# Why parents need to stop blaming the coach

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/it-s-only-kids-football-6977406/why-parents-need-to-stop-blaming-the-coach
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/it-s-only-kids-football-6977406/why-parents-need-to-stop-blaming-the-coach.md
Podcast: [It's Only Kids Football](https://stenobird.com/podcast/it-s-only-kids-football-6977406)
Published: 2026-01-19T05:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://linktr.ee/itsonlykidsfootballpodcast
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/66a361b8d34ffa9141b184b4/e/6966dfd685eeb568535f3c77/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/it-s-only-kids-football-6977406/episodes/why-parents-need-to-stop-blaming-the-coach
Duration seconds: 3163

## Resource

Ben and Mike reflect on a weekend that sharpened one of the biggest truths in grassroots football: coaches can guide, but parents carry the real responsibility for a child’s development. As training resumes after the Christmas break, the focus is on repetition, patience and building habits — passing, movement and decision-making that only improve through consistent exposure. The session reinforces a hard reality: one hour a week with a volunteer coach will never be enough on its own. The pair recount their interclub face-off with Leigh Ramblers Greens and from there, the conversation widens. Ben and Mike challenge the growing tendency to blame coaches for a child’s lack of progress, particularly in mixed-ability teams. They discuss confidence, belief, physical development and the unseen work that happens away from training — and why expecting a volunteer to “fix” everything in 45 minutes a week is both unrealistic and unfair. Use code IOKF10 and get 10% OFF at www.discountfootballkits.com — the UK’s longest-established specialist supplier of discounted branded football kits, accessories and footballs. Offer ends midnight, 31st January 2026 Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/ Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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## Transcript

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