The Soccer Coaching Podcast

Send us Fan MailEpisode 125Brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly (@SoccerCoachWeek)Episode 125 – How AI Can Be Used in Football Coaching, a conversation with Kevin MiddletonIn this episode, Ray and I are joined by the awesome Kevin Middleton to explore the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence in football coaching and beyond.Kevin shares his journey and provides a fascinating insight into his work with FootballGPT, highlighting how AI is beginning to shape the way coaches plan, analyse, and deliver their sessions. We dive into the practical applications of AI in coaching, as well as the opportunities and challenges it presents for coaches at all levels of the game.We also discuss: What AI actually means for grassroots and academy coaches  How tools like FootballGPT can support session design and planning  The role of AI in analysis, feedback, and player development  The balance between technology and the human side of coaching  What the future of coaching might look like with AI continuing to evolve Ray and Kevin are also running an AI course for coaches who want to explore this space further. You can find out more and book your place here: AI for Football Coaching CourseThis episode offers a thought-provoking look at how coaches can embrace innovation while staying true to their coaching philosophy and values.Please do leave a review, like and share the episode!The Soccer Coaching Podcast, Twitter - @SoccerCoachCast The Soccer Coaching Podcast, Email - thesoccercoachingpodcast@gmail.comThis episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly.Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and advice for all grassroots coaches. Join thousands of youth soccer coaches, just like you, saving time and effort in their goal of having the most effective, enjoyable and successful coaching journey for them and their players. – https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed the episode!This episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly.Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and advice for all grassroots coaches. Join thousands of youth soccer coaches, just like you, saving time and effort in their goal of having the most effective, enjoyable and successful coaching journey for them and their players. – https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/ Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed the episode!

Send us Fan MailEpisode 124Brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly (@SoccerCoachWeek)Episode 124 – Deep Dive Episode 2: Playing a HIGH BLOCKIn this episode, Paddy and I take a deep dive into the concept of playing a high block, using a fascinating tactical example from the Carabao Cup Final where Manchester City surprised Arsenal with a bold and aggressive approach.We explore how City implemented a high block structure, committing four attacking players high up the pitch to disrupt Arsenal’s build-up and create immediate pressure in advanced areas. Through analysis of match footage, we break down how this tactical adjustment impacted the game, the positioning and roles of the players involved, and why it proved so effective.We also discuss: What a high block really looks like in practice  The benefits and risks of committing players high  Key coaching points for implementing a high block with your own team  How coaches can adapt this approach across different age groups and levels This episode is packed with practical insights for coaches looking to develop a more aggressive out-of-possession strategy and better understand modern tactical trends in the game.Please do leave a review, like and share the episode!The Soccer Coaching Podcast, Twitter - @SoccerCoachCast The Soccer Coaching Podcast, Email - thesoccercoachingpodcast@gmail.comThis episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly.Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and advice for all grassroots coaches. Join thousands of youth soccer coaches, just like you, saving time and effort in their goal of having the most effective, enjoyable and successful coaching journey for them and their players. – https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/This episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly.Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and advice for all grassroots coaches. Join thousands of youth soccer coaches, just like you, saving time and effort in their goal of having the most effective, enjoyable and successful coaching journey for them and their players. – https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/ Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed the episode!

Send us Fan MailEpisode 123 Brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly (@SoccerCoachWeek)Episode 123 – Being a Confidant to Elite Football Managers, a conversation with Ray PowerIn this episode, Ray and I explore a fascinating and often unseen aspect of his coaching business, his 1-2-1 work with elite, top-flight football managers.Ray shares what it means to act as a trusted confidant at the very highest level of the game, and why even the most experienced managers need someone they can speak to openly and honestly. We dive into the types of conversations they have, from handling pressure and decision-making, to managing relationships, maintaining clarity, and navigating the complexities of modern football.We also discuss why top-flight managers reach out in the first place, what they’re really looking for in that support, and how Ray creates a space that is both challenging and psychologically safe. This episode offers a unique insight into the human side of elite coaching and leadership.Please do leave a review, like and share the episode!The Soccer Coaching Podcast, Twitter - @SoccerCoachCast The Soccer Coaching Podcast, Email - thesoccercoachingpodcast@gmail.comThis episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly. Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and advice for all grassroots coaches. Join thousands of youth soccer coaches, just like you, saving time and effort in their goal of having the most effective, enjoyable and successful coaching journey for them and their players. – https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed the episode!This episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly.Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and advice for all grassroots coaches. Join thousands of youth soccer coaches, just like you, saving time and effort in their goal of having the most effective, enjoyable and successful coaching journey for them and their players. – https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/ Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed the episode!

Send us Fan Mail🎙️ Episode 122: Coach’s Voice (Episode 1)Episode 122 marks the launch of our brand-new Coach’s Voice series — where the conversation starts with you.In this first edition, Scott and Ray respond to four thought-provoking questions sent in by coaches who listen to the podcast. These are real challenges from real environments, and the discussion is honest, practical, and grounded in lived coaching experience.This episode is less about theory — and more about the realities of coaching in today’s game.🗣️ The four questions discussed:⚽ 1. The Match Day Environment How do we create a match day atmosphere that supports development rather than fear? Scott and Ray explore the role of the coach on game day, emotional tone, parent behaviour, and how match day can either reinforce or undo the work done during the week.💭 2. Building (and Protecting) Player Confidence What does confidence really mean in young players — and how easily can we damage it? The conversation explores the difference between praise and belief, the impact of language, and why confidence is often built through challenge, not comfort.🎯 3. Over-Coaching Are we saying too much? Scott and Ray reflect on the temptation to control every moment, the dangers of constant instruction, and why silence can sometimes be the most powerful intervention a coach can make.🧩 4. Tactics & Structure vs Freedom & Creativity How much structure is too much? Where is the balance between giving players a framework and allowing them to solve problems? The discussion dives into whether rigid tactical systems can unintentionally limit game intelligence — and how coaches can design structure that still allows expression.Throughout the episode, Scott and Ray share practical examples from their own environments, challenge common coaching habits, and encourage deeper reflection on how our behaviours shape player experience.This is an episode designed to make you think about how you show up — on the grass, on the sideline, and in your communication.🎧 Coach’s Voice – Get InvolvedCoach’s Voice episodes are driven by you.We invite coaches to:Send in a voice note (up to 2 minutes) sharing a question, dilemma, idea, or opinionBe reflective, honest, even challengingHelp shape future episodes of the podcastSelected submissions will be played on the show and used as the starting point for discussion.A couple of simple guidelines:Please don’t use player namesIf discussing sensitive topics, avoid naming clubsIf you’d rather not record audio, you can email your question instead📩 Send voice notes or emails to: thesoccercoachingpodcast@gmail.comThanks for listening — and if one of these questions resonated with you, share the episode with a fellow coach.Your voice matters.This episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly.Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and advice for all grassroots coaches. Join thousands of youth soccer coaches, just like you, saving time and effort in their goal of having the most effective, enjoyable and successful coaching journey for them and their players. – https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/ Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed the episode!

Send us Fan Mail🎙️ Episode 121: Coaching Gen Z and Gen Alpha Players – A Focus on MindsetEpisode 121 marks the first episode co-hosted by Scott Mowberry and Ray Power, launching a new collaborative chapter for The Soccer Coaching Podcast.For this episode, Scott and Ray are joined by Phil Phillipou to explore the challenges and opportunities of coaching Gen Z and Gen Alpha players, with a particular focus on mindset.As the game continues to evolve, so do the players we coach. This conversation dives into how today’s young players think, learn, communicate, and respond to pressure — and what that means for coaches working in modern football environments.🧠 Key themes discussed include:Understanding the mindset traits of Gen Z and Gen Alpha playersHow social media, culture, and modern life influence young footballersWhy traditional coaching approaches don’t always land with today’s playersCreating environments that support confidence, resilience, and self-beliefPractical strategies coaches can use to connect, challenge, and support playersThe balance between standards, empathy, and accountabilityPhil brings a psychology-informed perspective grounded in real-world coaching and athlete development, offering practical insight that coaches can apply immediately — whether they’re working in grassroots football, academies, or performance environments.📘 About the guestPhil is the author of Inspiring Young Minds: The Psychology Mastery for Young Footballers, a book designed to help young players develop strong psychological foundations alongside their football ability.🔗 Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Inspiring-Young-Minds-Mastery-Footballers/dp/B0FN79FKV9📲 Connect with Phil:Instagram: @mindsightsportLinkedIn: Phil PhillipouPhils Webinar & Discount Code- https://www.tickettailor.com/events/raypowercoacheducation/2029162The discount is PHIL10🎧 Coach’s Voice – get involvedAs part of this new phase of the podcast, we’re introducing Coach’s Voice episodes — and we want to hear from you.Coaches are invited to:Send in a voice note (up to 2 minutes) sharing a question, idea, experience, or viewpointBe as individual, reflective, or even controversial as you likeSelected submissions will be played on the podcast and used as the starting point for discussion with Scott and Ray.A couple of simple guidelines:Please don’t use player namesIf your topic is controversial, avoid naming clubsIf you prefer not to record audio, you can email your thoughts instead📩 Send voice notes or emails to: thesoccercoachingpodcast@gmail.comThis episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly.Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and advice for all grassroots coaches. Join thousands of youth soccer coaches, just like you, saving time and effort in their goal of having the most effective, enjoyable and successful coaching journey for them and their players. – https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/ Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed the episode!

Send us Fan Mail🎙️ Episode 120: An Exciting Evolution of The Soccer Coaching PodcastIn this short update episode, I share some exciting news about the next evolution of The Soccer Coaching Podcast.Going forward, I’ll be collaborating with Ray Power to bring even more engaging, thought-provoking, and coach-focused content to the podcast. Together, we’re planning to release one or two episodes per month, alongside the existing format, designed to explore the game from multiple perspectives and spark meaningful discussion.🔍 What’s coming next?Our collaborative episodes will include a mix of:Guest interviews with coaches and practitionersRound-table conversations exploring key themes and ideasCoach’s Voice episodes — where you, the coaching community, take centre stage🎧 Coach’s Voice: we want to hear from youFor our Coach’s Voice episodes, we’re inviting coaches to get involved directly.You can:Record a voice note (up to 2 minutes) sharing a question, idea, experience, or opinionBe as unique, reflective, or even controversial as you likeWe’ll play selected voice notes on the podcast and use them as a starting point for discussion.A couple of important guidelines:Please don’t use player namesIf your topic is controversial, avoid naming clubsIf you’d rather not record audio, you can email your thoughts instead📩 Send voice notes or emails to: thesoccercoachingpodcast@gmail.comThis evolution is all about making the podcast more interactive, more reflective of the coaching community, and a place where real coaching conversations can happen.Thanks, as always, for listening and Ray and I are really looking forward to sharing what comes next.This episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly.Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and advice for all grassroots coaches. Join thousands of youth soccer coaches, just like you, saving time and effort in their goal of having the most effective, enjoyable and successful coaching journey for them and their players. – https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/ Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed the episode!

Paddy King, a tactical coach and analyst, shares valuable insights about building out from the defensive third. He breaks down Barcelona's effective tactics, explaining how players create space and passing options through movement and rotation. Paddy also discusses the decision-making process for key positions and the significance of understanding pressing cues. Grassroots coaches will appreciate his practical tips for translating elite strategies into engaging training sessions that enhance player development.

Send us Fan Mail🎙️ Episode 118 — Introducing Our New Deep Dive Series In this short promo, we unveil our brand-new Deep Dive series: focused, practical episodes that take one coaching theme at a time and go beneath the surface—ideas you can lift straight onto the training pitch. What to expect Clear, actionable takeaways for grassroots to academy coachesReal session ideas, common pitfalls, and quick winsShort, focused format you can revisit anytime📺 Also on YouTube: Watch every Deep Dive episode here: https://www.youtube.com/@thesoccercoachingpodcast9489 💬 Questions or topic requests? Email us: thesoccercoachingpodcast@gmail.com 👉 Subscribe on your podcast app (and on YouTube) so you don’t miss Episode 1 of the Deep Dive series! This episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly.Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and advice for all grassroots coaches. Join thousands of youth soccer coaches, just like you, saving time and effort in their goal of having the most effective, enjoyable and successful coaching journey for them and their players. – https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/ Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed the episode!

Send us Fan MailEpisode 117, Brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly (@SoccerCoachWeek) Episode 117 – The Importance of Philosophy and Culture, a conversation with Jason CarneyIn this episode we speak again with the superb Jason Carney about the importance of Philosophy and Culture. Jason is the Director of Coaching at FC Portland, and is an A licensed coach and author. Jason talks about his experiences in developing a philosophy and supporting culture, and the benefits he’s experienced when you get these right.Please do leave a review, like and share the episode!www - Jason Carney – www.fcportland.org X - The Soccer Coaching Podcast - @SoccerCoachCastThe Soccer Coaching Podcast, Email - thesoccercoachingpodcast@gmail.com This episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly.Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and advice for all grassroots coaches. Join thousands of youth soccer coaches, just like you, saving time and effort in their goal of having the most effective, enjoyable and successful coaching journey for them and their players. – https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/ Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed the episode!This episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly.Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and advice for all grassroots coaches. Join thousands of youth soccer coaches, just like you, saving time and effort in their goal of having the most effective, enjoyable and successful coaching journey for them and their players. – https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/ Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed the episode!

Send us Fan MailEpisode 116, Brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly (@SoccerCoachWeek) Episode 116 – Positional Play, a conversation with Paddy KingIn this episode we speak again with the awesome Paddy King. Paddy has a passion for positional play and in this episodes, we speak about what he’s been up to since we last spoke on episode 39. Paddy tells about his new online coaching course and how it can help all coaches better understand the concepts discussed and support their players.Please do leave a review, like and share the episode!X – Paddy King- @KingKnightEdwww – Kingknighteducation.comX - The Soccer Coaching Podcast - @SoccerCoachCastThe Soccer Coaching Podcast, Email - thesoccercoachingpodcast@gmail.com This episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly.Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and advice for all grassroots coaches. Join thousands of youth soccer coaches, just like you, saving time and effort in their goal of having the most effective, enjoyable and successful coaching journey for them and their players. – https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/ Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed the episode!This episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly.Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and advice for all grassroots coaches. Join thousands of youth soccer coaches, just like you, saving time and effort in their goal of having the most effective, enjoyable and successful coaching journey for them and their players. – https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/ Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed the episode!