Ball at all Cost

This podcast dives deep into the world of grassroots football, offering insights and guidance to help parents navigate the often challenging and intricate landscape of youth sports. Each episode provides practical advice, tackling issues like player development, balancing commitments, managing expectations, and understanding the nuances of the grassroots football ecosystem.Join the grassroots football dads as they share their insights and experiences along with established guests sharing their vast knowledge on a weekly basis.

Ball at all Cost is a sports podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 80 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Ball at all Cost, a sports show with 80 episodes published.

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  Episode #80

  Before They Become Footballers, They’re Just Kids | Damian Scannell

  Sep 30, 20261h 53mS1

  From grassroots football to the professional game at 22, Damian Scannell knows what it takes to make it against the odds.️ On this episode, he joins us to discuss the pressures facing young footballers, the business of grassroots coaching and whether the modern game is taking the fun out of football.‍‍ We also get into fatherhood, raising confident children and why being present matters far more than simply providing. Are we developing young footballers, or putting too much pressure on them to succeed? Watch, share your thoughts in the comments and subscribe for more conversations about the game. #grassrootsfootball #ballatallcost #academyfootball #footballacademy #football #footballdebate #footballpodcast #kidsfootball #premierleague #epl #youthfootball #footballparent

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  Episode #79

  He Joined the Army at 16… Now He Scouts Future Footballers w/ Dane Krafft

  Sep 23, 20261h 33mS1

  ⚽️ Football development is never as straightforward as people think. Dane Krafft has seen that from several sides… as a player, a coach and now a scout.️ He joined the British Army at 16, eventually found his way back into football and built a coaching career before moving into scouting. In this conversation, he opens up about the experiences that shaped the way he sees young players today. We talk about players getting released, late developers, academy football, playing up age groups, social media highlights, the difference between being an academy player and actually being ready for first-team football, and the difficult decisions clubs have to make when recruiting. Dane also gives us a look at his work with Ipswich Town and how he approaches finding players who might not immediately stand out. There’s plenty here for players, coaches and parents, but more than anything, it’s a conversation about how unpredictable a football journey can be.#ballatallcost #footballacademy #grassrootsfootball #academyfootball #youthfootball #footballscouting #football #playerdevelopment #footballcoaching #ipswichtown #premierleague

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  Episode #77

  Is Dubai the Next Big Destination for Young Footballers?

  Sep 1, 20261h 28mS1

  Could Dubai become one of the most exciting destinations for young footballers looking to develop, compete and find a pathway into the professional game? ⚽That’s one of the big questions we explore in this episode of Ball at All Cost with Bobby and Anthony from BJM Academy.Having worked within English football, Bobby and Anthony share their experiences of developing young players in Dubai and explain how the environment can differ from what many families are used to in the UK. ➡️We get into the rapidly developing football culture in the UAE, the opportunities available to young players, international tournaments, European academy pathways and why some families are beginning to look beyond the traditional routes into professional football. We also discuss mentality, coaching, pressure from parents, player development, scouting, technical ability and the importance of allowing young players to actually enjoy the game. ❤️⚽There’s also a fascinating conversation around whether English football can sometimes place too much emphasis on physical attributes, why talented players may be overlooked, and whether different environments in Europe and the UAE can offer young players a different route to development. And then there’s the story of meeting Andres Iniesta. Bobby and Anthony share what happened when they crossed paths with the Barcelona and Spain legend, including the advice Iniesta gave about developing young players.‍‍‍For parents, young footballers, coaches and anyone interested in the future of youth football, this is a conversation worth watching.Could Dubai really become a major destination for football development? Watch the conversation and make your own judgement. #youthfootball #footballacademy #playerdevelopment #footballcoaching #grassrootsfootball #footballparents #youngfootballers #academyfootball #footballtalent #footballtraining #uaefootball #dubaifootball #footballscouting #footballdevelopment #andresiniesta #bjmacademy #ballatallcost

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  Episode #76

  Academy Football EXPOSED w/Saul Isaksson-Hurst

  Aug 24, 20261h 27mS1

  ️ We sit down with football coach Saul Isaksson, who shares his experience working across elite academy environments and discusses what young players, parents and coaches need to understand about modern player development.️ Saul talks about his coaching journey, including his time working with Tottenham’s youth academy, Chelsea, and other clubs, while comparing different approaches to academy football and player development. We go deep into technical development, ball mastery, grassroots football, academy systems, individual training and the importance of allowing young players to make mistakes and develop their creativity.‍‍‍ Saul also gives valuable advice for parents choosing football academies, including what they should actually look for beyond the name or reputation of a club. We discuss why technical ability can sometimes be overlooked in favour of physicality, whether young players are getting enough meaningful time on the ball, the rise of one-to-one coaching, and why training needs to reflect real match situations. Saul also explains the thinking behind My Football Coach, an app designed to help players develop through age-specific and position-specific technical training.⏱️ Watch the full conversation and let us know: What do you think is the biggest problem with youth and academy football today? Like the video, subscribe and share it with a young player, parent or coach who would benefit from the conversation. #academyfootball #ballatallcost #footballacademy #grassrootsfootball #footballpodcast #footballdebate #premierleague #epl #youthdevelopment #football

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  Episode #75

  Former Pro Wayne Gray on Youth Football & Parents

  Aug 19, 20261h 44mS1

  ️ What does it really take to make it in football? ️ Wayne joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about his journey from grassroots football to the professional game and what young players and their parents can learn from his experience. Wayne opens up about being spotted as a youngster, choosing Wimbledon over Arsenal and Tottenham, the sacrifices he made to pursue football, injuries that changed the direction of his career, and what he learned from playing across different levels of the game. ‍‍‍ We also get into the reality of youth football today: academy life, grassroots football, scouting, parental pressure, coachability, mentality, fitness and what young players need beyond technical ability. One of the biggest themes throughout this conversation is simple: talent matters, but so do attitude, resilience, self-awareness and the willingness to keep improving.The conversation alao include:• What scouts really look for in young players• Grassroots football vs academy football• How parents can support without putting too much pressure on their children• Why young players need to develop independence• The importance of mentality and emotional resilience• How injuries can change a football career• Why stepping back can sometimes help you move forward• The role of fitness in becoming a better footballer• The Four Corners of player development• Learning from football role models like Ian Wright• Why character matters as much as football ability If you’re a young player, parent, coach or simply someone who loves football, there’s plenty to take from this conversation. Watch the full episode, and let us know in the comments: what do you think is the most important quality for a young footballer to have? Don’t forget to like, subscribe and share the Ball at All Costs Podcast. #grassrootsfootball #ballatallcost #footballacademy #academyfootball #football #footballpodcast #footballdebate #premierleague #epl

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