Blog

When my child got into a professional football academy, I had to ask myself—why did this mean so much to me? Sure, they dreamed of being a pro footballer, but was I just supporting their goal, or was I chasing something myself? In this article, we question Why Are Parents So Obsessed with Academy Football?
Youth Football Academies

Why Are Parents So Obsessed with Academy Football?

When my child got into a professional football academy, I had to ask myself—why did this mean so much to me? Sure, they dreamed of being a pro footballer, but was I just supporting their goal, or was I chasing something myself? In this article, we question Why Are Parents

The Junior Premier League (JPL) is England’s largest national youth football league, offering an elite, player-focused environment for boys and girls aged U7 to U18. With a development-first ethos, structured match formats, robust coaching standards, and clear pathways into professional academies, the JPL offers quality grassroots football—and this post explains how it works and why it matters for parents.
Miscellaneous

What is the Junior Premier League (JPL)?

The Junior Premier League (JPL) is England’s largest national youth football league, offering an elite, player-focused environment for boys and girls aged U7 to U18. With a development-first ethos, structured match formats, robust coaching standards, and clear pathways into professional academies, the JPL offers quality grassroots football—and this post explains

The Power of Silent Support in Grassroots Football - The Silent Support Weekend
Football Parents

The Power of Silent Support in Grassroots Football

The Silent Support Weekend in grassroots football gives an opportunity for the players to do the talking in junior grassroots football, with parents and supporters showing their support from the sidelines through applause only.

What is Teqball?
Miscellaneous

What is Teqball?

Teqball is a football-based sport played on a specially curved table (the Teq Table) and is one of the newest emerging sports growing rapidly through each continent.

DBS Checks, First Aid and Safeguarding
Coaching

DBS Checks, First Aid and Safeguarding

DBS Checks, First Aid and Safeguarding are essential and paramount to all grassroots clubs and coaches to ensure compliance with FA guidelines and policies.

Running a Grassroots Football Team - The Basics
Coaching

Running a Grassroots Football Team – The Basics

If you’re reading this it’s probably because you have taken on the responsibility of running a grassroots football team. Firstly, well done – whilst it might feel like quite a daunting task, it can also be a very rewarding one, as those of us who have been down this road

What is a Football Academy
Youth Football Academies

What is a Football Academy?

What is a Football Academy?  If you regularly attend junior grassroots football matches, you’ll often hear phrases like “he’s an academy player” or ‘“he used to be at an academy’” or “he should be playing at an academy”’ or “he was released from an academy”. But in case you are

One of the first things to consider as a junior grassroots football coach is your team philosophy. This is important for you, the players and their parents.
Coaching

Your Team Philosophy

One of the first things to consider as a junior grassroots football coach is your team philosophy. It’s worth having a clear idea what it is you want the children you’re coaching, their parents and the coaches.

A thank you to football mums - 8 reasons to thanks football mums
Football Parents

A Thank You To Football Mums

In celebration of Mother’s Day, we thought it only fitting to highlight what makes football Mums so special and why we should thank them, for all that they do!

FA Power play rule junior soccer
Coaching

The FA Power Play Rule: A game-changer for grassroots football?

The Power Play rule, introduced by the FA in 2018, means that junior grassroots football teams are allowed to bring on extra players when they fall four goals behind. The rule is aimed at teams from under-sixes to under-11s in five and seven-a-side games. It is up to the county

4-Key-Factors-to-Consider-When-Choosing-A-Grassroots-Football-Team
Football Parents

4 Key Factors When Choosing A Grassroots Football Team

Parents have a massive influence on their child’s football development and their journey in grassroots football. Choosing the right grassroots football team is one of those key decisions, which can impact on the development and enjoyment of the game for your child.

The Code of Conduct for Football Scouts - Guidance for Grassroots Football
Youth Football Academies

The Code of Conduct for Football Scouts

Football Scouting is big business. There is a huge network of football scouts across the UK who attend grassroots football games seeking to identify the next generation of talent, but how is this regulated, and what is the Code of Conduct?

How to become a football coach - football coaching qualifications - level 1
Coaching

How To Become A Football Coach

How To Become A Football Coach – Our guide shows you how to gain your football coaching qualification such as FA Level 1, Level 2 and more

Parents Behaviour at Junior Grassroots Football
Football Parents

Parents Behaviour at Grassroots Football

Parents behaviour at grassroots football has become a key talking point. The vast majority of parents who attend their child’s grassroots matches are great. They are committed, supportive, encouraging and there for their child, whether it is a win, draw or loss.

Things Not To Do A Grassroots Football Match
Football Parents

8 Things Not To Do At A Grassroots Football Match

Grassroots football matches are a fantastic way to encourage children to be active and enjoy team sports. As parents, it is important to create a positive and supportive environment for our children to participate in.

Equal Playing Time in Grassroots Football
Coaching

Equal Playing Time in Grassroots Football

The result should never be the most important thing in grassroots football at the development stage, but unfortunately this is still the case for the majority. Equal playing time can be an issue for many players and parents.

Grassroots Football Coach Advice to Parents
Football Parents

10 Polite Reminders From A Football Coach To Pushy Parents

This weekend will see tens of thousands of kids across the country playing grassroots football. Before parents start barking from the touchline, one grassroots football coach, who has asked to remain anonymous, offers some advice to parents bearing in mind the FA Respect code of conduct…

Letter To Parents From A Grassroots Football Coach
Football Parents

A Letter To Parents From A Grassroots Football Coach

A grassroots football coach wrote this extraordinary letter after getting abuse from parents A grassroots football coach overheard comments made about him behind his back and opened his heart in a letter to those parents who criticise him. Giving up your time to help others can be a thankless job.

Refereeing can be an incredibly rewarding hobby and even a career. To become a referee, all referees start with their FA Referees Course and have the opportunity to progress all the way through the game. There are many good reasons to become a referee for junior grassroots football. Here's ten of them....
Refereeing

10 Important Reasons to Become a Referee

Refereeing can be an incredibly rewarding hobby and even a career. To become a referee, all referees start with their FA Referees Course and have the opportunity to progress all the way through the game. There are many good reasons to become a referee for junior grassroots football. Here’s ten

What is Futsal
Miscellaneous

What is Futsal? What you need to know…

Futsal is growing in rapidly in popularity across Europe and most of the world’s footballing nations. It is an exciting, fast-paced form of the game that originates in South America.

18-0! Really! Who Benefits from That Score?
Coaching

18-0! Really!? Who Benefits from That Score?

We recently attended a junior football match in which the home team won 18-0. As a parent and as a coach we must question why we are seeing these scores, who benefits, and how can these scorelines could be avoided. Here’s our thoughts…

Grassroots Football Club Roles - Junior Grassroots
Miscellaneous

Grassroots Football Club Roles

Running a grassroots football club requires a huge amount of time and effort from volunteers. Let’s take a look at the grassroots football club roles – Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Welfare Officer (CWO), Coach / Team Manager etc.