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.
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.
In this episode, Ben and Mike sit down with Ross Clarke Brooks—UEFA A-Licensed coach at West Ham United and Football DNA content creator—to tackle one of grassroots football’s toughest challenges: coaching kids to defend.
Ross draws on over a decade of experience working with young players to share practical ways coaches can introduce defending without killing the fun. From teaching body positioning and decision-making in small-sided games to using creative analogies that kids understand, he explains how to help players see defending as just as exciting as attacking.
The discussion also dives into common coaching dilemmas: when to introduce compactness, how to avoid over-instruction, keeping training realistic and playful, and the balance between winning and development.
Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/
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.