THE IMPOSSIBLE JOB: ENGLAND’S STRUGGLE TO FIND AN IDENTITY

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 […]

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BOBBY CHARLTON; AN APPRECIATION

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 […]

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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2014/15 SEASON

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 […]

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Top Tips for Coaching Youth Football

Top Tips for Coaching Youth Football

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

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Size Guide for Team, Ball, Goalpost and Pitch

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

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The Benefits of Focussed Professional Soccer Coaching for Children

Professional Soccer Coaching

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, […]

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The Essential Elements of Youth Football

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

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ELEVEN CHARACTERISTICS OF ELITE JUNIOR FOOTBALLERS

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 […]

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How to Prevent Common Football Injuries Affecting Children

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

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TEN SMALL WAYS TO IMPROVE JUNIOR FOOTBALL UNDER 7, 8, and 9

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 […]

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