Go Football Podcast Episode 62 - Football IQ – Can You Actually Coach It?

What separates good players from great players?

Is it speed? Technique? Physicality?

Or is it something less visible…

Football IQ?

In Episode 62 of the Go Football Podcast, Steve dives into one of the most debated topics in player development: Can football intelligence actually be coached, or is it something players are simply born with?

From scanning and awareness to decision-making and game understanding, this episode explores what Football IQ really means and why some players always seem to have more time and space than everyone else on the pitch.

Research into elite footballers consistently shows that higher-level players:

* Scan more frequently before receiving the ball

* Process information faster

* Make better decisions under pressure

* Recognise patterns earlier than other players

But if that’s true, how can grassroots coaches help young players develop these skills?

In this episode we discuss:

⚽ What Football IQ actually is

⚽ Why scanning is one of the most important skills in football

⚽ The difference between technique and decision-making

⚽ How elite players process information faster

⚽ Why over-coaching can reduce player intelligence

⚽ The dangers of constantly giving instructions from the sidelines

⚽ How small-sided games help develop awareness and decision-making

⚽ Why questioning players can be more powerful than telling them answers

⚽ How confidence and Football IQ are linked

⚽ Whether Football IQ becomes more important as players get older

Studies into football performance have found that elite players scan significantly more often than lower-level players before receiving possession, allowing them to make quicker and more effective decisions.

The episode also explores whether grassroots coaches are sometimes unintentionally limiting Football IQ development by solving every problem for players instead of allowing them to think for themselves.

This is a must-listen episode for coaches, parents, and players who want to understand what truly separates the smartest footballers from the rest.

Because football isn’t always about making the perfect pass…

Sometimes it’s about seeing the pass before everyone else.

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Go Football Podcast Episode 61 - Are Parents Pushing Out Good Coaches?

Grassroots football runs on volunteers.

Every week, thousands of coaches give up their evenings, weekends, and family time to help young players develop, enjoy the game, and create lifelong memories.

But what happens when those coaches decide they’ve had enough?

In Episode 61 of the Go Football Podcast, Steve tackles one of the most sensitive and important topics in grassroots football today:

Are parents forcing good coaches out of the game?

This episode isn’t about parent bashing. In fact, grassroots football simply couldn’t survive without the incredible support, commitment, and sacrifices made by parents every single week.

However, it also explores the growing pressures that many volunteer coaches face, including:

⚽ Sideline coaching and constant instructions during games

⚽ Complaints about playing time, positions, and substitutions

⚽ Unrealistic expectations placed on volunteer coaches

⚽ The impact of social media and comparison culture

⚽ Why coach burnout is becoming a growing issue in grassroots sport

⚽ How criticism and conflict can affect coach retention

⚽ The long-term impact on clubs and players when experienced coaches walk away

Research across grassroots sport consistently shows that volunteer recruitment and retention is one of the biggest challenges facing community clubs. Many grassroots organisations report ongoing difficulties attracting and keeping coaches, while studies have identified emotional exhaustion, lack of appreciation, and adult conflict as common reasons volunteers leave.

The episode also looks at the hidden consequences of losing experienced coaches. When good coaches step away, players lose more than just a football session. They lose mentors, role models, consistency, and valuable development opportunities.

Most importantly, this discussion asks whether modern grassroots football is placing too much pressure on volunteers who are simply trying to provide a positive experience for young players.

Because while everyone wants the best for their child, creating a positive football environment requires coaches, parents, clubs, and players all pulling in the same direction.

A thought-provoking episode for coaches, parents, club volunteers, and anyone who cares about the future of grassroots football.

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Are we supporting our grassroots coaches enough… or are we slowly driving them away?

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Go Football Podcast Episode 60 - Players Missing Chances

Missing chances is one of the biggest mental challenges in football.

Some players miss an opportunity and immediately demand the ball again… while others lose confidence for the rest of the game.

So what causes that difference?

In Episode 60 of the Go Football Podcast, Steve takes a deep dive into the psychology behind mistakes, confidence, fear, and recovery in youth football.

This episode explores why missing chances can affect players so differently and how coaches, parents, and environments can either build resilience… or create fear.

Research in sports psychology consistently shows that players who fear mistakes are more likely to:

* hesitate in matches

* avoid taking risks

* lose confidence faster

* reduce creativity and decision-making speed

Meanwhile, resilient players are often those who recover emotionally quicker after setbacks and continue playing with bravery and freedom.

In this episode we cover:

⚽ Why even elite forwards miss chances constantly

⚽ The link between confidence and decision-making

⚽ How fear changes player behaviour during games

⚽ Why confidence often drops during teenage years

⚽ The psychological impact of coaches’ and parents’ reactions

⚽ How to create environments where players aren’t afraid to fail

⚽ Practical ways to help players recover after mistakes

Studies into youth athlete development also show that overly critical environments can significantly increase anxiety and reduce enjoyment in sport highlighting just how important adult behaviour is in grassroots football.

This episode asks one huge question:

Are we teaching young players how to recover from mistakes… or how to fear them?

A must-listen for grassroots coaches, parents, and anyone involved in player development.

📧 Contact us: GoFootballPod@gmail.com

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Go Football Podcast Episode 59 - The Pressure of Being the Star Player

Every grassroots team seems to have one.

The player everyone talks about.

The player expected to score goals, win games, and carry the team.

But what pressure does that actually put on young players?

In Episode 59 of the Go Football Podcast, Steve explores the hidden side of being labelled the “star player” in youth football from pressure and expectations to burnout, confidence, and team dynamics.

Research in youth sport continues to show that young athletes under constant performance pressure are more likely to experience:

* anxiety

* fear of mistakes

* emotional burnout

* reduced enjoyment in sport

This episode looks at how talented young players can quickly become overloaded with responsibility — especially when teams rely too heavily on one individual.

In this episode we cover:

⚽ How players become labelled as the “best player”

⚽ The impact of early physical development and the Relative Age Effect

⚽ Why star players often face more pressure than people realise

⚽ How over-reliance can hurt both player and team development

⚽ The mental strain of expectations in youth football

⚽ How coaches can protect talented players while still developing the whole team

Studies have shown that players born earlier in the selection year are significantly more likely to be identified as talented at young ages highlighting how physical development can influence perception in grassroots football.

This episode asks an important question:

Are we supporting talented young players… or simply placing pressure on them?

A must-listen for grassroots coaches, parents, and anyone involved in player development.

📧 Contact us: GoFootballPod@gmail.com

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Go Football Podcast Episode58 - Grassroots Facilities

(Inspired by Coach Reece)

Grassroots football is the foundation of the game… but are the facilities keeping up?

In this episode of the Go Football Podcast, Steve dives into “Grassroots Facilities” a real and growing issue across youth football, inspired by the work and voice of Coach Reece.

You can find Coach Reece here:

📱 Instagram: footy_coach_reece

🎵 TikTok: footy_coach_reece98

His campaign is simple: £1 tax on top division football league tickets to fund community 3G pitches

Currently, many football games are getting postponed due to the weather affecting grass pitches. I call on the Government to impose a £1 tax on every top division football league ticket to fund community 3G pitches for grassroots teams in bad weather conditions via a “Let The Kids Play fund.”

And support the campaign here:

👉 https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/761214

Across the country, thousands of grassroots players are still playing on:

* poor-quality pitches

* waterlogged surfaces

* limited training spaces

* outdated or unavailable facilities

While the professional game continues to grow, many grassroots environments are struggling to keep up creating a gap in opportunity, development, and overall experience.

In this episode we explore:

⚽ The reality of grassroots pitches and training environments

⚽ How poor facilities impact player development and confidence

⚽ The growing gap between clubs with access to 3G and those without

⚽ The effect of cancellations and inconsistent playing time

⚽ Why environment plays a bigger role than we often realise

⚽ The importance of speaking up and pushing for change

It’s estimated that grassroots football loses countless matches every season due to pitch conditions, with weather and poor drainage being major factors — disrupting development and enjoyment for young players.

This episode shines a light on an issue that affects every level of the grassroots game and highlights why voices like Coach Reece’s are so important in driving awareness and change.

Because football isn’t just about coaching…

It’s about where the game is played.

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Go Football Podcast Episode 57 - The Academy Chase

Are Too Many Players Leaving Grassroots?

The dream of academy football is bigger than ever… but is it pulling too many players away from grassroots too soon?

In Episode 57 of the Go Football Podcast, Steve dives into “The Academy Chase” — exploring the growing trend of young players leaving grassroots football in pursuit of academy pathways, development centres, and elite opportunities.

With estimates suggesting that less than 1% of grassroots players will go on to play professional football, this episode takes a realistic look at the journey, the pressures, and the outcomes of chasing the academy dream.

In this episode we cover:

• ​Why the academy pathway is so appealing to players and parents
• ​The reality of progression, retention, and release within academies
• ​The impact on grassroots teams when players leave
• ​How non-selected players can be affected psychologically
• ​What happens when players are released back into grassroots football
• ​Whether grassroots football is being undervalued as a development environment

This episode challenges the idea that leaving grassroots is always the “next step” and instead asks whether we should be focusing more on enjoyment, confidence, and long-term development over short-term opportunity.

For coaches, parents, and players alike, this is a must-listen discussion about pathways, pressure, and what success in football really looks like.

📧 Contact us: GoFootballPod@gmail.com

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Go Football Podcast Episode 56 - How to Build a Team Identity

What does it actually mean to have a “team identity” in grassroots football?

In Episode 56 of the Go Football Podcast, Steve breaks down one of the most talked-about but often misunderstood concepts in coaching: team identity.

It’s not just about formations or tactics.

It’s about how your team plays, behaves, communicates, and responds both in training and on matchday.

In this episode, we explore how grassroots coaches can create a clear and effective identity that gives players confidence, consistency, and direction.

In this episode we cover:

⚽ What team identity really means at grassroots level

⚽ Why identity is more than just tactics and formations

⚽ How coaches shape identity through their values and behaviours

⚽ Why clarity helps players perform with confidence

⚽ The importance of building identity through training, not just matchdays

⚽ How to balance consistency with flexibility based on your players

A strong team identity doesn’t come from copying professional teams it comes from understanding your players and creating an environment that suits them.

This episode is packed with practical insights to help grassroots coaches build teams that are not only organised… but recognisable.

📧 Contact us: GoFootballPod@gmail.com

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Helping grow the grassroots game ⚽

Thanks to this week sponsor our SquadGod

SquadGod has been built and honed over the last 12 months by Grassroots coach, Rosko Lewis. If you want to take your grassroots squad's engagement to an entirely new level, SquadGod is the answer - www.squadgod.app

Grassroots Coaches

Foster Team Unity

Give every player a voice. Celebrate contributions and build stronger team bonds through shared achievement.

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Track individual progress and reward effort. Show players their growth and keep them eager for the next match.

Involve Families

Share lineups, stats, and match updates instantly. Keep parents engaged and supporters excited.

All at www.SquadGod.app

Help Coach Reece.

He’s really passionate about improving grassroots football and have launched an official UK government petition to help fund more 3G pitches for local communities

If you can, please take a moment to sign and support on the link below.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/761214

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🎙️ Go Football Podcast Episode 55 - Do Grassroots Coaches Get Enough Support?

Grassroots football doesn’t exist without coaches… but are they actually getting the support they need?

In Episode 55 of the Go Football Podcast, Steve takes a deep dive into the reality of grassroots coaching — from the pressures of volunteering to the challenges faced week in, week out on the training pitch and touchline.

With the vast majority of grassroots coaches being volunteers, balancing football alongside work, family, and other commitments, this episode explores whether enough is being done to support the people who make the game possible.

In this episode we cover:

⚽ The true demands of grassroots coaching

⚽ Why volunteer coaches are the backbone of youth football

⚽ The biggest challenges coaches face — time, pressure, and expectations

⚽ The impact of parent behaviour and sideline pressure

⚽ Why coach retention is a growing issue in grassroots sport

⚽ What better support for coaches could actually look like

Research across youth sport continues to highlight that volunteer recruitment and retention is one of the biggest challenges facing grassroots organisations, with lack of support being a key factor in coaches stepping away.

This episode asks an important question:

If we don’t support our coaches… what happens to the game?

A must-listen for coaches, parents, and anyone involved in grassroots football.

📧 Contact us: GoFootballPod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

⚽ Go Football Podcast

⚽ Go Football Coaching

Helping grow the grassroots game ⚽

Thanks for @Squadgod helping grassroots get to the next level.

SquadGod has been built and honed over the last 12 months by Grassroots coach, Rosko Lewis. If you want to take your grassroots squad's engagement to an entirely new level, SquadGod is the answer - www.squadgod.app

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