Shouting From The Sidelines Luke Towning

In this episode, we look into the fascinating world of the Relative Age Effect and its implications for young football players.

We discuss the issues that can come for early and late developers and how parents and coaches can offer support.

We explore how birthdate can influence a child's athletic development, opportunities, and potential pitfalls in the youth football world.

Whether you're a seasoned football parent or new to the game, understanding this phenomenon is crucial for supporting your child's journey in football.

We'll also provide actionable tips to help you navigate this often-overlooked aspect of junior football that continues to play a big part in the development and enjoyment of young players.

Ever wondered why some young footballers stop improving?

Well, you're about to find out!

In today's episode we unravel the top 4 reasons why some young footballers excel while others seem to hit a plateau.

Through years of coaching experience and countless interactions with young players, we've identified key areas where attention is needed.

But, have you ever asked yourself if your child is truly enjoying their football journey, or if they're in the right environment that nurtures their growth?

From discussing the critical importance of adequate training frequency to the nuanced dynamics of coaching quality and environment fit, we delve deep into youth football development.

This conversation isn't just about identifying areas for improvement; it's about actionable insights.

How can you, as a parent or coach, facilitate a more enriching footballing experience for your child?

Is it through embracing more playtime in the park with friends, or perhaps seeking out football camps that offer intensive skill honing?

We also tackle the often-overlooked aspect of personal desire and enjoyment in football. It's a candid exploration of what truly motivates young players and how this understanding can radically transform their developmental trajectory.

Plus, we share practical applications, like specific drills and strategies, to immediately elevate training sessions.

Whether you're a coach looking to refine your approach or a parent aiming to support your child's football aspirations, this video is packed with valuable takeaways.In our community, we believe in the power of shared knowledge and experiences.

So, we'd love to hear your thoughts and stories. How have you navigated the challenges of youth football development? What strategies have worked for you?

Drop your insights in the comments below, and let's learn from each other.

For more rich discussions and expert advice on football training, coaching, and youth development, make sure to subscribe to our channel.

And don't forget to visit the Foot-Tech Academy website for detailed information on our classes, coaching philosophy, and upcoming football camps



Foot-Tech Academy is a children’s football coaching school in Leeds. 



For more about what we do visit our website - https://www.foot-techacademy.co.uk



Join our football classes in Leeds:



5-14 year olds - https://www.foot-techacademy.co.uk/football-sessions



2-4 year old (pre-school football) - https://www.foot-techacademy.co.uk/3-4-year-old-football-training



121 football coaching - https://www.foot-techacademy.co.uk/1-2-1-coaching 



School holiday camps - https://www.foot-techacademy.co.uk/school-holidays

As parents, we want nothing but the best for our children, especially when it comes to their interests and passions.

But in the world of youth football, how do we strike the right balance between nurturing our kids' love for the game and inadvertently pressuring them to excel?

In this insightful video, we delve into the delicate balance of fostering football passion in children without overwhelming them with parental expectations.

Discover practical tips and strategies for creating a supportive environment where children can develop a genuine obsession for football on their terms so it is them, not us, who are obsessed.



Foot-Tech Academy is a children’s football coaching school in Leeds. 



For more about what we do visit our website - https://www.foot-techacademy.co.uk



Join our football classes in Leeds:



5-14 year olds - https://www.foot-techacademy.co.uk/football-sessions



2-4 year old (pre-school football)-  https://www.foot-techacademy.co.uk/3-4-year-old-football-training



121 football coaching - https://www.foot-techacademy.co.uk/1-2-1-coaching 



School holiday camps - https://www.foot-techacademy.co.uk/school-holidays

How to coach mixed-abilities - a question we get asked a lot.

Coaching football is hard enough but when you need to balance different ability levels it becomes even harder!

We have a lot of experience of this at Foot-Tech as we welcome all abilities and often times we have children who are late to football, which can make things even trickier.

In this episode we go through some of our best tips for coaching mixed ability football training sessions.

Some are obvious, some are maybe ones you haven't thought about.

Always keen to get the views of others so please do share your ideas.

Parents, if you have a beginner player and you're worried about how to get them involved in football training because you feel they'll be too far behind...

Speak to us about how we can help.

Find more details out about our football coaching school by visiting our website:

https://foot-techacademy.co.uk

Are you a coach who still teaches dribbling, passing etc in isolation?

i.e. without defenders on in a game-situation?

Are you a parent who watches their child's football training sessions and sees nothing but kids dribbling around cones or passing in two's?

It has long being believed that we need to teach young players 'skills', 'the fundamentals' before we can put them into a match.

But there isn't any research or evidence to say this is the best way.

There is, however, loads of research into how the fundamentals can be developed in a way that actually makes kids better at football.

In this episode we look at that and explain the best way for children of all ages to be taught the basics and how it is time for more coaches (and parents) to see a better way of training junior footballers.

Credit to Rob Gray for loads of information on this area. You can listen to the episode of his podcast discussing the study here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/58qIslhHeSajj0b1OSoH1j?si=XlK1o8QYTRSrLHuZmweP3A

Join our football classes in Leeds:

5-14 year olds - https://www.foot-techacademy.co.uk/football-sessions

2-4 year old (pre-school football)- https://www.foot-techacademy.co.uk/3-4-year-old-football-training

121 football coaching - https://www.foot-techacademy.co.uk/1-2-1-coaching

School holiday camps - https://www.foot-techacademy.co.uk/school-holidays

Imagine playing professional football then having it all taken away in one moment.



Luke Lyons went from grassroots football to academy through to professional.



As as a youngster he was highly regarded at Leeds United and was part of the league-winning u18 side that had many players who have since gone onto big things in professional football.



He eventually played professional for Airdrieonians FC in the Scottish Championship after a short stint with Bradford Park Avenue.



Unfortunately, he had it cruelly taken away from him due to injury and is now coaching the next generation with his time split between coaching at Foot-Tech, Leeds United and Notre Dame College.



He sits down with us to tell his story of all the ups and downs along the way.



We discuss:




Why junior footballers DO NOT need to be in academies at 5 years old to make it (he is proof of this)


Why joining a grassroots team later in Primary School actually helped him


How playing street football (even when in the academy system) massively helped his development


What he wishes he’d have done differently when playing for Leeds United Academy


The difference he sees with high-level grassroots footballers compared to academy kids


How his parents helped and supported him (plus advice to current football parents) 


What he learnt from playing against Jude Bellingham

The way he sees football going in the future and how we need to develop kids for the future game



And much much more.



This was such a great chat and there’s loads for parents to take away from it.



We hope you enjoy listening.