🎙️ Go Football Podcast – Episode 46: When to Call a Game Off in the Cold

In Episode 46 of the Go Football Podcast, Steve tackles one of the toughest winter decisions in grassroots football — when is it right to call a game off in the cold?

With frozen pitches, low temperatures, pressure to fulfil fixtures, and player welfare at stake, this episode breaks down how coaches and organisers can make safe, sensible decisions in cold weather conditions.

The episode covers:

• ​ The risks of playing on frozen or hard ground
• ​ Why children are more affected by cold than adults
• ​ Common temperature guidance and welfare considerations
• ​ The pressure to play vs the responsibility to protect players
• ​ Clear signs that a game should be postponed
• ​ Best practice if a match does go ahead

A must-listen for grassroots coaches, volunteers, and parents navigating winter football with player safety at the centre.

📧 Contact us: GoFootballPod@gmail.com

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#GoFootballPodcast #GrassrootsFootball #WinterFootball #ColdWeatherFootball

#PlayerWelfare #YouthFootball #GrassrootsCoaching #FootballSafety

#KidsFootball #FootballParents #CommunityFootball #FootballCoaching

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#GrassrootsSupport #KeepTheGameBeautiful

🎙️ Go Football Podcast – Episode 45: New Year, New Team?

In Episode 45 of the Go Football Podcast, Steve looks at how grassroots coaches can use the new year as a fresh start for their team.

After the winter break, disrupted fixtures, and a busy first half of the season, this episode focuses on practical ways coaches can reset standards, re-engage players, refresh training, and rebuild momentum without overcomplicating things.

The episode covers:

• ​Why the new year is a powerful reset point
• ​Reviewing the first half of the season honestly
• ​Resetting team values and expectations
• ​Making small but effective changes on the pitch
• ​Re-engaging players after the break
• ​Improving communication with parents
• ​Setting realistic goals for the rest of the season

A must-listen for grassroots coaches looking to start the year positively and create a strong second half of the season.

📩 Contact Us

Have thoughts or experiences to share?

📧 Email: GoFootballPod@gmail.com

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@ Go Football Podcast

@ Go Football Coaching

#GoFootballPodcast #NewYearNewTeam #GrassrootsFootball #FootballCoaching #YouthFootball

#GrassrootsCoaching #CoachLife #FootballDevelopment #JuniorFootball #KidsFootball

#FootballCommunity #CoachingTips #FootballTraining #TeamCulture

#PlayerDevelopment #FootballLearning #FootballPodcast #UKFootball

#GoFootballCoaching #FootballMindset #GrassrootsGame #CommunityFootball

#CoachSupport #FootballEducation #FootballValues

#YouthSports #PositiveCoaching #FootballSeason #NewYearReset

#FootballParents #VolunteerCoaches #FootballLife

#DevelopThePlayer #FootballGrowth #FootballJourney

#CoachingJourney #FootballTalk #PlayerCentredCoaching

#GrassrootsVoices #FootballInspiration #FootballFun

#KeepTheGameBeautiful

🎄⚽ Go Football Podcast – Episode 43: The Christmas Special

In this special festive episode of the Go Football Podcast, Steve looks back over an incredible year of grassroots football conversations, learning, and debate.

The Christmas Special brings together some of the standout moments from across the year, featuring clips and insights from guests who have helped shape the podcast and shine a light on all areas of the grassroots game.

In this episode, you’ll hear from:

• Kev Weir, discussing the realities, challenges, and positives of grassroots football

• Chris from The Scouting Game, giving an inside look into how football scouting really works

• Emma, the SEND Coach, sharing valuable insight on planning sessions and supporting players who may need extra help

• Scotty, talking about introducing football to children as young as two years old and why early engagement should focus on fun and movement

We also revisit clips from our most downloaded solo episode, JPL vs Grassroots, reflecting on why that topic struck such a chord with coaches, parents, and clubs across the football community.

This episode is a thank-you to everyone who has listened, shared, and supported the podcast over the past year — and a reminder of why grassroots football matters so much.

Make sure to check out our guests’ links and socials to support the great work they’re doing across the game.

📩 Get in Touch

We’d love to hear from you and get your thoughts on the year in grassroots football.

📧 Email: GoFootballPod@gmail.com

📱 Follow us on social media:

Go Football Podcast

Go Football Coaching

Thanks for listening, enjoy the festive break, and we’ll see you in the new year ⚽🎄

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#GrassrootsGame #YouthFootball #FootballCoaching #GrassrootsCoaching

#UKFootball #CommunityFootball #FootballDevelopment #FootballEducation

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#KeepTheGameBeautiful #SupportGrassroots

🎙️ Go Football Podcast – Episode 43: Reps vs Variety

🎧 Episode Bio (Spotify & YouTube)

In Episode 43 of the Go Football Podcast, Steve tackles one of the biggest debates in grassroots coaching: repetitions vs variety.

How many times does a player really need to practise a skill to be good at it? Are repetitive drills the key to development — or do varied, game-real practices create better footballers?

This episode explores:

• How repetition helps build technique and confidence

• Why too many unopposed reps can limit learning

• The role of varied practices in decision-making and creativity

• What research tells us about skill learning in football

• How coaches can blend reps and variety in effective, engaging sessions

If you coach, play, or support grassroots football, this episode will help you rethink how players learn — and how to keep training both effective and enjoyable.

📩 Contact Us

Have a view on reps vs variety? Want to share your coaching experience?

📧 Email: GoFootballPod@gmail.com

📱 Follow us on social media:

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#GoFootballPodcast #GrassrootsFootball #FootballCoaching #YouthFootball #PlayerDevelopment

#RepsVsVariety #FootballTraining #CoachingTips #GrassrootsCoaching #FootballEducation

#SoccerCoaching #KidsFootball #JuniorFootball #FootballSessions #CoachingPhilosophy

#FootballLearning #PlayerCentredCoaching #FootballDrills #TrainingDesign

#SmallSidedGames #FootballDevelopment #CoachLife #FootballCulture

#GrassrootsGame #FootballCommunity #CoachingJourney #FootballMindset

#FootballPractice #SkillDevelopment #FootballImprovement

#UKFootball #FootballPodcast #GoFootballCoaching #CoachDevelopment

#FootballIdeas #YouthSports #SportsCoaching #LearningThroughPlay

#FootballSkills #FootballFun #CoachingKids #DevelopThePlayer

#FootballThinking #GameBasedLearning

🎙️ Go Football Podcast – Episode 42: Disaster in Grassroots

In Episode 42 of the Go Football Podcast, host Steve takes a hard look at the growing disaster facing grassroots football across the UK.

Using “The Grassroots Crisis: Pitches, Costs & Cancellations” as a guide, this episode explores how rising costs, poor pitch conditions, weather-related postponements, and limited access to facilities are putting huge pressure on clubs, coaches, parents, and—most importantly—young players.

From constant cancellations and late-night training slots to families being priced out of the game, Steve breaks down why grassroots football feels closer than ever to breaking point—and what needs to change if the game is to survive and thrive at community level.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone involved in grassroots football who wants honest discussion, real experiences, and practical insight into the challenges facing the game right now.

📩 Get in Touch

We’d love to hear your experiences and opinions.

📧 Email: GoFootballPod@gmail.com

📱 Follow & connect with us on social media:

Go Football Podcast

Go Football Coaching

#GoFootballPodcast #GrassrootsFootball #GrassrootsCrisis #DisasterInGrassroots #YouthFootball #FootballCoaching #GrassrootsCoaching #FootballCommunity #UKFootball #CommunityFootball #GrassrootsGame #FootballParents #FootballClubs #YouthSports #FootballIssues #FootballFacilities #PitchProblems #FootballCancellations #FootballCosts #SupportGrassroots #FootballCulture #FootballDevelopment #KidsFootball #JuniorFootball #FootballLife #FootballTalk #FootballPodcast #GoFootballCoaching #CoachLife #VolunteerFootball #FootballAwareness #SaveGrassroots #FootballChallenges #GrassrootsVoices #FootballProblems #LocalFootball #FootballDiscussion #FootballTruth #GrassrootsUK #FootballMatters #ProtectTheGame #FootballFamily #FootballSupport #FootballEducation #FootballInsight #CommunitySport #GrassrootsSupport #FootballFuture #KeepTheGameBeautiful

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🎙️ Go Football Podcast Episode 41 – Ringers, Age Cheating & Wrong Divisions: The Win-At-All-Costs Problem

In this powerful episode, Steve dives into one of grassroots football’s biggest and most damaging issues: coaches signing ringers, playing overage players, and even deliberately entering their teams into weaker divisions just to win trophies.

We unpack why these behaviours are becoming more common, how they harm children’s development, and why fairness, honesty, challenge, and player wellbeing must always come before results.

Steve also looks at how these decisions affect confidence, enjoyment, league integrity, and the long-term future of young players in the sport.

Have a story or opinion to share?

📧 Email: GoFootballPod@gmail.com

📱 Follow on socials: Go Football Coaching & Go Football Podcast

Let’s protect the game. Let’s protect the kids.

Keep it honest, keep it fair, keep it football. ⚽

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Go Football Podcast Episode 40 – Fairness in Football

In Episode 40 of the Go Football Podcast, host Steve takes a deep dive into one of the most important and often debated areas of youth sport: fairness in grassroots football.

From equal playing time to inclusive environments, rotations, positive sideline behaviour, and the role of parents, this episode breaks down how coaches and clubs can create environments where EVERY young player feels valued, supported, and motivated to keep playing the beautiful game.

Steve explores why fairness matters more than results, how development trumps trophies, and the impact that a truly positive environment can have on a player’s long-term love of football. Whether you’re a coach, parent, club volunteer, or simply passionate about grassroots sport — this episode will challenge, inspire, and encourage you to reflect on what fairness really looks like.

We also talk about the responsibilities coaches carry, how to communicate fairness clearly to parents, and the importance of modelling respect, inclusion, and equal opportunity.

💬 Get In Touch

We’d love to hear your thoughts, experiences, challenges, and stories around fairness in grassroots football.

📧 Email: GoFootballPod@gmail.com

📱 Instagram/Facebook/TikTok: Go Football Coaching

🎙️ Podcast socials: Go Football Podcast

⚽ Special Thanks to Laceeze

A big thank you to our episode supporters Laceeze — making boot prep and pitchside organisation easier for players of all ages.

Use promo code “GoFootballPod” for 10% off at checkout.

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In Episode 39 of the Go Football Podcast, host Steve dives into one of the most crucial aspects of grassroots coaching, Effective Session Planning.

From setting clear objectives to adapting for mixed-ability groups, this episode unpacks the why and how behind building training sessions that truly develop players. Steve walks through the core principles of good coaching practice of how to structure your session, use guided discovery, communicate with young players, and make every activity purposeful and fun.

You’ll also hear practical advice on using video analysis, setting player goals, and the importance of reflecting on your own coaching journey. Whether you’re new to coaching or working toward your next qualification, this episode will give you simple, proven ideas you can apply right away on the pitch.

👉 Tune in for insights, ideas, and inspiration to make your next training session your best yet.

🎯 Key Topics Covered

• Planning and structuring effective training sessions

• The role of guided discovery and effective questioning

• Communicating with players at different age levels

• Managing mixed-ability groups fairly and effectively

• Bringing video analysis to the grassroots level

• Setting short- and long-term goals for players

• Reflecting to improve as a coach

• Building your own coaching philosophy

• Continuous professional development (CPD)

📩 Contact Us

Got feedback, topic ideas, or want to share your own coaching story?

📧 Email: GoFootballPod@gmail.com

💬 Follow and message us on social media: @ Go Football Podcast and @ Go Football Coaching

We’d love to hear from coaches, players, parents, and anyone passionate about growing the grassroots game.

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