The Inner Huddle - The Football (Soccer) Development Podcast for Parents & Coaches of Young Aspiring Players

Series 2 - Episode 1 - Youth Football Q&A With Pez, Geoff & Betsy

We kick off the new series of The Inner Huddle podcast with 10 questions sent in by parents & coaches from around the world answered by Pez, Geoff and new resident Sports Psychologist, Betsy Tuffrey...

1. How’s the book coming along & what’s the hardest chapter you’ve written in the book?

2. I saw a Facebook post you put out about intrinsic and extrinsic motivators - can you explain more?

3. My child is junior school age and plays for a local team in the Junior Premier League. We’re informed by text on a Friday if he’s been selected to play in the team at the weekend. He gets real anxiety about being selected to the point where he even has to sleep in our bed on the Thursday evening. We like the team but we’re worried about the impact it’s having on his mental health. Do you have any thoughts or advice that can help?

4. My son was on trial at a pro club. Although he did very well, he wasn’t offered a place at the academy. He goes on constantly about trying again with an academy but after the experience he had I am very apprehensive about ever letting him try again. Do you think 9 years old is too young to be thrust into such a high-pressure environment?

5. I enjoyed your quote about reframing your praise to include the back story. Can you give me some examples?

6. Is the rise of so-called academy teams killing off grass roots football?

7. Is the pressure at a young age leading to kids burning out sooner which is putting them off the game and adding to the demise of the local amateur game?

8. When the boys get older and squad sizes increase i.e moving from 9 a side to 11 a side at u13 do academies also increase their squad numbers or will they already have the players they need for 11 a side? I guess what I’m asking is do they have a “recruitment drive” and scout new players for the bigger squads?

9. My daughter has been playing football with you at Pezzaz for some time now. She absolutely loves it and now feels she’s ready to join a team. Do you recommend a girls only team or a mixed one?

10. If a parent doesn’t know how to find the right environment for their child, or where the right place is & what that looks like. How can a parent help themselves & their children to make good choices on clubs, coaches, teams?

This episode was sponsored by Seed Psychology - https://www.seedpsychology.co.uk/

 

Your hosts are:

Perry Cocking (Pezzaz Street Soccer & formerly Southampton FC) - 

www.pezzazstreetsoccer.com

https://www.facebook.com/perrycockingauthor

 

Geoff Bonner (Wessex Futsal Club) - 

https://www.facebook.com/wessexfutsal

 

Betsy Tuffrey (Seed Psychology) - 

https://www.seedpsychology.co.uk/

 

Extra Time - Interview with Global Soccer Education (Part 2) - Individual Player Development

In this episode I am interviewed by Jason Blake from the Global Soccer Education podcast. This episode is in two parts so be sure to catch up with part 1.

We discuss players I’ve worked with including the player being dubbed as the next English wonderkid, Charlie Webster, and Champions League/Premier League winners, Adam Lallana and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. We talk about Street soccer and the differences between individual development and team coaching.

Small podcasts like ourselves only survive by getting reviews, subscriptions and being shared. So if you’ve been kind enough to listen please could I ask you to extend that kindness by at least leaving a review and subscribing. Sharing would be a massive bonus! I really appreciate your support.

Please also follow me on social media and feel free to connect.

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/perrycckingauthor/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/pjcsoccer?lang=en

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/pezzaz_street_soccer?igshid=1i4um98w3ez5n

https://instagram.com/perrycocking?igshid=c5rv9etzc6ld

 

Extra Time: Interview with Global Soccer Education (Part 1) - Individual Player Development

In this episode I am interviewed by Jason Blake from the Global Soccer Education podcast.

We discuss players I’ve worked with including the player being dubbed as the next English wonderkid, Charlie Webster, and Champions League/Premier League winners, Adam Lallana and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. We talk about Street soccer and the differences between individual development and team coaching.

This episode is in two parts so be sure to catch up with part 2.

Small podcasts like ourselves only survive by getting reviews, subscriptions and being shared. So if you’ve been kind enough to listen please could I ask you to extend that kindness by at least leaving a review and subscribing. Sharing would be a massive bonus! I really appreciate your support.

Please also follow me on social media and feel free to connect.

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/pjcsoccer?lang=en

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/pezzaz_street_soccer?igshid=1i4um98w3ez5n

https://instagram.com/perrycocking?igshid=c5rv9etzc6ld

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pezzazfootballacademy/

 

#15 Online Coaching Sessions and Remote Learning

In this episode Geoff and I are joined by former Southampton FC coach, Paul Matthews, who now heads up the younger age groups at Pezzaz Street Soccer. 

We discuss all things to do with online coaching sessions and remote learning for children. We discuss the benefits, how sessions are delivered, why you should definitely get your children involved and how during the lockdown period, players actually came back much better than before!

This episode is sponsored by the Pezzaz SkillTech Scheme - The Online Training Programme for Kids. Link below.

https://pezzazstreetsoccer.com/sessions/skilltech-scheme

Extra Time - Andy Reid Interview Part 2 (Notts Forest U23s and Rep of Ireland U18s coach)

Part 2 of our interview with former Premier League and Republic of Ireland player Andy Reid.

 

We decided to publish the whole of part 2 rather than split it into more parts. Although rather long is got some great stuff in there and my most enjoyable yet. There were far too many questions to list! Sit back and enjoy...

 

Please leave us a nice 5 star review and subscribe. It really does help to get our podcast heard further afield and supports voluntary broadcasts. If you'd like to get in touch then please contact Perry at perry@pezzazstreetsoccer.com Don't forget to check out all our other episodes! Thanks for listening. 

Extra Time - Andy Reid Interview Part 1 (Notts Forest U23s and Rep of Ireland U18s coach)

In this 10'000 download celebratory episode (Part 1) I chat to former Premier League & Republic of Ireland International, Andy Reid, about his playing career, coaching, character and helping develop players and people. Loads of golden advice for coaches, parents and players!

 

Reidy has been a long time friend after we worked together at Charlton Athletic. The questions we had on paper are listed below but there were so many more thrown in along the way! We decided we needed to do a part 2 as we chatted so much and the signal started breaking up towards the end. Some of the children at Pezzaz Street Soccer sent in questions and there will be more in part 2. 

 

Part 1

 

1. (Start) I often talk about football being about special moments. I tell the children and parents not to focus on winning things and getting scouted but to enjoy the journey. Likewise at professional level, you don’t need to have won lots of things to have had a good career and even an enjoyable one. What special moments stick out for you...?

 

2. (27:25) When did you start playing football and when did you know you wanted to be a professional? (From Archie Harkin)

 

3. (29:00) I’d like to talk to you about street football. I read an Irish article about how important, and popular, street football was in Dublin with different streets playing against each other. Even Connor McGregor has talked about it in the past. Modern buzz terms like bio banding, self determination learning, constraints led coaching and ball contact time (to name but a few) were all found in those games naturally. Do you think the lack of those games now has had an impact, not just in Ireland, and how do you think we can recreate that environment?  

 

4. (51:05) How did you cope with setbacks before or during your career and what did you do to overcome them? (From Antony Batt)

 

5. (102:50) How important is character, not just in the dressing room, but in terms of an individual fulfilling their potential and, is there anything in particular you can do to encourage characters to blossom?

 

6. (105:49) How would Reidy the manager/coach like to have had Reidy the player in his team?

 

7. ( 1:15:45) You talk about outcomes a lot in your roles at Nottingham Forest and Ireland your outcome is to produce players for the first team, and if you can’t, then someone else’s first team, but is there a moral responsibility to prepare them for different lives?

 

Please leave us a nice 5 star review and subscribe. It really does help to get our podcast heard further afield and supports voluntary broadcasts. If you'd like to get in touch then please contact Perry at perry@pezzazstreetsoccer.com Don't forget to check out all our other episodes! Thanks for listening. 

Extra Time: Lockdown Life (Part 2) - Interview with Sports Psychologist Betsy Tuffrey - Brighton and Hove Albion FC

In this episode (part 2) we continue our chat with sports psychologist, Betsy Tuffrey, about anxiety, helping children and home life for parents, including lots of helpful advice. The list of question and timings are below.

Part 2

 

1.     (Start) Anxiety seems to be a very big problem right now. These are unprecedented times and therefore I guess we have nothing to compare or contextualise it. The anxiety is obviously caused by the current situation but is there now a shift in anxiety of actually going back to normal? 

 

2.     (6:57) If you find yourself feeling anxious, or a family member is, are there any positive steps to take to try to help?

 

3.     (11:17) Can you always tell if you are feeling anxious? For example, can it show up in different ways like feeling tired or having strange dreams...? 

 

4.     (15:00) The big thing I keep hearing is “when we get back to normal”. Do you think it is as simple as that or will there be a period of acclimatisation to “normal” or the new “normal”...? 

 

5.     (23:00) What are the biggest lessons you have learned during this period?

 

6.     (24:33) Will the experience change the way you do things at all going forward?

 

Please leave us a nice 5 star review and subscribe. It really does help to get our podcast heard further afield and supports voluntary broadcasts. If you'd like to get in touch then please contact Perry at perry@pezzazstreetsoccer.com Don't forget to check out all our other episodes! Thanks for listening. 

Extra Time: Lockdown Life (Part 1) - Interview with Sports Psychologist Betsy Tuffrey - Brighton and Hove Albion FC

In this episode (part 1) we welcome back Betsy Tuffrey who is a Sports Psychologist at Brighton & Hove Albion FC. Betsy talks about life at the club during lockdown and answers questions about home life for parents including lots of helpful advice. The list of question and timings are below.

Part 1

1. (Start) Can you tell us a bit about your background and what Sports Psychology is?

 

2. (4:55) How are your club coping with things since lockdown?

 

3. (8:29) What have been your biggest challenges?

 

4. (9:55) Have there been any difficult situations?

 

5. (11:54) Have you had many positives come out of the situation?

 

6. (13:25) How have you managed to keep positive and what is your advice to others?

 

7. (20:50) My lad has shown a lack of interest in football and sports activities. Should I be worried?

 

8. (26:24) My lad suddenly broke down in tears the other day and said he was depressed. He’s only 10. Is there any advice you can give parents to help with children that might be struggling?

 

9. (30:06) I’ve noticed the engagement and enthusiasm has significantly dropped for online challenges since the start. It makes me worry that there’s a lot of inactive children out there now. Do you have any advice for helping motivate the children and to motivate the motivators?

 

Please leave us a nice review and subscribe. If you'd like to get in touch then please contact Perry at perry@pezzazstreetsoccer.com Don't forget to check out all our other episodes! Thanks for listening. 

Extra Time - Skill Acquisition and Technical Development Interview - West Canada Soccer Academy

During quarantine I was asked if I would do a video interview for the West Canada Soccer Academy as part of their Player Development Master Class Series as a technical development expert.

 

I was interviewed by my old friend Jason Blake who I worked with at Southampton FC. Jason went onto work at AFC Bournemouth, Burnley and now is Technical Director at the West Canada Soccer Academy and Red Deer Dome. 

 

The audio was taken for this Extra Time (The Inner Huddle) podcast and all 15 questions with timings are below. I hope you enjoy it.

 

1. (2:40) We know each other from when we both worked at Southampton FC. Can you just give us a little insight to who you are and your journey that’s got you to where you are today from a coaching point of view, and what’s really got yourself a good knowledge and experience around technical development?

 

2. (5:50) When we were young we used to play in the street. What does street soccer look like now for young players?

 

3. (8:39) With your background of working in the pre academy at Southampton FC, how young does that go down to initially?

 

4. (9:03) With players of that age what would you be encouraging the players to be doing in the foundation phase and pre academy?

 

5. (11:03) At the risk of name dropping, I want to mention some of the players I know you’ve done some work with, 3 England Internationals, Adam Lallana, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain & Jay Rodriguez.  With Adam Lallana in mind, how would talk about the basics of what Adam did with you and how does it trace back to work you would do with a 6 or 7 year old?

 

6. (14:41) How important is technical competence to help you through the challenges of maybe not being a physical size yet when you’re playing against people that are perhaps a bit bigger?

 

7. (18:32) Can we pick your brains about futsal and also what would the main reason be to use futsal balls as opposed to normal soccer balls?

 

8. (21: 25) If grass roots clubs are training in a school gym or sports hall, is that sufficient to do futsal training?

 

9. (23:04) Is there a difference in the type of ball used for futsal and does it make a difference when learning new skills and practicing them?

 

10. (24:30) How appropriate is technical training across all age groups, is it equally important regardless of what age they re up to adults?

 

11. (27:53) With regards to pitch sizes, we have a wide range of size within the FIFA regulations for 7 v 7 pitches. What are the benefits or challenges of being on the smaller side of the regulations? 

 

12. (32:41) For the younger players in our region, how should they think about their technical development depending on the position they play in?

 

13. (37:30) A three part question: When is it ok to teach children tricks with the ball? Once we learn those new tricks how can we be confident enough to do them in games? How can we as players train during quarantine time so that we can keep getting better?

 

14. (40:46) For the older players that might be a central defender should they be given a different type of technical work during this period?

 

15. (45:37) Summary for coaches, parents and players and key messages to take away.

 

If you have any further questions then please contact me at perry@pezzazstreetsoccer.com or visit www.pezzazstreetsoccer.com

#14 (Part 2) Football Training During Lockdown Part 2

Welcome to part 2 of our lockdown training special. Lockdown has been challenging for parents, children and coaches. Trying to balance home schooling, work, exercise and keeping up with training and hobbies. In this episode we continue to discuss individual football training practices at home.

PART 2

6. (0.00) What are your thoughts on the people that are very scathing of these at home isolated individual practices?

7. (14:24) Has this time had any positives? For example, time to reflect & revaluate.

8. (24:18) What’s been your favourite challenge that you’ve seen?

9. (28:02) How can I motivate my child to do more practice?

10. (34:12) Will this period change the way you coach going forward?

 

If you'd like any more information about Pezzaz Street Soccer or the SkillTech Scheme please email Perry perry@pezzazstreetsoccer.com or visit www.pezzazstreetsoccer.com