Are we raising soft footballers?

Are we raising soft footballers?

From It's Only Kids Football by Ben Welch and Mike Clark

July 13, 2026 · 1h 8m · Season 1 · Episode 104

About this episode

Ben and Mike discuss how to help young footballers thrive with insights from a former professional player and a mental performance coach.

Ben and Mike are joined by former professional footballer Damian Scannell and mental performance coach Michael Hilton for an honest conversation about what it really takes to help young players thrive. Together, they explore how parents and volunteer coaches can build confidence, resilience and a lifelong love of football without adding unnecessary pressure. From handling disappointment and managing emotions to knowing when to step in and when to let children learn for themselves, the discussion is packed with practical advice and real-life experiences. This episode offers valuable insights into raising confident young footballers while helping them develop the life skills that extend far beyond the game. Get your team a free £300 Discount Football Kits voucher by using our exclusive link to collect subscriptions through GoCardless at https://www.itsonlykidsfootball.com/offers Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/ Sign up for the webinar: https://www.itsonlykidsfootball.com/events Sign up for the newsletter here: https://www.itsonlykidsfootball.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball Instagram…

People in this episode

Hosts: Ben Welch, Mike Clark

Guests: Damian Scannell, Michael Hilton

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Organizations: Football DNA, GoCardless

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