Ball at all Cost

Ball at all Cost
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This podcast dives deep into the world of grassroots football, offering insights and guidance to help parents navigate the often challenging and intricate landscape of youth sports. Each episode provides practical advice, tackling issues like player development, balancing commitments, managing expectations, and understanding the nuances of the grassroots football ecosystem. Join the grassroots football dads as they share their insights and experiences along with established guests sharing their vast knowledge on a weekly basis.

  1. 5 days ago

    Why Young Players Struggle Mentally – And How Parents Can Help

    ⚽ Talent alone doesn’t guarantee success in football. Confidence, self-belief and the ability to deal with setbacks can shape a young player’s journey just as much as what happens on the pitch.🧠 We welcome Micheal Hilton from Mind Fit Football for an honest conversation about the mental side of the game. Micheal shares his own journey through dyslexia, self-doubt, missed opportunities and eventually walking away from football before finding a new purpose in helping players develop mentally.🎙️ We explore why young footballers struggle with confidence, how negative self-talk affects performance, and why learning to reset after mistakes is such an important skill. Micheal also explains how he works with players to understand their individual challenges rather than assuming every player needs the same solution.👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For parents and coaches, there’s plenty to reflect on: knowing when to encourage and when to listen, recognising the pressure children face, allowing them to make mistakes, and helping them develop the ability to think for themselves.💬 The conversation also tackles parental influence, coaching styles, emotional control, resilience and why a child’s development should be about more than simply becoming a professional footballer.Because developing a footballer isn’t just about improving what they can do with the ball. It’s also about helping them understand what happens in their head.

    Why Young Players Struggle Mentally – And How Parents Can Help

  2. 27 Oct

    Released, Rejected, Starting Again: The Reality of a Football Career

    ⚽ What happens when the football career you imagined takes a completely different direction?Tarik Moore joins us for an honest conversation about his journey through professional football, the decisions that shaped his career, and the lessons he learned along the way.🔎 Having experienced life around clubs including Arsenal, Tottenham and Coventry, Tarik reflects on the realities of academy football, the frustration of feeling undervalued, the decisions he regrets, and the difficult search for a new club after being released.💭 We also get into a question many young players and their parents face: is joining a bigger academy always the right decision? It's about knowing your value, picking the right club, and taking your chance when it comes, not waiting around for a bigger name.👨‍👩‍👦 For parents, we discuss the emotional and practical demands of pursuing football seriously, including long journeys, sacrifices, expectations and the impact rejection can have on a young player’s confidence. We also explore why children need an identity beyond football and why education, communication and life skills matter just as much as their development on the pitch.🩹 Tarek opens up about injuries, the uncertainty of life outside the professional game, and the challenge of figuring out what comes next when football no longer goes to plan.🎙️ We also discuss grassroots coaching, the pressure surrounding young players, the role of parents, and why development should come before results. Because talent can open a door, but it cannot guarantee what happens next.👇🏾 Join the conversation. Would you choose a smaller club where your child could get more opportunities, or a bigger academy with a stronger name?👍🏾 Like the video, subscribe to Ball at All Cost, and share your thoughts in the comments.#football #grassrootsfootball #professionalfootball #footballacademy #playerdevelopment #footballcoaching #footballparents #ballatallcost #football #premierleague #englishfa

    Released, Rejected, Starting Again: The Reality of a Football Career

  3. 21 Oct

    Getting Into an Academy Doesn’t Mean You’ve Made It

    Building a footballer is one thing. Helping a child grow through football is another.In this episode, Shakir, founder of Little Tigers Football Academy, shares the thinking behind a programme built to give children more than just a chance to impress scouts. What began with a small group in a park has grown into a club offering development sessions and teams competing at different levels.⚽ We get into what he believes coaches should actually be teaching… from reading the game and making decisions to defending, handling setbacks and building the confidence to keep going when things don’t work out.👀 We also discuss the business surrounding football development, the rise of private coaching, and the expectations parents place on children who dream of reaching professional academies. Shakir makes an important point: getting selected is not the finish line. Players can be released, plans can change, and a child’s relationship with football can suffer when everything revolves around making it.🏟️ The conversation also touches on the realities of running a grassroots programme, including facilities, travel and the challenges of catering to players at different levels.💬 Perhaps the biggest question is this: if a child never becomes a professional footballer, can their time in football still be a success?For Shakir, the value of the game goes beyond where a player ends up. The experience, the lessons and the person they become matter too.🎙️ Watch the full conversation and tell us what you think in the comments.Subscribe to Ball at All Cost for conversations with the people shaping football, from the grassroots upwards.

    Getting Into an Academy Doesn’t Mean You’ve Made It

  4. 13 Oct

    The Hidden Cost of Pushing Young Footballers Too Hard | Hans Martin

    ⚽ More training doesn’t always mean more progress. Sometimes, the real difference is knowing when a young player needs to push on and when their body needs a break.🩺 We sit down with Hans Martin Bjorkevoll , a physiotherapist from Norway whose own experience with two ACL tears helped shape his interest in injury prevention.🏃‍♂️ We explore how sudden increases in training, growth spurts, poor recovery and the demands of school and everyday life can affect young athletes. We also discuss common issues like Osgood-Schlatter knee pain, why recurring pain shouldn’t simply be ignored, and why getting the right professional advice matters.🧠 Beyond the physical side, we look at how coaches and parents can better understand each child’s workload, the value of free play, and whether young footballers have enough room to enjoy different sports instead of repeating structured drills all the time.💬 Developing a player goes beyond improving their technique. What’s more important is helping them grow, stay healthy and enjoy the game for years to come.Give us a like and subscribe if you haven’t.

    The Hidden Cost of Pushing Young Footballers Too Hard | Hans Martin

  5. 7 Oct

    From West Ham to Life After Football | Adam Newton’s Story

    ⚽ Adam Newton joins us to reflect on a football journey that took him from grassroots football to West Ham, professional football and eventually life beyond the game.🎙️ Adam opens up about making it as a professional, the pressure to succeed, earning respect in the dressing room, adapting to setbacks and what he learned throughout his career.👨‍👦 He also talks honestly about fatherhood, supporting the next generation, the pressures young players face and finding the right balance between ambition and enjoyment.🔄 And when the professional game ended, Adam had to find a new identity outside football. From coaching to grassroots football and starting again, this is a conversation about what happens when the game you built your life around is no longer your career.🔥 A proper conversation about football, family, ambition and life after the final whistle.Make sure to like and subscribe if you haven’t. #ballatallcost #football #youthfootball #footballacademy #grassrootsfootball #footballdevelopment #footballparenting #footballjourney #westham #professionalfootball #playerdevelopment #footballpodcast #football

    From West Ham to Life After Football | Adam Newton’s Story

  6. 30 Sept

    Before They Become Footballers, They’re Just Kids | Damian Scannell

    From grassroots football to the professional game at 22, Damian Scannell knows what it takes to make it against the odds.🎙️ On this episode, he joins us to discuss the pressures facing young footballers, the business of grassroots coaching and whether the modern game is taking the fun out of football.👨‍👧‍👦 We also get into fatherhood, raising confident children and why being present matters far more than simply providing.🔥 Are we developing young footballers, or putting too much pressure on them to succeed?📺 Watch, share your thoughts in the comments and subscribe for more conversations about the game.#grassrootsfootball #ballatallcost #academyfootball #footballacademy #football #footballdebate #footballpodcast #kidsfootball #premierleague #epl #youthfootball #footballparent

    Before They Become Footballers, They’re Just Kids | Damian Scannell

  7. 23 Sept

    He Joined the Army at 16… Now He Scouts Future Footballers w/ Dane Krafft

    ⚽️ Football development is never as straightforward as people think. Dane Krafft has seen that from several sides… as a player, a coach and now a scout.🎖️ He joined the British Army at 16, eventually found his way back into football and built a coaching career before moving into scouting. In this conversation, he opens up about the experiences that shaped the way he sees young players today.🧠 We talk about players getting released, late developers, academy football, playing up age groups, social media highlights, the difference between being an academy player and actually being ready for first-team football, and the difficult decisions clubs have to make when recruiting.🔍 Dane also gives us a look at his work with Ipswich Town and how he approaches finding players who might not immediately stand out.💡 There’s plenty here for players, coaches and parents, but more than anything, it’s a conversation about how unpredictable a football journey can be.#ballatallcost #footballacademy #grassrootsfootball #academyfootball #youthfootball #footballscouting #football #playerdevelopment #footballcoaching #ipswichtown #premierleague

    He Joined the Army at 16… Now He Scouts Future Footballers w/ Dane Krafft

  8. 10 Sept

    Elite Mindset in Youth Football: Parenting, Rejection & The Road to Newcastle

    👀 What does it really take to develop an elite young footballer?🎙️ Leon Hall joins us for a deep and honest conversation about youth football, parenting, academy development and the realities behind trying to reach the highest level.🧠 From his own experiences of rejection as a young player to navigating his son Eli’s football journey, Leon explains how his approach to development has been shaped by both personal experience and years around the game.🎯 We discuss the importance of technique over physical development, choosing the right academy environment, dealing with rejection, understanding a player’s individual needs and knowing when parents need to step in — and when they need to step back.⚫⚪ Leon also opens up about Eli’s journey through Ipswich and Newcastle, the decision-making involved in changing clubs, the importance of education alongside football, and why finding the right environment can matter just as much as finding the right club.❤️ But this conversation goes beyond football.👨‍👩‍👦 How much pressure should parents put on young athletes?🧠 How do you build resilience without creating fear?⚽ Should young players be chasing academies or simply becoming better footballers?🎯 How important is technique at a young age?🔄 When is it time to change clubs?❤️ And ultimately, how do you develop a good human being alongside a good footballer?🔄 We also explore the difference between 9-a-side and 11-a-side football, why players can sometimes be judged too early, and why adaptability, mentality and enjoyment remain so important.🎙️ This is a conversation for young footballers, parents, coaches and anyone interested in the realities of player development.👇🏾 Watch the full conversation and let us know your biggest takeaway.#youthfootball #grassrootsfootball #academyfootball #ballatallcost #football #footballacademy #playerdevelopment #footballparenting #footballtalent #newcastle #ipswich #footballjourney #footballpodcast #FCHWPO

    Elite Mindset in Youth Football: Parenting, Rejection & The Road to Newcastle
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About

This podcast dives deep into the world of grassroots football, offering insights and guidance to help parents navigate the often challenging and intricate landscape of youth sports. Each episode provides practical advice, tackling issues like player development, balancing commitments, managing expectations, and understanding the nuances of the grassroots football ecosystem. Join the grassroots football dads as they share their insights and experiences along with established guests sharing their vast knowledge on a weekly basis.

Information

  • Creator
    Ball at all Cost
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    85
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ball at all Cost
  • Show Website
    Ball at all Cost

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