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PODCAST

It"s Only Kids Football

Ben Welch and Mike Clark

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.

sports soccer

All Episodes

52:51

Do our training sessions confuse the kids?

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/03/03

Ben’s losing his voice, Mike’s losing his mind, and the kids are losing their markers. A 5-1 win had them dreaming, but a 7-4 battering brought them crashing back to earth.A shambolic training session saw Ben and Mike lose their rag with their own lads, bringing on instant regret and damage control. In a bid to lift the mood, Mike unleashed his inner Ted Lasso with an American Soccer Dad routine—spoiler: total disaster. Then, to top it off, he went full Wolf of Wall Street, popping champagne after

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59:09

The absurdity of teaching 8-year-olds gegenpressing

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/02/24

In this episode, Ben and Mike and joined by The Athletic's Rory Smith. Rory has spent his career dissecting elite football, interviewing some of the greatest minds in the game, but none of that prepared him for the minefield of coaching his son’s under-7s team.Rory confesses to a few questionable touchline moments, wrestles with the impossible task of getting kids to understand positioning (spoiler: they don’t) and wonders if teaching them to "play out from the back" is just setting them up for

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41:07

Full-blooded on the pitch, snide comments off it –...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/02/17

Mike’s been on the Guinness, Ben’s on the edge and the kids have been on the wind-up. A losing streak hangs in the balance… but at what cost?We finally get a result… well, sort of. A chaotic inter-club derby leaves everyone questioning whether it was a step forward or just more of the same. Meanwhile, Mike has been living it up in Dublin, missing the carnage and landing back into a WhatsApp storm.Training was chaos, the warm-up was a shambles and the match? Well, let's just say it involved dodgy

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59:02

What to shout from the sidelines? Ex-Man United...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/02/10

This week Ben and Mike are joined by Neil Harris, a coach who spent 21 years at Manchester United, helping bring through stars like Scott McTominay and Anthony Elanga. And to spice things up, his son Jamie Harris—a rising coach himself—jumps in to give us the truth on what it’s like being coached by your dad (spoiler: brutal!).Expect top-class coaching insights on how to keep kids' attention, providing individual feedback and objectives for players and having a structured arrival routine to help

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44:17

Would our sons have more fun if we didn't coach the...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/02/03

After eight defeats in a row and a mental state that’s circling the drain, Ben and Mike have finally hit rock bottom. In this episode, they unravel their latest meltdown. For Ben, the emotional toll is hitting new heights as he questions everything—his coaching, his parenting and whether Alfie would just be better off under literally anyone else’s management. Has Ben ruined the one thing they both love?Meanwhile, Mike’s realising that even when he's keeping his mouth shut, his body language is

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40:31

Former Arsenal winger turned scout reveals what pro...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/01/27

This week, Ben and Mike are back, reliving their latest touchline dramas. From celebrating Alfie’s newfound resilience to bemoaning yet another defeat, it’s the usual mix ofchaos and tears.But don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom – they’ve brought out the big guns. Former Arsenal and West Brom winger Jerome Thomas drops in to share some fantastic insights and anecdotes. From training with Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp to getting schooled by Ashley Cole, Jerome’s got stories that you’ll want

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36:26

Is there a secret to coaching marking? Because it’s...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/01/20

Ever tried teaching kids to mark in football? It’s like herding cats—with shin pads. This week, Ben and Mike, try to deal with kids who think “marking” means standing 10 yards away looking bored, to warm-ups so bad they’ll make you question life itself.Ben shares how he’s finally improving his relationship with Alfie by stepping back, ditching the intense dad-coach mode and focusing on fun (with a little help from parenting audiobooks). Meanwhile, Mike does his best to stay calm during a warm-up so

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43:40

How will changes to youth football impact your...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/01/13

This week, Ben and Mike return with a thought-provoking episode featuring Saul Isaksson-Hurst, also known as My Personal Football Coach. Saul is an elite coach who works with top talents like Noni Madueke and has experience at Chelsea and Tottenham academies.In this episode, he shares his insights on potential changes the FA may introduce to youth football formats. Saul believes that smaller formats will help prioritise skill development in younger players.He explains how smaller-sided games can

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45:02

Ex-Prem striker reveals secrets to movement off the ball

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/01/06

In this episode of It’s Only Kids Football, Ben and Mike are joined by goalscoring legend Adam Le Fondre to tackle one of the hardest skills to teach young players: movement off the ball.Packed with practical insights and digestible tips, Adam shares his secrets on how to create space, lose your defender and rack up goals like a seasoned striker. Perfect for football parents, coaches and anyone who’s ever shouted “Move!” at a kid standing still on the pitch.Adam also takes them on a journey through

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54:34

Why one win could solve everything (and why it...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2024/12/30

Three losses, five wins, five losses. On this week’s It’s Only Kids Football, Ben and Mike struggle to cope with the team’s erratic form. As die-hard Gooners, their Spurs-like inconsistency cuts even deeper.Ben works to help Alfie battle through a crisis of confidence that turns bedtime into a tearful therapy session. Meanwhile, Mike realises he needs to coach Raph on the nuances of effort—sometimes it’s more effective to work smart, not just hard.The management duo discuss potential formations to

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45:23

Asmir Begovic: How my dad's tough training methods...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2024/12/23

This week, Ben and Mike are joined by Asmir Begovic—a Premier League-winning goalkeeper who’s faced Messi, endured Tony Pulis’ gruelling pre-seasons and played under prime José Mourinho.Begovic shares his remarkable journey from fleeing war-torn Bosnia as a child to becoming a top-class keeper. With stories of training like Rocky—running up snowy hills and battling brutal Canadian winters under his dad’s unforgiving training regime—he reveals the immense dedication and grit required to reach the

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41:13

Stuck in a losing streak, derby day defeats and...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2024/12/16

This week, Ben and Mike find themselves deep in the trenches as the team endures a streak of disappointing defeats, including tough losses to their inter-club rivals.Ben opens up about the challenges he's facing with his son Alfie, who's struggling with a loss of confidence and learning how to bounce back after mistakes. Balancing support and discipline proves trickier than ever, as Alfie's emotional highs and lows leave Ben questioning his coaching approach.Amidst the chaos and tears, there's a

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49:52

Arne Slot's sport psychologist on how you can develop...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2024/12/09

This week, Ben and Mike bring in a guest guaranteed to change your perspective. Our clueless duo welcomes renowned sports psychologist Dan Abrahams to the pod. Having worked with elite players and coaches like Arne Slot, Gareth Bale and Eddie Howe, Dan is here to help us coach from the sidelines—without emotionally scarring our kids in the process.He shares practical, actionable advice to boost both your performance and your child’s, from mastering your Game Face to squashing ANTs and creating your

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54:37

This valuable lesson helped our sons perform at their...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2024/12/02

In Episode 18, Ben and Mike relive the highs and lows of their latest two games, which left them planning European tours and doing victory dances in the kitchen. Then, it’s a reality check as their boys step up to face Brighton’s academy team—spoiler: it wasn’t pretty, but the lessons hit harder than the tackles.While Ben starts to show signs of listening to his son and learning to ease off, Mike struggles to contain his frustration, bringing about some much-needed introspection.There are candid

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45:34

Ex-Prem Star: Nutrition secrets every parent should know

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2024/11/25

This week, Ben and Mike sit down with ex-Premier League star Marc Pugh—once a flying winger, now the king of kale. While Mike confesses his love for Burger King, Marc reveals the secrets behind his Spartan lifestyle and a six-pack that could double as a washboard. They dive into nutrition, rejection and why your kid's Cheerios might be sabotaging their shot at glory. Marc also shares tales from his grassroots days, breaking records and catching the attention of scouts. If you’ve ever wondered what

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43:40

Can Mike's son impress Premier League scouts?

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2024/11/18

Leigh Ramblers Black U8s are back in form and Ben and Mike are absolutely buzzing—well, mostly. While the kids are smashing it on the pitch, the dads are struggling to keep their heads on the sidelines.Alfie’s hit a rough patch and Ben’s convinced it’s all his fault for going full drill sergeant. Can they figure out how to get the best out of Alfie without Ben losing the plot?Meanwhile, Mike’s lad Raph joins goal machine Freddie Lambourne on a dream trip to Crystal Palace’s training ground, aiming

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41:51

Matt Jarvis: How my childhood turned me into an...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2024/11/11

In this episode of It's Only Kids Football, former West Ham and Wolves winger Matt Jarvis joins hosts Ben Welch and Mike Clark to share his journey from grassroots football to the heights of the Premier League—and now, back on the sidelines as a supportive dad.The England international opens up about the unique experience of being raised by elite athlete parents and how it’s influenced his own approach to guiding his son in sport. Jarvis reflects on his early sporting experiences, his family’s

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49:10

Essential advice for parents navigating the academy...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2024/11/04

With Mike living it up in Dubai, Ben is left to hold down the fort alongside Adam, the dad of Leigh Ramblers’ very own grassroots Gazza, Ollie. They dive into the team's recent triumphs—two wins in a row—featuring Alby’s chaotic antics and Freddie’s match-winning heroics. Ben candidly shares the ups and downs of being a parent-coach and how it’s tested his relationship with his son, Alfie.They also reminisce about the hilarious moment Ollie sent a football cannoning into Ben’s head right in the

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42:10

Learn how to train and mentor young goalkeepers

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2024/10/28

Join host Ben Welch in this fun and heartfelt episode as he sits down with Dean Russell, the dad behind the viral father-son goalkeeping duo that’s won the hearts of hundreds of thousands on social media and racked up millions of views. Dean shares the journey of capturing his son Ollie’s football adventures—filled with viral saves, on-field tears and heartwarming moments.From meeting Ollie's idols Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya to the real-life challenges of coaching your own kid, Dean doesn’t hold

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45:36

How the parents helped turn our season around:...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2024/10/21

In this episode, Ben and Mike take you through the emotional highs and lows of youth football coaching—complete with sleepless nights, frustrated shouting, and even a bizarre goal.After three painful defeats, they dive into their pre-game anxiety and the overthinking that kept them tossing and turning. But with a little help from the parents and a return to simple tactics, the team pulled off a thrilling 6-4 win.From Alfie’s occasional daydreaming to Alby’s newfound confidence in goal, Ben and Mike

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71 results

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