'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.
Have you been listening to Coachcast and tried out any of our coaching tips? We'd love to hear what you tried and how it went - as well as what you thought of the podcast!
Email: Coachcast@thefa.com or leave us a voice message on our Anchor page https://anchor.fm/coachcast-thefa
How to create the best matchday experience for your players with Zahid Patel | S7 Ep9
Matchday is about more than just what happens during the game.
It's an opportunity to enjoy playing, build confidence and feel part of the team. To get the most out of matchday, though, it’s a coach's job to create a positive experience.
Zahid Patel, regional manager for the grassroots workforce, returns to Coachcast to explore how coaches can create a more positive matchday experience for players and everyone else involved.
Zahid shares practical ideas that coaches can use before, during and after matches to support players and encourage parents to do so too.
If you’ve got a matchday coming up, and want to ensure the experience is a positive one for your players, regardless of the outcome, this episode is for you.
In this episode:
0:00 – Intro
1:31 – Zahid's top tip for creating a positive matchday environment.
2:46 – What does a positive matchday environment look and feel like?
5:45 – One thing coaches need to remember before stepping onto the sidelines.
6:17 – The role of codes of conduct in creating a positive matchday environment.
7:13 – How well do you know your players and why does it matter?
9:04 – How welcoming your players can create a positive environment.
10:24 – Pitch details to get checked before a match.
11:57 – Why asking players how they’re doing just before the session isn't enough.
13:11 – Creating a great matchday experience for players with additional needs.
15:38 – What makes an effective pre-match team talk?
18:01 – How to link learning into team talks.
19:15 – What responsibilities can grassroots coaches share with parents?
21:06 – What does great parent behaviour look like?
23:47 – How to build positive relationships with parents before problems arise.
28:42 – How to deal with overly vocal or critical parents.
31:48 – What does good communication from a coach on the sidelines look like?
34:45 – How to give players more ownership.
37:54 – How to keep substitutes involved during matchday.
40:54 – Should we reframe what a substitute is?
44:41 – What coaches should cover in a full-time team talk.
46:59 – Reflecting on the matchday.
47:52 – Questions for parents to ask their children in the car post-match.
51:12 – A message for coaches who want to improve their matchday environment.
51:36 – A warm-up you can use before matchday.
—————
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/3174/coaching-problems-and-questions) (https://community.thefa.com/ (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 (mailto:Coachcast@thefa.com).
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Join the webinar - https://learn.englandfootball.com/ongoing-learning/Grassroots-Webinars/2627/best-manage-players-parents-and-myself-to-make-the-most-of-matchday (https://learn.englandfootball.com/ongoing-learning/Grassroots-Webinars/2627/best-manage-players-parents-and-myself-to-make-the-most-of-matchday)
LEARN MORE
England Football Learning (https://learn.englandfootball.com/)- https://learn.englandfootball.com/ (https://learn.englandfootball.com/)England Football Community - https://community.thefa.com/ (https://community.thefa.com/)
England Football Learning on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCisPO86aEIhWRTnTS1vrSVw (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCisPO86aEIhWRTnTS1vrSVw)England Football Learning Twitter (https://twitter.com/EnglandLearning) - https://twitter.com/EnglandLearning (https://twitter.com/EnglandLearning)
Email - Coachcast@thefa.com (mailto:Coachcast@thefa.com)
LISTEN
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4sA9fHoldaH1x5Wn3vdmsB (https://open.spotify.com/show/4sA9fHoldaH1x5Wn3vdmsB)
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/coachcast/id1591804808 (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/coachcast/id1591804808)
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@EnglandFootballLearning (https://www.youtube.com/@EnglandFootballLearning)
30 Sept 2026
The latest game insights every grassroots coach should know | S7 Ep8
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.
—————
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/3174/coaching-problems-and-questions) (https://community.thefa.com/ (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 (mailto:Coachcast@thefa.com).
LEARN MORE
England Football Learning (https://learn.englandfootball.com/)- https://learn.englandfootball.com/ (https://learn.englandfootball.com/)England Football Community - https://community.thefa.com/ (https://community.thefa.com/)
England Football Learning on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCisPO86aEIhWRTnTS1vrSVw (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCisPO86aEIhWRTnTS1vrSVw)England Football Learning Twitter (https://twitter.com/EnglandLearning) - https://twitter.com/EnglandLearning (https://twitter.com/EnglandLearning)
Email - Coachcast@thefa.com (mailto:Coachcast@thefa.com)
LISTEN
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4sA9fHoldaH1x5Wn3vdmsB (https://open.spotify.com/show/4sA9fHoldaH1x5Wn3vdmsB)
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/coachcast/id1591804808 (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/coachcast/id1591804808)
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@EnglandFootballLearning (https://www.youtube.com/@EnglandFootballLearning)
16 Sept 2026
Your complete guide to football formats with Chris Welburn | S7 Ep7
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.
Access the webinar: https://learn.englandfootball.com/ongoing-learning/Grassroots-Webinars/2627/develop-my-players-across-different-game-formats (https://learn.englandfootball.com/ongoing-learning/Grassroots-Webinars/2627/develop-my-players-across-different-game-formats)
Get the Know Your Format guide: https://futurefit.englandfootball.com/futurefit/faqs/where-can-i-find-out-more-about-the-changes-to-youth-football/index.html (https://futurefit.englandfootball.com/futurefit/faqs/where-can-i-find-out-more-about-the-changes-to-youth-football/index.html)
FutureFit Hub: https://futurefit.englandfootball.com/futurefit/ (https://futurefit.englandfootball.com/futurefit/)
Covered in this episode:
0:00 – Intro.
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.
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/coaching/f/youth-club-football-forum/3174/coaching-problems-and-questions) (https://community.thefa.com/ (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 (mailto:Coachcast@thefa.com).
LEARN MORE
England Football Learning (https://learn.englandfootball.com/)- https://learn.englandfootball.com/ (https://learn.englandfootball.com/)England Football Community - https://community.thefa.com/ (https://community.thefa.com/)
England Football Learning on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCisPO86aEIhWRTnTS1vrSVw (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCisPO86aEIhWRTnTS1vrSVw)England Football Learning Twitter (https://twitter.com/EnglandLearning) - https://twitter.com/EnglandLearning (https://twitter.com/EnglandLearning)
Email - Coachcast@thefa.com (mailto:Coachcast@thefa.com)
LISTEN
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4sA9fHoldaH1x5Wn3vdmsB (https://open.spotify.com/show/4sA9fHoldaH1x5Wn3vdmsB)
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/coachcast/id1591804808 (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/coachcast/id1591804808)
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@EnglandFootballLearning (https://www.youtube.com/@EnglandFootballLearning)
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
4.5 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
4.8 / 5
25 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 67 / 100
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