#60 7 in 10 Kids Quit Football Before They're 13 - Here's Why

#60 7 in 10 Kids Quit Football Before They're 13 - Here's Why

From Shouting From The Sidelines by Luke Towning

May 11, 2026 · 34 min

About this episode

This episode discusses why seven in ten children quit organized sports before age 13, focusing on the impact of adult communication during youth football.

Seven in ten children quit organised sport before they turn 13. A huge part of the reason is how adults speak to them when things go wrong. In this episode of Shouting from the Sidelines we talk about something that happens every single weekend at grassroots football - coaches and parents who genuinely care, but whose words are quietly doing damage. Not through malice. Just through habit, and not knowing any different. This episode covers the research behind positive reinforcement in youth sport, the 5:1 Magic Ratio, and what good coaching feedback actually looks and sounds like in practice. We also breaks down the "connect before correct" principle, explains why asking kids questions beats telling them every time, and gives parents three simple things they can do differently on the sideline this weekend. Want to join one of our sessions in North and East Leeds? Book a free taster at: https://foot-techacademy.co.uk/ Looking to develop your coaching? Browse our ebooks at: https://onlinefootballcourses.com/ Foot-Tech Academy coaches over 1,100 children weekly across North and East Leeds, using a games-based approach built around child development and a genuine love of the game. New…

People in this episode

Host: Luke Towning

Topics covered

  • youth sports
  • coaching
  • positive reinforcement
  • grassroots football
  • parenting
  • child development

Keywords

  • youth sports
  • football
  • coaching feedback
  • positive reinforcement
  • 5:1 Magic Ratio
  • connect before correct
  • parenting tips

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Foot-Tech Academy, onlinefootballcourses.com

Places: North and East Leeds

More episodes of Shouting From The Sidelines

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Shouting From The Sidelines podcast page.