It's Only Kids Football

Mike’s been on the Guinness, Ben’s 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 ‘passion’ a bit too far. Oh and if you’ve got a decent under-8s player, get in touch – the transfer window is open.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: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Harris—a rising coach himself—jumps in to give us the truth on what it’s 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).It’s football, family, and a whole lot of self-reflection—this one’s not to be missed.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: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After eight defeats in a row and a mental state that’s 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 everything—his coaching, his parenting and whether Alfie would just be better off under literally anyone else’s management. Has Ben ruined the one thing they both love? Meanwhile, Mike’s realising that even when he's keeping his mouth shut, his body language is screaming absolute despair. And don’t even get him started on Raph deciding he was “cold” mid-game.This is grassroots football at its rawest—where 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.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: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ben and Mike are back, reliving their latest touchline dramas. From celebrating Alfie’s newfound resilience to bemoaning yet another defeat, it’s the usual mix of chaos and tears.But don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom – they’ve 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, Jerome’s got stories that you’ll 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 you’re a stressed-out coach or a parent clinging to sanity on the sidelines, this one’s a must-listen. It’s football, but funny – and a little bit useful.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: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever tried teaching kids to mark in football? It’s like herding cats—with shin pads. This week, Ben and Mike, try to deal with kids who think “marking” means standing 10 yards away looking bored, to warm-ups so bad they’ll make you question life itself.Ben shares how he’s 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 they’ve shamelessly nicked from actual pros and you’ve got a therapy session for anyone who’s ever wanted to scream, “JUST MARK YOUR MAN!”Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Inside-bestselling-parenting-Philippa/dp/0008505543TikTok: 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: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 wins—or simply want to avoid becoming the coach featured on YouTube for all the wrong reasons—this episode is packed with valuable advice you won't want to miss.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: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of It’s 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 who’s ever shouted “Move!” 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.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: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three losses, five wins, five losses. On this week’s It’s Only Kids Football, Ben and Mike struggle to cope with the team’s 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 effort—sometimes it’s 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?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: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ben and Mike are joined by Asmir Begovic—a Premier League-winning goalkeeper who’s faced Messi, endured Tony Pulis’ gruelling pre-seasons and played under prime José 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 Rocky—running up snowy hills and battling brutal Canadian winters under his dad’s unforgiving training regime—he reveals the immense dedication and grit required to reach the top.He also takes time to assess young Alby’s 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 let’s be honest, it’s only kids’ football, isn’t it?Asmir Begovic gloves: https://ab1gk.com/Asmir Begovic Academy: https://ab1academy.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: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 death—it's just kids' football, right?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: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.