In this unfiltered episode, former academy coaches Michael Fox and Olly Porteous join Ben and Mike to tackle the biggest issues facing grassroots football right now.

From 3v3 formats, silent weekends and heading bans to kick-ins, league tables and parent behaviour, the conversation goes beyond surface-level opinions and into what’s actually helping — and what might be quietly harming — player development.

Are we overcorrecting youth football? Are rule changes solving the real problem? And is adult behaviour, not structure, the issue that needs fixing most?

Drawing on years inside academy systems and grassroots environments, Fox and Porteous break down what needs to change, what needs to be protected and why balance—not extremes—is the key to developing confident, resilient young players.

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

Get FREE delivery when you spend over £100 at https://www.discountfootballkits.com/ using code IOKFFD — but hurry, it ends at midnight on March 31st, 2026.

Power your grassroots team with effortless payments — sign up with GoCardless today at https://gocardless.com/g/payments-sports-clubs/ and spend less time chasing fees, more time developing your players.

LoveAdmin takes the admin off your plate so you can spend more time coaching and less time chasing parents: https://loveadmin.com/

Book a call with a VEO expert: https://get.veo.co/iokfootball

Olly Porteous: https://www.instagram.com/ollyporteous/

Michael Fox: https://www.instagram.com/foxmic15/

Fox Academy: https://www.instagram.com/f.o.x.football.academy/

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Ben and Mike are joined in the studio by Josh Paul, the social media powerhouse behind @fit_4_football to dissect the parental pre-game pep talk. Josh reveals why giving technical instructions to a young child is not only ineffective but also ignores the reality of how children actually learn and play.

The conversation explores the dangers of comparing grassroots players to the "wonder kids" seen in highly edited social media clips. From managing chaotic training sessions to using professional players as positive role models, this episode is a deep dive into keeping the pressure low and the fun high.

Ben and Mike get honest about their own past coaching mistakes and why the most important job a parent has is simply being their child's biggest fan.

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

Get FREE delivery when you spend over £100 at https://www.discountfootballkits.com/ using code IOKFFD — but hurry, it ends at midnight on March 31st, 2026.

Power your grassroots team with effortless payments — sign up with GoCardless today at https://gocardless.com/g/payments-sports-clubs/ and spend less time chasing fees, more time developing your players.

LoveAdmin takes the admin off your plate so you can spend more time coaching and less time chasing parents: https://loveadmin.com/

Book a call with a VEO expert: https://get.veo.co/iokfootball

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/

Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

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In this episode, Ben and Mike are joined by John Curtis — former Manchester United player and founder of NCE Soccer — for a wide-ranging conversation on what really drives youth football development.

John reflects on his own journey from grassroots football to Manchester United, sharing how early environments, coaching culture, and emotional support shape confident, resilient players.

Drawing on his experiences in elite academies and now working in the US, he explains why many development systems prioritise results, money, and status over long-term growth — and the damage this can cause to young players’ belief and enjoyment.

The discussion dives into coaching children at different ages, managing emotions when confidence dips, the challenges of parent-coaches and positional changes.

John also outlines the philosophy behind NCE Soccer, how it differs from traditional club models, and what aligned players, parents, and coaches can achieve when development — not winning — is the priority.

Benny is 4 years old 💙 and fighting stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma. His family are raising funds for life-saving CAR-T cell therapy in Rome. Follow his journey: https://www.instagram.com/stand_by_benny/. Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/benjaminahmanizad

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

Football Discount Kits supplies quality football kits at prices that actually work for grassroots clubs — no nonsense, no hard sell, just reliable teamwear that arrives on time and looks the part on matchday: https://www.discountfootballkits.com/

LoveAdmin takes the admin off your plate so you can spend more time coaching and less time chasing parents: https://loveadmin.com/

Book a call with a VEO expert: https://get.veo.co/iokfootball

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/

Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.