Guides for grassroots football parents.
Honest, practical writing about what to log, what's worth photographing, and how to turn a season of Saturday mornings into something your kid will keep forever.
Football trials for kids: a parent's survival guide
Trials for youth football teams can be a daunting experience for both kids and parents. Understanding what they entail, what clubs are looking for, and how to handle the outcomes can make the process smoother. We've seen…
Pre-season football: 4 weeks to ready (and what not to do)
The pre-season scramble is upon us. You've just about managed to squeeze in the last of the summer holidays, and suddenly it's August. Football season is looming, and you're wondering how to get your kid ready without ov…
The football parent's guilt: when you have to miss the match
We've all been there. Your child's football match is on, but so is a work deadline, a doctor's appointment for the younger one, or perhaps your partner is away and you're holding the fort. The guilt of missing a match ca…
Midfielders: the most underrated position in youth football
Imagine a wet October Saturday. The U9s are playing on a muddy pitch. The striker scores a goal, and everyone cheers. But take a look at the midfielder who won the ball in the centre, passed it to the winger, and then tr…
Defenders are made, not born — a parent's primer
Think about a bored U9 on a wet October Saturday. The rain is pouring, the pitch is muddy, and the team is trailing. It's easy to see why the goal-scorers are celebrated. But watch the kid who keeps the opposition at bay…
The kid who only wants to be a striker (and what to do about it)
In our observation, another reason kids gravitate towards the striker role is the visibility. When you're up front, everyone notices you. Mistakes are scrutinised, but so are successes. This attention can be addictive. T…
Your child wants to be a goalkeeper — what now?
Your child has declared they want to be a goalkeeper. It's an exciting choice, but also one that comes with its own set of challenges and considerations. Let's break down what this role actually involves, the mental and …
U14 to U16 football: serious without losing the joy
As your child moves from U14 to U16 football, the game becomes more serious. There are trials for district teams, increased competition, and the ever-present tension between school and club commitments. But it doesn't ha…
How to track your child's football season (and why it's worth it).
What's actually worth writing down on the touchline — and what you can safely forget.
The 5-minute Saturday routine that keeps a football journal going.
The reason most journals die by November isn't the platform — it's that the habit was too big.
U8 football: the stats that actually matter (and the ones that don't).
Goals and assists are the easy numbers. They're rarely the most useful for a 7-year-old.
What position should my kid play? A parent's guide to U7–U11.
The question isn't which position. It's which positions, plural — and how to know they're getting a fair go.
U10 to U11 transition: 11-a-side, leagues, and what changes for parents.
The biggest jump in your kid's grassroots football journey. What actually changes, and how to navigate it.
FA youth football rules every parent should know in 2026.
No headers below U12. No league tables until U11. Mandatory game-time. The rules that surprise parents most.
What grassroots football coaches wish parents knew about the touchline.
The behaviour that helps, the bits that quietly poison teams, and why even well-meaning parents make a coach's job harder.
What to do when your kid wants to quit football (and what not to do).
The real difference between "I want to quit today" and "I want to quit". What to ask, what to listen for.
How to take great football photos from the touchline (without buying gear).
Your phone is enough. The five photo types every parent should aim for, and why the kit-bag shot ages better than the action one.
Should you bring a camera or your phone to your kid's football match?
The honest answer for 95% of parents — and when a real camera actually wins.
How to remember your kid's first goal — a parent's guide to keepsakes.
It feels unforgettable. Then it evaporates. Here's how to make sure it doesn't.
Recording the season: paper journal vs notes app vs purpose-built tool.
Three legitimate ways. Each wins for a different kind of parent.
How grassroots football clubs are getting their admin together in 2026.
The 2018 spreadsheet doesn't cut it any more. What the best-run clubs are doing differently.