Show Notes
In this episode, Ben and Mike welcome back Michael Fox, former Peterborough United academy coach and now head coach at Focusing on Excellence Football Academy, to tackle one of grassroots football’s most debated topics: playing out from the back.
Drawing on his first season coaching in grassroots, Michael shares how academy principles can work at under-9s and under-10s level—despite the retreat rule, mixed ability squads and limited game time. The conversation explores how to teach children to stay calm under pressure, use goalkeepers effectively, create overloads and understand space without overwhelming them with tactics.
They also dive into emotional regulation on the sidelines, why consistency in coaching behaviour matters more than results, and how simple language, repetition and visual cues help players learn faster. Along the way, Michael explains concepts like “fishing passes,” starting again, and why mistakes at the back are a necessary part of long-term development.
The episode finishes with a wider discussion on mindset—what separates academy players from grassroots, whether resilience can be coached, and why helping kids enjoy learning the game matters far more than winning on a Sunday morning.
Use code IOKF10 and get 10% OFF at www.discountfootballkits.com — the UK’s longest-established specialist supplier of discounted branded football kits, accessories and footballs. Offer ends midnight, 31st January 2026
Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/
Connect with Olly Porteous: https://withme.so/Ollyporteous
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/ Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from It's Only Kids Football
In Part Two of this deep dive with Paul Barry — Head of coaching at Football DNA with experience at Crystal Palace, Arsenal, and Watford — Ben and Mike breaks down how to bring professional academy standards to grassroots teams.
In this episode Ben and Mike get honest about the pressure, obsession, and guilt that come with volunteer coaching. After taking their U11s to play Ipswich Town’s Category 1 Academy, a tough 80-minute lesson prompts a powerful reality check on expectations, burnout and remembering that at the end of the day, you're just a dad doing your best.
What actually happens when a grassroots team takes on a Premier League Academy? In this episode, Ben and Mike break down their recent clash against Ipswich Town Under-10s —from holding their own in a 3-2 thriller to facing a brutal second-half reality check. Joined by Paul Barry, Head of Coaching at Football DNA with experience at Arsenal, Crystal Palace, and Watford, the guys dissect the massive gap between grassroots and academy setups.
Ben and Mike break down a bittersweet weekend on the touchline. The main talking point revolves around the Under-11s’ gutting 3-1 derby opening-day loss to their local rivals, the Blues.
In the final episode of this six-part series, Ben and Mike join child development early childhood learning specialist Laura Mellor-Bachman to reveal how grassroots football coaches can build a united front with parents.