You know where you are with a Brazil team. Attack minded, adventurous in possession , technically excellent, and usually containing enough stellar talents that they can win despite the lack of a decent goalkeeper. Holland? A passing game, circulating the ball in order to create space for two pacey wingers in the final third. Players […]

By the time you read this Wayne Rooney may well have become England’s all time leading goalscorer, overtaking Bobby Charlton’s total of 49. I have no intention of belittling Rooney’s achievement; despite his poor record in major tournaments, his goals per minutes played, and strike rate in qualifying games, stand comparison with modern players such […]

Watching the Cup Final coverage on the BBC last Saturday, and basking pleasurably in the warm glow of nostalgia brought on by their excellent coverage, I was struck by the tendency of football fans to hark back to imagined golden eras, when every stadium was full, the goals flowed, and each team had a hard […]

This infographic highlights some useful tips for coaching child soccer. Following these tips will help you create a positive football coaching environment.

This infographic illustrates some effective measures to ensure safety of soccer players.

Playing any sport properly to a good standard brings a whole range of benefits for a young child, and can have a massive impact on their physical and mental well-being. Many parents assume that sporting talent is innate; a genetic inheritance that enables certain children to excel, whilst their friends might struggle. However, high quality, […]

Important elements that are essential for the success of youth football.

Thousands of players have passed through the First Steps Soccer Academy over the years, and it always gives the Coaches a great thrill to see our graduates competing, whether it’s for their school, junior club, or a professional academy/centre of excellence. We all find it fascinating to watch players develop, and we’ll often chat to […]

View our latest infographic and know how to prevent common football injuries affecting children.

Football Associations, like Governments, are instinctively drawn to Big Ideas whenever they are faced by a perceived crisis. So, when England are knocked out of yet another major Tournament, an F.A. representative is unlikely to shuffle his feet, look at the floor, then shrug his shoulders and say, “Look, I’m very sorry, but finding a […]