Hosted by Ben Welch and Mike Clark · 🇺🇸 US · EN · 102 episodes
Established thought leaders with verified media credentials.
Ben Welch is figuring out how to be a decent kids football coach and a better Dad. He's joined by coaching experts, ex-pros as well as football industry folk and internet friends to help him navigate the minefield of parenting and grassroots kids football. It's meant to be for fun, but sometimes it's hard to remember - It's Only Kids Football. Links: https://linktr.ee/itsonlykidsfootballpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ben Welch and Mike Clark hosts It's Only Kids Football, a sports show with 102 episodes published.
What really helps young footballers improve? In this episode, hosts Ben and Mike sit down with Jason and Neil from Rondos Academy to uncover the coaching principles they've learned from more than 15 years of developing g
What does it really take for a young player to make it in academy football and what are parents and grassroots coaches getting wrong? In this episode, Ben and Mike sit down with Sean Conlon, a former Chelsea and QPR acad
Episode 100 marks a milestone beyond numbers, as Ben and Mike reflect on how three years of coaching and honest self-examination have reshaped them from reactive, emotionally driven dads into more self-aware, confident c
In this episode, hosts Ben and Mike are joined in the studio by Football DNA's head of coaching, Paul Barry, to break down the FA’s brand-new 3v3 format for under-7s—and what it really means for coaches, players and pare
This week, Ben and Mike, two grassroots dads doing their best not to ruin their kids’ football journeys, are joined by Kate and Fran from Performance Canteen, specialists in youth athlete nutrition who’ve worked with eli
In this episode, Mike Clark and Ben sit down with Colin Windrow, the visionary club manager behind MSB Woolton—officially the largest grassroots football club in England. Colin shares the fascinating journey of scaling a
In this special episode, hosts Ben and Mike travel to St George’s Park to investigate "Future Fit"—the FA’s biggest youth football restructuring in over a decade. The episode dives into the new 3v3 format for under-7s, e
Ben and Mike dive into one of grassroots football’s biggest debates: should every player get equal game time in tournaments? Drawing from real tournament experiences, they unpack the tension between fairness and competit
Ben and Mike are joined by Mark Thompson, UEFA A Licensed coach and International Technical Coaching Manager at Everton, to explore a simple truth: kids don’t need more coaching - they need clearer coaching. From summer
In this bonus episode, Ben and Mike tackle the realities of grassroots football through listener questions and stories from the community. They explore key debates like competition vs development, managing long losing st
As the season wraps up, Ben and Mike take a brutally honest look back at the highs, lows, and everything in between — from standout performances and unforgettable goals to moments they’d rather forget as coaches and pare
Why does your child sometimes look like two completely different footballers? Ben and Mike explore the frustrating but fascinating reality of inconsistency in youth players—where confidence, mood, environment and even sm
In this episode, Ben and Mike welcome Chris Ramsey onto the pod. One of the most respected voices in player development and coaching in the English game, Ramsey's career spans roles at QPR, Tottenham, and the FA. He has
Is advertising for specific positions in youth football the right approach for development? Ben and Mike debate whether recruiting for roles like “defenders only” is a practical necessity or risks pigeonholing players to
What’s it really like for a child playing the most pressured position on the pitch? In this episode, Salford City goalkeeper Mark Howard shares honest insights from academy football at Arsenal to parenting his own son. C
In this episode, Ben and Mike, talk about their experience of loud adult spectators unintentionally overwhelming young players. The hosts reflect on balancing resilience with responsibility, questioning when to step in a
Every grassroots coach faces the same nightmare: a defence that’s "all over the place" and young players who just want to be on the ball. In this episode, Ben and Mike, chat with Mac Smith, a football director and coach
Ben and Mike break down two intense matches, from a muddy “battle” to a frustrating defeat after a brilliant first half and reflect on the fine margins between development and results. The conversation dives into defensi
What happens when a football insider with 165,000 followers, Premier League contacts and a career around the game ends up managing his son’s Under-7s team? In this honest conversation, Ben and Mike, meet the man behind t
Ben and Mike deliver an honest reflection on the reality of being a football dad, diving into the difficult balance between coaching a player and raising a son. They explore stoicism, discussing how to handle your emotio
Paul Barry
Head of Coaching for the Foundation Phase · Crystal Palace FC
1 appearance on this show
Kate
Head of Talent and People · Peoplegig
1 appearance on this show
Fran
The Rockstar · Metisan Sales Solution Architects
1 appearance on this show
Mark Thompson
UEFA A Licensed coach and International Technical Coaching Manager · Family History AI Show
1 appearance on this show
Chris Ramsey
1 appearance on this show
Dr. Mark Howard
Discipleship happens in relationship · Fox cricket
1 appearance on this show
Mac Smith
football director and coach · Moreton City Excelsior FC
1 appearance on this show
Ben
CTO and Lead Product · Acter
1 appearance on this show
Mike
trauma surgeon · The MDX Podcast
1 appearance on this show
Michael Fox
Regional Director · Indigenous Community Engagement
1 appearance on this show
John Curtis
Division Chief of Emergency Services · South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR)
1 appearance on this show
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It's Only Kids Football is hosted by Ben Welch and Mike Clark. The show is categorised under sports (soccer) and has published 102 episodes.
It's Only Kids Football has published 102 episodes.
It's Only Kids Football regularly covers sports, soccer, kids. It sits in the sports category, with a soccer focus.
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Episodes of It's Only Kids Football average 65 minutes, giving guests a long-form format with plenty of time to expand on their expertise.
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