6 lessons from a pro goalkeeper that will transform your child’s confidence
From It's Only Kids Football by Ben Welch and Mike Clark
April 6, 2026 · 1h 2m · Season 1 · Episode 89
About this episode
Mark Howard shares insights on building confidence in young goalkeepers and supporting them through challenges.
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. Coaches and parents will learn how to build confidence, handle mistakes, and support kids through the emotional highs and lows of goalkeeping. From simple “reset” techniques to smarter warm-ups and sideline behaviour, this conversation is packed with relatable stories and practical advice. If you’ve ever watched your child struggle after conceding or wondered how to help them enjoy football again this episode is essential listening. Download kit design form: https://linktr.ee/itsonlykidsfootballpodcast#552550290 Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/ Power your grassroots team with effortless payments — sign up with GoCardless today at https://gocardless.com/g/payments-sports-clubs/ and spend less time chasing fees, more time developing your players. LoveAdmin takes the admin off your plate so you can spend more time coaching and less time chasing parents: https://loveadmin.com/ Save £200 on the…
People in this episode
Hosts: Ben Welch, Mike Clark
Guest: Mark Howard
Topics covered
- goalkeeping
- child confidence
- sports parenting
- coaching techniques
- emotional support
- youth soccer
Keywords
- goalkeeper
- confidence
- youth football
- coaching
- parenting
- mistakes
- emotional support
Sponsors
Football DNA, GoCardless, LoveAdmin, Veo Cam 3, Veo Go
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Salford City, Arsenal
Products: Veo Cam 3, Veo Go
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