'Coachcast’ by England Football Learning, is a coaching podcast designed to give you expert insight, session ideas and a platform to discuss your coaching questions and challenges.
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The latest game insights every grassroots coach should know | S7 Ep8
Season 7 · Episode 8
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 • Duration 39:38
What can the latest game insights tell you about how you coach?
You don’t have to coach the top levels of the game to get valuable insights from how the game is played at the top levels.
Luke Saunders and Jess Saunders, FA game insights analysts, join us in this episode to explore what the latest insights from the top level of the game can teach grassroots coaches.
We dive deep into what the data tells us about possession starts, transitions, finishing and much more. Luke and Jess explain how you can use these insights to create more realistic and effective practices for your players.
Whether you're planning your next practice or looking for new ways to challenge your players, this episode gives you practical insights you can start implementing today.
Covered in this episode:
0:00 – Intro.
1:23 – How grassroots coaches can benefit from game insights from the top level of the adult game.
4:35 – Key insights around possession starts.
5:55 – Creating practices that offer realistic practise of possession starts.
7:07 – What the insights tell us about throw-ins.
9:22 – How grassroots coaches can help players become more effective with attacking-third throw-ins
11:36 – Key discoveries around transitions.
12:50 – Understanding the lanes on the pitch.
16:01 – Helping players know when to press and when not to.
19:10 – Where were most World Cup goals scored from and what can coaches learn from it?
21:32 – The most popular goal-scoring techniques from the World Cup.
25:41 – What good finishing practices look like.
27:29 – Questions to ask your players when developing their finishing skills.
29:13 – What game insights tell us about assists.
33:02 – The biggest findings grassroots coaches should be aware of.
37:44 – A challenge for coaches.
40:10 – Ensuring all your players are getting the chance to finish.
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Do you have any coaching questions you’d like answers to? Or perhaps you’re facing a coaching challenge that you’d like help with? Simply head over to our England Football Community forum (https://community.thefa.com/) and post them there. We can then put them to our guests in future episodes to get their advice!
Already listened to this episode or the previous seasons of Coachcast? We’d love to hear from you! Pass on your feedback by contacting us via Coachcast@thefa.com.
Your complete guide to football formats with Chris Welburn | S7 Ep7
Season 7 · Episode 7
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 • Duration 43:37
Are you getting the most out of your players?
The format of the game can have a huge impact on how players learn, make decisions and enjoy football. Understanding why each format exists can help you create better learning experiences every week.
In this episode, Chris Welburn, coach development manager, explains the thinking behind each format. You'll learn which formats are right for which stage and help build your players’ decision making skills.
We also explore how to create the right environment for learning and how to help players get the most from every stage of their development.
Whether you're planning sessions or for matchday, this episode will help you get more from every format.
1:12 – Chris' biggest coaching tip for connecting with players.
3:42 – The "Know Your Format" guide.
6:43 – How gradual progression through formats supports development and enjoyment.
8:40 – Supporting parents who want children to move to 11v11 sooner.
10:19 – The benefits of spending longer in smaller formats.
How to be the role model your players need with Preeti Shokar | S7 Ep6
Season 7 · Episode 6
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 • Duration 44:16
Every coach has an impact on the players they support. What kind of impact are you having?
In this episode, Preeti Shokar joins Coachcast to explore what it means to be a positive role model and why it matters.
Preeti coaches the Derby County U18s with a focus on analysis. She shares practical advice to help coaches create fun learning environments and support players in training and on matchday.
Whether you're coaching your first session or preparing for a new season, this conversation will help you understand how your words, actions and behaviours can shape a player's experience of football and leave a long lasting impression.
Covered in this episode:
0:00 – Intro.
1:00 – Top coaching tips.
2:24 – Preeti's journey into coaching.
3:55 – Early challenges most coaches face.
6:24 – Preeti’s most memorable coaching memory.
8:07 – Introducing The Mentee Development Programme.
11:06 – How mentoring and being a role model helps coaches develop.
13:03 – Advice that every coach needs to hear.
14:50 – Why getting things wrong is okay.
17:24 – Quick-fire questions answered.
21:57 – Why children need role models in football.
24:49 – What being a role model looks like during a coaching session.
26:46 – Helping players want to come to training, whatever the weather.
30:33 – Why fun is essential for learning.
32:57 – The most important thing to get right in your first coaching session.
35:05 – What success really looks like as a coach.
40:35 – A headers and volleys practice you can use in your next session.
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Do you have any coaching questions you’d like answers to? Or perhaps you’re facing a coaching challenge that you’d like help with? Simply head over to () and post them there. We can then put them to our guests in future episodes to get their advice!
How to create fun, safe and welcoming coaching sessions with Andy Somers | S7 Ep5
Season 7 · Episode 5
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 • Duration 54:29
A session that’s fun, safe and welcoming is one that ensures players not only want to come back for more every week, but also continue to develop.
And in this episode, Andy Somers, senior manager for grassroots coach development, shares practical advice on planning and delivering sessions that are fun, safe and welcoming for every player.
From helping children feel excited to attend sessions, to adapting practices and responding positively to mistakes, Andy explains how even the smallest actions can have a lasting impact.
Whether you’re new to coaching or have years of experience, this episode is full of practical ideas to help you create an environment where players feel confident and motivated to keep coming back.
Covered in this episode:
0:00 – Intro.
1:08 – Andy's biggest top tip for coaches.
2:30 – Andy's coaching journey.
6:36 – Early challenges coaches face.
8:28 – Advice for new coaches.
11:46 – What a fun, safe and welcoming session means.
13:00 – How to ensure kids are excited for training.
15:02 – Behaviour and making time for your players.
18:07 – Brilliant basics for welcoming players, including those who arrive late.
23:40 – Adjusting sessions to meet players' needs.
27:44 – Getting to know your players.
30:28 – Planning practices that combine fun, learning and development.
34:13 – Practice design that keeps players engaged.
38:17 – A session example that captured players' imaginations.
42:09 – Adapting sessions to keep them fresh and build learning.
47:08 – Responding to mistakes to build player confidence.
51:52 – One thing every coach should know.
53:20 – A fun practice idea you can use.
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Do you have any coaching questions you’d like answers to? Or perhaps you’re facing a coaching challenge that you’d like help with? Simply head over to () and post them there. We can then put them to our guests in future episodes to get their advice!
The ultimate guide to planning coaching programmes with Vinny Halsall | S7 Ep4
Season 7 · Episode 4
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 • Duration 58:42
Good coaching starts with a plan. But how far ahead should coaches be thinking, and how do you build sessions that help players improve over time?
In this episode, Vinny Halsall returns to Coachcast to explore how coaches can plan and deliver effective short-term coaching programmes.
As part of the grassroots coach development team, Vinny shares practical strategies to help you save time, connect player learning between sessions and adapt your plans as numbers change and your players develop.
If you’re looking for a more structured approach to planning sessions, this conversation will help you create programmes that keep players engaged while supporting long-term development.
0:00 – Intro
1:45 – The “five Ps” of preparing a programme.
2:51 – Understanding the ingredients of a coaching programme.
4:48 – What is a short-term coaching programme?
6:39 – Why should you plan more than one session at a time?
8:34 – How to save time when planning.
11:06 – Choosing the right theme for your programme.
14:12 – The "Play What You See" strategy.
16:08 – Linking learning between sessions with the three Rs.
23:08 – What to remember when planning programmes.
25:27 – What “G.O.O.D.” session design looks like.
26:38 – The “three Os” for adapting to unexpected numbers.
30:44 – Building ownership and decision making into your programme.
35:06 – How to know if your programme is working.
38:15 – What to change when a programme isn't working.
47:02 – Adapting programmes for different age groups.
50:21 – Why "less is more" when planning programmes.
53:26 – Vinny's message for coaches.
55:59 – A whole-part-whole session idea.
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Do you have any coaching questions you’d like answers to? Or perhaps you’re facing a coaching challenge that you’d like help with? Simply head over to () and post them there. We can then put them to our guests in future episodes to get their advice!
How to plan a successful pre-season with Conal Murnin | S7 Ep3
Season 7 · Episode 3
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 • Duration 34:04
Pre-season is your opportunity to set the tone for the season ahead.
It's about understanding your players, creating the right environment and putting the foundations in place for a successful season.
And in this episode, coaching and learning developer Conal Murnin returns to Coachcast to share how coaches can make the most of pre-season. We speak about reflecting on your own coaching and planning sessions that meet the needs of your players. Conal also explains how small decisions before the season begins can have a lasting impact into the season and keep players coming back for more.
Whether you coach once a week or have multiple sessions to work with, you'll learn how to prioritise what matters most and how to tell if your pre-season is a success.
Covered in this episode:
0:00 – Intro
1:05 – Top coaching tips.
2:38 – Understanding your strengths as a coach and where you need to improve.
4:15 – Why self-reflection matters before a new season.
5:35 – What to reflect on when planning pre-season.
7:29 – Priorities for the first few weeks of pre-season.
9:39 – Building an effective pre-season with only one session a week.
13:34 – Preparing players for the physical demands without them losing the excitement.
17:36 – Understanding players and their ability levels.
20:04 – Setting expectations with parents during pre-season.
21:54 – Friendlies and tournaments in pre-season.
27:04 – Measuring pre-season success.
28:48 – The biggest pre-season mistake coaches make.
32:28 – A session idea you can use before a matchday.
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Do you have any coaching questions you’d like answers to? Or perhaps you’re facing a coaching challenge that you’d like help with? Simply head over to our England Football Community forum (https://community.thefa.com/) and post them there. We can then put them to our guests in future episodes to get their advice!
How self-reflection can transform your coaching with Darel Tidman-Poole | S7 Ep2
Season 7 · Episode 2
Wednesday, July 8, 2026 • Duration 36:13
Before the new season begins, many coaches are busy planning sessions, setting goals and thinking about their players. But one of the most valuable things you can do is to take a step back and reflect on yourself.
In this episode, pathway coach developer Darel Tidman-Poole joins us to explore the power of self-reflection and how it can help develop your skills and prepare you for the season ahead.
Darel shares practical ways to reflect on your experiences and understand your behaviours so that you can show up better for your players.
Reflection isn’t all about focusing on past mistakes, though. Darel explains how coaches can use reflection to build on existing strengths and become more intentional in the way they coach.
If you're preparing for a new season, this is a perfect time to reflect, and this episode will help you reflect in the way that’s right for you.
Covered in this episode:
0:00 – Intro.
1:30 – Top coaching tips.
2:11 – Darel's route into coaching.
4:47 – Tips for coaches leading a session for the first time.
7:45 – Advice for coaches on the coaching pathway.
10:27 – Why copying other coaches isn’t the answer.
12:23 – How coaches become role models.
12:59 – What coaches should do as they wait for the new season.
16:19 – Understanding self-reflection and the three questions to ask yourself.
18:10 – The reflection reframe that can help you progress as a coach.
19:16 – Reflecting on behaviours and actions as a coach.
22:45 – Taking control of behaviours and understanding your triggers.
24:20 – Tools available to help coaches reflect.
27:00 – The importance of getting feedback from others.
32:05 – The most important thing to remember when self-reflecting.
33:37 – A self-reflection challenge for coaches.
34:49 – A session idea utilising overloads and underloads.
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Do you have any coaching questions you’d like answers to? Or perhaps you’re facing a coaching challenge that you’d like help with? Simply head over to () and post them there. We can then put them to our guests in future episodes to get their advice!
Preparing for the new season and the 3v3 format with Andy Dyke | S7 Ep1
Season 7 · Episode 1
Wednesday, June 24, 2026 • Duration 35:50
A new season is upon us, and with it, brings a new format.
That’s why, in this episode, Andy Dyke joins us to dive into what coaches should prioritise at the start of the new season and what exactly coaches need to know about the new format.
As part of the play experience team within the grassroots division, Andy works to improve player choice and opportunity across the game, while also coaching an U5s team himself.
The conversation dives into the new 3v3 format and the wider format changes being introduced, exploring what they mean for both players and coaches.
Whether you're welcoming new players, coaching a team moving into a new format or trying to set the right foundations for the months ahead, Andy shares practical advice to help you start the season with confidence.
Covered in this episode:
0:00 – Intro
2:15 – Top coaching tips.
3:07 – What coaches should focus on first at the start of a new season.
6:06 – Advice for welcoming new players.
7:46 – Tips for brand-new coaches.
10:41 – Preparing for the new format this season.
13:01 – How moving formats can impact players.
14:15 – The format changes coming this season.
16:31 – Reactions from coaches to the 3v3 format.
19:03 – The benefits of 3v3 football for players.
21:22 – What's in it for coaches?
27:51 – How 3v3 is being adopted in reality.
28:52 – What does the future of youth football look like?
32:53 – Andy's message to all coaches.
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Creating connections and managing tournaments with Lee Carsley | Coachcast extra-time
Season 6 · Episode 24
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 • Duration 39:04
In this bonus episode, England men’s U21 head coach Lee Carsley shares the mindset, behaviours and decisions behind his coaching approach and back-to-back U21 European successes.
Lee led the Young Lions to European Championship titles in 2023 and 2025, and, here, he reflects on his journey into coaching and the key lessons that have shaped his approach.
The conversation goes beyond tactics, offering insight into how Lee builds relationships with players, creates environments where individuals can thrive and manages the pressure of tournaments for coaches and players.
Whether you’re coaching at grassroots or higher, there’s plenty to take away from Lee’s experience.
In this episode, we cover:
Lee’s journey into coaching
Lee’s advice for new coaches starting out
key learnings from winning two European titles
what to say to players before a tournament
designing realistic, game-relevant practices
managing tournaments successfully
Lee’s coaching behaviours
helping players enjoy tournaments while staying competitive
and more…
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Do you have any coaching questions you’d like answers to? Or perhaps you’re facing a coaching challenge that you’d like help with? Simply head over to our England Football Community forum (https://community.thefa.com/coaching/f/youth-club-football-forum) and post them there. Or leave them in the comments below. We can then put them to our guests in future episodes to get their advice!
What every coach should do to prepare for next season with Zahid Patel | S6 Ep23
Season 6 · Episode 23
Wednesday, April 29, 2026 • Duration 28:25
With the season winding down, it’s a perfect time to start planning for the next one.
The end of a season gives coaches a chance to reset. But preparation for the next season shouldn’t wait until it’s just around the corner.
That’s why, in our final episode of the season, we’re joined by FA regional manager, Zahid Patel, to share how coaches can prepare effectively for the season ahead. Zahid picked up a wide range of experience across grassroots football, coaching camps, and delivering tournaments before joining The FA. He offers practical advice to help you reflect and set clear goals.
From measuring success beyond results to revisiting your code of conduct and getting buy-in from players, this conversation will help you approach the new season with clarity.
Whichever age and stage you’re coaching, Zahid shares insights that will help you set the tone and create the right environment from day one.
In this episode, we cover:
the top three things every coach should do before a new season
what good reflection looks like
why gathering feedback from players, parents and peers is essential
how playing multiple positions can support development
how preparation differs across age groups
measuring success beyond wins and losses
revisiting your code of conduct and the secret to gaining buy-in from players and parents
Zahid’s three key elements of an effective code of conduct
when to start planning for the next season
and more…
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Do you have any coaching questions you’d like answers to? Or perhaps you’re facing a coaching challenge that you’d like help with? Simply head over to our (https://community.thefa.com/coaching/f/youth-club-football-forum) and post them there. Or leave them in the comments below. We can then put them to our guests in future episodes to get their advice!
15:24 – A 60-second summary of the formats and their benefits.
17:26 – The benefits of 3v3.
18:19 – What a 3v3 matchday should look like.
20:51 – Sideline restarts and supporting better decision making.
25:14 – Designing practices that develop decision making.
27:27 – What is the retreat line and why does it matter?
30:20 – Creating the right environment when mistakes happen.
32:14 – How coaches should respond to mistakes.
34:07 – The one coaching resource every coach should access.
38:43 – Two key takeaways to improve your coaching practice.
40:14 – Chris' message to every coach.
41:27 – A practice idea you can use in your next session.
—————
Do you have any coaching questions you’d like answers to? Or perhaps you’re facing a coaching challenge that you’d like help with? Simply head over to our England Football Community forum (https://community.thefa.com/) and post them there. We can then put them to our guests in future episodes to get their advice!
Already listened to this episode or the previous seasons of Coachcast? We’d love to hear from you! Pass on your feedback by contacting us via Coachcast@thefa.com.
Already listened to this episode or the previous seasons of Coachcast? We’d love to hear from you! Pass on your feedback by contacting us via Coachcast@thefa.com.
Already listened to this episode or the previous seasons of Coachcast? We’d love to hear from you! Pass on your feedback by contacting us via Coachcast@thefa.com.
Already listened to this episode or the previous seasons of Coachcast? We’d love to hear from you! Pass on your feedback by contacting us via Coachcast@thefa.com.
Already listened to this episode or the previous seasons of Coachcast? We’d love to hear from you! Pass on your feedback by contacting us via Coachcast@thefa.com.
Already listened to this episode or the previous seasons of Coachcast? We’d love to hear from you! Pass on your feedback by contacting us via Coachcast@thefa.com.
Do you have any coaching questions you’d like answers to? Or perhaps you’re facing a coaching challenge that you’d like help with? Simply head over to our England Football Community forum (https://community.thefa.com/) and post them there. We can then put them to our guests in future episodes to get their advice!
Already listened to this episode or the previous seasons of Coachcast? We’d love to hear from you! Pass on your feedback by contacting us via Coachcast@thefa.com.
Editing and show notes by Claricast (https://claricast.com/)
Already listened to this episode or the previous seasons of Coachcast? We’d love to hear from you! Pass on your feedback by contacting us via Coachcast@thefa.com.
Already listened to this episode or the previous seasons of Coachcast? We’d love to hear from you! Pass on your feedback by contacting us via Coachcast@thefa.com.
