#55 Q&A - How much training? Mixed Teams? Behaviour Issues?
From Shouting From The Sidelines by Luke Towning
December 5, 2025 · 34 min
About this episode
This episode addresses key concerns for grassroots football parents and coaches, including mixed teams, training frequency, and managing player behaviour.
In today’s episode, we dive into three BIG questions from grassroots football parents and coaches. The kind of issues every junior football team eventually faces.From mixed-ability under-7 teams, to how much football a young kids should do, to handling misbehaviour and lack of focus…we break it all down with honest, experience-based advice. We start with a dilemma many clubs will recognise: mixed teams vs A/B teams. When some parents want results, others want development, and friendship groups matter…what’s the right answer? This question gives a real insight into just how tough coaching at grassroots level can be, especially when volunteers are caught between player needs and parent expectations. Next, we tackle a huge parent worry: How many football sessions should a young child do? We discuss enjoyment vs overload, balance, spotting signs of genuine passion, and why parent-led pressure can quickly turn football into a job rather than a joy. This is essential viewing for any parent with a football-mad child. Finally, we dig into one of the most common coaching challenges: misbehaviour, lack of focus, and keeping players engaged. We share practical solutions around session…
People in this episode
Host: Luke Towning
Topics covered
- grassroots football
- mixed teams
- parent expectations
- training balance
- misbehaviour management
- coaching strategies
Keywords
- grassroots football
- mixed-ability teams
- parent pressure
- training overload
- coaching challenges
- player engagement
- behaviour issues
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