🎙️ Go Football Podcast Episode 50 - Set Positions!

When should young footballers start playing set positions?

In Episode 50 of the Go Football Podcast, Steve explores one of the biggest debates in grassroots football whether players should have fixed roles on the pitch or experience multiple positions as they develop.

From 5v5 and 7v7 through to 9v9 and eventually 11v11, this episode breaks down when structure can help players learn the game and when it might actually limit their development.

Steve discusses the pros and cons of set positions, why rotating players in the early years is so important, and how introducing more defined roles later can help build tactical understanding and confidence.

The episode also looks at the goalkeeper debate should kids rotate in goal, and when is the right age for a player to specialise?

Whether you’re a grassroots coach or football parent, this episode will help you think differently about how positions shape player development.

⚽ When should positions be introduced?

⚽ Why rotation matters in the early years

⚽ The risks of pigeon-holing players too early

⚽ How the game changes from 7v7 to 9v9 and 11v11

⚽ When goalkeepers should specialise

📧 Contact us: GoFootballPod@gmail.com

Follow us on social media:

📱 Go Football Podcast

📱 Go Football Coaching

go football podcast,set positions youth football,grassroots football,football coaching,youth football development,should kids have positions football,player development football,7v7 football coaching,9v9 football coaching,11v11 youth football,goalkeeper youth football,grassroots coaching tips,youth soccer coaching,football podcast uk,GoFootballPod,Go Football Coaching,football development pathway

#GoFootballPodcast

#GrassrootsFootball

#FootballCoaching

#YouthFootball

#GrassrootsCoaching

#SetPositions

#FootballDevelopment

#PlayerDevelopment

#YouthSoccer

#FootballParents

#CoachingKids

#GoalkeeperDevelopment

#FootballPodcast

#CoachingEducation

#YouthDevelopment

#FootballLearning

#PositiveCoaching

#LongTermDevelopment

#SmallSidedGames

#GameUnderstanding

#FootballSkills

#FootballCoaches

#FootballCommunity

#CoachLife

#DevelopingPlayers

#FuturePlayers

#YouthSports

#FootballGrowth

#CoachSupport

#SoccerCoaching

#KidsFootball

#FootballJourney

#PlayerPathway

#FootballCulture

#GameIntelligence

#ConfidenceInFootball

#LetKidsPlay

#FootballInsights

#NextGenFootball

#CoachingPhilosophy

#LearningThroughPlay

#FootballDiscussion

#GrassrootsGame

#PlayerConfidence

#FootballMindset

#YouthAthleteDevelopment

#FootballEducation

#CoachTalk

#FootballVoices

#GoFootballCoaching

Go Football Podcast – Episode 49

“Experienced” Youth Players only please

What does it really mean to call a young footballer “experienced”?

In this episode of the Go Football Podcast, Steve challenges one of the most common phrases in grassroots football “They should know better.”

From 5v5 to 11v11, we explore whether youth players can truly be classed as experienced, or whether we’re placing adult expectations on developing children.

This episode covers:

⚽ What young players should realistically be able to do at different ages

⚽ What they shouldn’t be expected to handle yet

⚽ How brain and emotional development affects decision-making

⚽ Why exposure to games isn’t the same as mastery

⚽ The risks of raising expectations too early

⚽ How coaches can manage standards without increasing pressure

If you’re a grassroots coach or football parent, this episode will make you rethink how you define experience and how that definition shapes player confidence, learning, and long-term development.

Because in youth football, growth matters more than labels.

📧 Contact us: GoFootballPod@gmail.com

📱 Follow us on socials: Go Football Podcast & Go Football Coaching

Subscribe, share and support the grassroots game ⚽

#GoFootballPodcast

#ExperiencedYouthPlayers

#YouthFootball

#GrassrootsFootball

#FootballCoaching

#GrassrootsCoaching

#YouthDevelopment

#PlayerDevelopment

#FootballParents

#CoachingKids

#LongTermDevelopment

#PositiveCoaching

#FootballEducation

#LetKidsPlay

#FootballPodcast

#YouthSports

#FootballLearning

#CoachLife

#GameUnderstanding

#FootballMindset

#PlayerConfidence

#ChildDevelopment

#FootballPsychology

#CoachingJourney

#FootballGrowth

#GrassrootsGame

#DevelopingPlayers

#FootballCommunity

#CoachSupport

#SoccerCoaching

#YouthSoccer

#FuturePlayers

#FootballCulture

#PlayerPathway

#CoachingPhilosophy

#FootballStandards

#LearningThroughMistakes

#GameIntelligence

#FootballAwareness

#ConfidenceBuilding

#FootballJourney

#CoachingEducation

#MindsetMatters

#GrassrootsVoices

#KidsInSport

#CoachDiscussion

#FootballTalk

#FootballInsights

#NextGenFootball

#GoFootballCoaching

go football podcast,experienced youth players,youth football development,grassroots football,football coaching,youth player expectations,player development football,grassroots coaching,football parents,coaching kids football,football psychology,game intelligence youth football,long term athlete development,football podcast uk,GoFootballPod,Go Football Coaching,youth sports development,decision making youth football

🎙️ Go Football Podcast – Episode 48: Excited for 3v3?

In Episode 48 of the Go Football Podcast, Steve dives into one of the biggest changes coming to grassroots youth football — the introduction of 3v3 football as a development format for young players.

From the 2026/27 season, the new FutureFit framework will see Under-7s playing 3v3 as their entry into organised football, with the goal of increasing involvement, decision-making, physical engagement and technical skill at the earliest stage of the player pathway. 

In this episode, Steve breaks down:

• Why 3v3 is being introduced and what research says about its developmental impact

• Statistical benefits like more ball touches, faster decision-making and higher physical involvement compared to larger games 

• How smaller formats used in other countries support skill growth and confidence 

• What coaches need to understand to make small-sided football work effectively

• Some of the challenges or limits associated with implementing 3v3 formats and how to manage them 

Whether you’re a coach, parent or grassroots volunteer, this episode equips you with the how and why behind this exciting change and what it means for the next generation of players.

📧 Contact us: GoFootballPod@gmail.com

📱 Follow us on socials: Go Football Podcast & Go Football Coaching

go football podcast,3v3 football,grassroots football,youth football 3v3,futurefit football,small sided games football,player development football,grassroots coaching,football coaching,kids football,mini soccer,football development pathway,positive coaching,youth football uk,football podcast uk,technical development football,decision making football,GoFootballPod,Go Football Coaching,grassroots game

#GoFootballPodcast

#GoFootballCoaching

#GrassrootsFootball

#3v3Football

#FutureFit

#YouthFootball

#SmallSidedGames

#PlayerDevelopment

#FootballCoaching

#GrassrootsCoaching

#MiniFootball

#FootballEducation

#CoachingKids

#FootballParents

#YouthDevelopment

#FootballPodcast

#CommunityFootball

#LetThemPlay

#LongTermDevelopment

#TechnicalDevelopment

#DecisionMaking

#FootballSkills

#BallMastery

#PositiveCoaching

#PlayerFirst

#DevelopmentOverResults

#YouthSoccer

#FootballLearning

#UKFootball

#GameBasedLearning

#FootballGrowth

#CoachesLife

#FootballCulture

#InclusiveFootball

#FuturePlayers

#DevelopingPlayers

#FootballPathway

#CoachEducation

#SoccerCoaching

#FootballChange

#NextGenFootball

#FootballReform

#CoachSupport

#GrassrootsVoices

#FootballCommunity

#YouthSports

#CoachLife

#FunFootball

#BuildingPlayers

#FootballFuture