeâs been on the Guinness, Benâs on the edge and the kids have been on the wind-up. A losing streak hangs in the balance⊠but at what cost?
We finally get a result⊠well, sort of. A chaotic inter-club derby leaves everyone questioning whether it was a step forward or just more of the same. Meanwhile, Mike has been living it up in Dublin, missing the carnage and landing back into a WhatsApp storm.
Training was chaos, the warm-up was a shambles and the match? Well, let's just say it involved dodgy defending, a miniature Robbie Savage and some sideline parents who took âpassionâ a bit too far. Oh and if youâve got a decent under-8s player, get in touch â the transfer window is open.
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This week Ben and Mike are joined by Neil Harris, a coach who spent 21 years at Manchester United, helping bring through stars like Scott McTominay and Anthony Elanga. And to spice things up, his son Jamie Harrisâa rising coach himselfâjumps in to give us the truth on what itâs like being coached by your dad (spoiler: brutal!).
Expect top-class coaching insights on how to keep kids' attention, providing individual feedback and objectives for players and having a structured arrival routine to help players transition into the session.
Plus, Neil explains why Marcus Rashford played right-back for him in the academy, focusing on development rather than just results and the best way to help your kid get better without making them hate football (note to self).
Itâs football, family, and a whole lot of self-reflectionâthis oneâs not to be missed.
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After eight defeats in a row and a mental state thatâs circling the drain, Ben and Mike have finally hit rock bottom. In this episode, they unravel their latest meltdown.
For Ben, the emotional toll is hitting new heights as he questions everythingâhis coaching, his parenting and whether Alfie would just be better off under literally anyone elseâs management. Has Ben ruined the one thing they both love?
Meanwhile, Mikeâs realising that even when he's keeping his mouth shut, his body language is screaming absolute despair. And donât even get him started on Raph deciding he was âcoldâ mid-game.
This is grassroots football at its rawestâwhere well-intentioned dads turn into stress-ridden lunatics, obsess over tactics that seven-year-olds will never listen to and spend entire Sundays suppressing the urge to launch themselves into the abyss.
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This week, Ben and Mike are back, reliving their latest touchline dramas. From celebrating Alfieâs newfound resilience to bemoaning yet another defeat, itâs the usual mix of chaos and tears.
But donât worry, itâs not all doom and gloom â theyâve brought out the big guns. Former Arsenal and West Brom winger Jerome Thomas drops in to share some fantastic insights and anecdotes.
From training with Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp to getting schooled by Ashley Cole, Jeromeâs got stories that youâll want to share in the WhatsApp group or over a pint at the pub. He breaks down how he mastered the art of the 1v1, sharing essential tips you can pass on to your young players.
Now working as a top scout, Jerome explains what pros really look for in grassroots talent. So whether youâre a stressed-out coach or a parent clinging to sanity on the sidelines, this oneâs a must-listen. Itâs football, but funny â and a little bit useful.
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Ever tried teaching kids to mark in football? Itâs like herding catsâwith shin pads. This week, Ben and Mike, try to deal with kids who think âmarkingâ means standing 10 yards away looking bored, to warm-ups so bad theyâll make you question life itself.
Ben shares how heâs finally improving his relationship with Alfie by stepping back, ditching the intense dad-coach mode and focusing on fun (with a little help from parenting audiobooks). Meanwhile, Mike does his best to stay calm during a warm-up so disastrous it could make a nun swear, all while battling his inner rage over kids ignoring every instruction about marking.
Throw in some questionable tactics, a few positive training sessions and tips theyâve shamelessly nicked from actual pros and youâve got a therapy session for anyone whoâs ever wanted to scream, âJUST MARK YOUR MAN!â
Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Inside-bestselling-parenting-Philippa/dp/0008505543
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This week, Ben and Mike return with a thought-provoking episode featuring Saul Isaksson-Hurst, also known as My Personal Football Coach. Saul is an elite coach who works with top talents like Noni Madueke and has experience at Chelsea and Tottenham academies.
In this episode, he shares his insights on potential changes the FA may introduce to youth football formats. Saul believes that smaller formats will help prioritise skill development in younger players.
He explains how smaller-sided games can lead to 60% more scoring opportunities and 25% more 1v1 situations, how to teach tactical principles like balance and rotation without losing the kids' interest and why scaling back the "helicopter coaching" approach might be the key to success.
If you're looking to develop better players while still securing winsâor simply want to avoid becoming the coach featured on YouTube for all the wrong reasonsâthis episode is packed with valuable advice you won't want to miss.
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In this episode of Itâs Only Kids Football, Ben and Mike are joined by goalscoring legend Adam Le Fondre to tackle one of the hardest skills to teach young players: movement off the ball.
Packed with practical insights and digestible tips, Adam shares his secrets on how to create space, lose your defender and rack up goals like a seasoned striker. Perfect for football parents, coaches and anyone whoâs ever shouted âMove!â at a kid standing still on the pitch.
Adam also takes them on a journey through his grassroots beginnings, rise to stardom and advice for aspiring strikers. He dives into everything from how to instil dedication in young players to the impact of supportive (and tough-love) parents like his own dad, whose high standards fuelled his career.
The former Reading striker also shares vivid memories of his childhood matches and the friendships and life lessons learned along the way.
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Three losses, five wins, five losses. On this weekâs Itâs Only Kids Football, Ben and Mike struggle to cope with the teamâs erratic form. As die-hard Gooners, their Spurs-like inconsistency cuts even deeper.
Ben works to help Alfie battle through a crisis of confidence that turns bedtime into a tearful therapy session. Meanwhile, Mike realises he needs to coach Raph on the nuances of effortâsometimes itâs more effective to work smart, not just hard.
The management duo discuss potential formations to shore up their leaky defence, fears of losing their best players, the challenge of motivating the boys to run harder and the endless debate over shouting versus silence.
Holding it all together with little more than duct tape and denial, the lads wonder: will 2025 finally bring better results or are they doomed to remain the Grassroots Tottenham?
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This week, Ben and Mike are joined by Asmir Begovicâa Premier League-winning goalkeeper whoâs faced Messi, endured Tony Pulisâ gruelling pre-seasons and played under prime JosĂ© Mourinho.
Begovic shares his remarkable journey from fleeing war-torn Bosnia as a child to becoming a top-class keeper. With stories of training like Rockyârunning up snowy hills and battling brutal Canadian winters under his dadâs unforgiving training regimeâhe reveals the immense dedication and grit required to reach the top.
He also takes time to assess young Albyâs goalkeeping highlights, offering invaluable advice on bravery, technique and what it takes to excel in the game. Packed with life lessons from an elite-level goalkeeper and a reminder to enjoy it all, because letâs be honest, itâs only kidsâ football, isnât it?
Asmir Begovic gloves: https://ab1gk.com/
Asmir Begovic Academy: https://ab1academy.com/
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This week, Ben and Mike find themselves deep in the trenches as the team endures a streak of disappointing defeats, including tough losses to their inter-club rivals.
Ben opens up about the challenges he's facing with his son Alfie, who's struggling with a loss of confidence and learning how to bounce back after mistakes. Balancing support and discipline proves trickier than ever, as Alfie's emotional highs and lows leave Ben questioning his coaching approach.
Amidst the chaos and tears, there's a hamster to bury and cheeky voice notes from a rival manager taunting Ben and Mike after inflicting a painful defeat. The duo try implementing new motivational techniques but fail to spark the boys, leaving the managers wondering if they're speaking another language.
Messy, emotional, and seemingly more serious than life or deathâit's just kids' football, right?
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This week, Ben and Mike bring in a guest guaranteed to change your perspective. Our clueless duo welcomes renowned sports psychologist Dan Abrahams to the pod. Having worked with elite players and coaches like Arne Slot, Gareth Bale and Eddie Howe, Dan is here to help us coach from the sidelinesâwithout emotionally scarring our kids in the process.
He shares practical, actionable advice to boost both your performance and your childâs, from mastering your Game Face to squashing ANTs and creating your own Coachâs Head.
They dive into the challenges of coaching young players, the psychological tools to build confidence and resilience, plus stories of sideline meltdowns, Brighton academy thrashings and the ultimate no-no: starting a car journey with, âSo⊠how do you think you played?â
If youâre a regular listener, you know the drill: tune in for laughs, honest confessions, and surprisingly good advice. And if youâre new, buckle up. Because remember, It's Only Kids' Football⊠but itâs also the most important thing ever.
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In Episode 18, Ben and Mike relive the highs and lows of their latest two games, which left them planning European tours and doing victory dances in the kitchen.
Then, itâs a reality check as their boys step up to face Brightonâs academy teamâspoiler: it wasnât pretty, but the lessons hit harder than the tackles.
While Ben starts to show signs of listening to his son and learning to ease off, Mike struggles to contain his frustration, bringing about some much-needed introspection.
There are candid confessions about coaching errors, debates over pushing vs. praising, and discussions on the importance of stepping back so the kids can shine.
Plus, thereâs the introduction of a new âTeammate of the Weekâ award and how a sneaky Burger King took the sting out of a challenging car journey home.
Itâs another rollercoaster of footballing emotions and a reminder that, win or lose, itâs still only kidsâ football⊠right?
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This week, Ben and Mike sit down with ex-Premier League star Marc Pughâonce a flying winger, now the king of kale. While Mike confesses his love for Burger King, Marc reveals the secrets behind his Spartan lifestyle and a six-pack that could double as a washboard.
They dive into nutrition, rejection and why your kid's Cheerios might be sabotaging their shot at glory. Marc also shares tales from his grassroots days, breaking records and catching the attention of scouts.
If youâve ever wondered what your little star should eat before, during and after a matchâand what to avoid like a red cardâthis episode is for you.
Grab a rice cake, brace for a guilt trip and get ready to rewrite your shopping list.
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Leigh Ramblers Black U8s are back in form and Ben and Mike are absolutely buzzingâwell, mostly. While the kids are smashing it on the pitch, the dads are struggling to keep their heads on the sidelines.
Alfieâs hit a rough patch and Benâs convinced itâs all his fault for going full drill sergeant. Can they figure out how to get the best out of Alfie without Ben losing the plot?
Meanwhile, Mikeâs lad Raph joins goal machine Freddie Lambourne on a dream trip to Crystal Palaceâs training ground, aiming to dazzle scouts from the Premier League club. And, as always, Alby steals the show with his trademark mix of madness and charm.
Expect goals, gaffes and a hefty dose of goalkeeper chaos.
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