It's Only Kids Football

Ben Welch is figuring out how to be a decent kids football coach and a better Dad. He's joined by coaching experts, ex-pros as well as football industry folk and internet friends to help him navigate the minefield of parenting and grassroots kids football. It's meant to be for fun, but sometimes it's hard to remember - It's Only Kids Football. Links: https://linktr.ee/itsonlykidsfootballpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Only Kids Football is a sports podcast hosted by Ben Welch and Mike Clark, with 123 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Ben Welch and Mike Clark hosts It's Only Kids Football, a sports show with 123 episodes published.

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  Episode #115

  ⁠Are our substitutions costing us games?

  Sep 27, 202654 minS1

  Ben and Mike break down a bittersweet weekend on the touchline. The main talking point revolves around the Under-11s’ gutting 3-1 derby opening-day loss to their local rivals, the Blues. Despite a strong performance and a momentum-building equaliser, a mid-game overhaul of four simultaneous substitutions disrupted the team’s rhythm, leading directly to conceded goals and an elusive penalty call that went against them. The hosts candidly debate whether prioritising equal playing time and prepping for 9-a-side football is actively costing them results in tight matches. Counterbalancing the defeat, Ben celebrates his younger son Charlie’s sensational 3v3 debut, where he netted 13 goals. The episode also covers their latest training drills and upcoming fixture against Ipswich Town's Premier League academy. Finally, the hosts reflect on emotional listener feedback about parenting, emphasising the importance of staying present and cherishing every moment before the kids grow up. Michael Fox's warm-up game: https://www.instagram.com/reels/Dc9GdKeIrHz/ Get your team a free £300 Discount Football Kits voucher by using our exclusive link to collect subscriptions through GoCardless at https://www.itsonlykidsfootball.com/offers Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/ Sign up for the newsletter here: https://www.itsonlykidsfootball.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/ Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #6

  The coaching superpower that outperforms every drill

  Sep 23, 202634 min

  In the final episode of this six-part series, Ben and Mike join child development early childhood learning specialist Laura Mellor-Bachman to reveal how grassroots football coaches can build a united front with parents. The episode addresses the real-world challenge of managing sideline expectations, shifting the narrative from rigid adult-style drills to essential play-based frameworks. Laura shares practical communication strategies for addressing challenging child behaviour, emphasising private consultation and treating parents as experts on their own children. The discussion highlights the balance between setting firm boundaries and avoiding people-pleasing, offering clear ways to delegate responsibilities to prevent coach burnout. Additionally, the episode explores pitch-side conflict resolution, demonstrating how coaches can leverage neurological "mirror neurons" and "connection before correction" to de-escalate heated moments with adults and young players alike. Packed with actionable advice, this episode provides grassroots volunteers and coaches with the relational tools needed to build trust, foster long-term player retention, and ensure no coach ever becomes a child's last. Start your journey with Little Kickers today at www.littlekickersfranchising.co.uk TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/ Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #114

  Stop telling your kid what they did wrong! Ask this instead...

  Sep 20, 202659 minS1

  Ben and Mike relive the Ballers Elite showcase game at Tottenham's training ground, where Ben's frustration watching his son turns into one of his proudest parenting moments. They share a new way of reviewing match clips, asking kids what they were thinking rather than telling them what went wrong and unpack why confidence at home doesn't always travel to unfamiliar pitches. There's a fun new warm-up drill worth stealing, an honest SOS about giving 11 players fair game time in a 7-a-side squad and a heavy listener story about a tournament meltdown that spiralled out of control. As ever, the takeaway is the same: rehearse difficult moments before they happen, because staying calm matters more than any tactic ever will. There's also a candid moment where Ben opens up about the hidden pressure that comes with being the coach's own child — the added scrutiny, expectation and subconscious weight that kids of coaching parents carry, simply because they're always around it and always want to make their dad proud. Honest, unfiltered grassroots talk for parents and coaches. Michael Fox's warm-up game: https://www.instagram.com/reels/Dc9GdKeIrHz/ Get your team a free £300 Discount Football Kits voucher by using our exclusive link to collect subscriptions through GoCardless at https://www.itsonlykidsfootball.com/offers Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/ Sign up for the newsletter here: https://www.itsonlykidsfootball.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/ Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #5

  How to handle angry football parents

  Sep 16, 202636 min

  In part five of their coaching masterclass with Little Kickers, Ben and Mike sit down again with early childhood learning specialist Laura Mellor-Bachman to tackle grassroots football's most-asked-about topic: the parent-coach relationship. Laura explains why sideline meltdowns almost always come from one place, care, not chaos, and shares practical ways coaches can set expectations early so parents know exactly what to expect from day one. The trio get personal too, recounting a touchline incident where things turned genuinely nasty, and unpacking a strange encounter with aggressively positive opposition parents who unintentionally frightened their own players. Along the way, they explore why every sideline blow-up ultimately comes down to ego, how to keep a child's experience separate from a parent's own memories and expectations, and why Vygotsky's zone of proximal development explains why struggle is essential for kids to actually improve and build real, lasting confidence on the pitch. Honest, practical listening for any parent, coach or volunteer who's ever felt their blood boil on the touchline, with just one episode left in this six-part series. Start your journey with Little Kickers today at www.littlekickersfranchising.co.uk TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/ Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #113

  The words I regret saying to my own son

  Sep 13, 20261h 9mS1

  Ben and Mike are back with a double dose of grassroots chaos: tournament tales, a brand new format, and a lot of soul-searching. Their Barking FC tournament run swings from two straight wins to a possible academy-ringer thrashing, before ending in heartbreak with a cup exit against old rivals. Ben opens up about the harsh words he regrets shouting at his own son mid-meltdown, and how tough love in another game got Alfie back out on the pitch to help the team storm to an 8-1 win. Then it's Charlie's turn, as the youngest Welch is thrown into the confusing, chaotic new world of 3v3 football, uneven numbers, unclear rules and all. Along the way there's a listener's kind message about Raph's newly diagnosed asthma, a LinkedIn post that changed how Ben parents, and honest reflections on season goals: calmer team talks and learning to treat your own kid like everyone else's. Design your own it with VeseyID: https://www.discountfootballkits.com/veseyid Get your team a free £300 Discount Football Kits voucher by using our exclusive link to collect subscriptions through GoCardless at https://www.itsonlykidsfootball.com/offers Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/ Sign up for the newsletter here: https://www.itsonlykidsfootball.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/ Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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