Blog

YouTube stars The Grimwade Family have launched their own children's football coaching franchise with We Make Footballers. Here's why they joined.

Can the beautiful game survive the rise of the metaverse? We look at what new technology could mean for how children play and watch football.

What to look for when choosing a youth football academy: coaching quality, group sizes, safeguarding and a pathway that suits your child.

Our franchise owners share their advice for anyone thinking about starting a children's football coaching franchise, from first steps to growth.

Why regular water breaks matter in youth football, how dehydration affects young players and how coaches can build hydration into every session.

How good football coaching improves a child's performance, from technique and confidence to decision-making, and how WMF coaches approach it.

The growing range of careers for women in football, from coaching to the boardroom, and how the game is opening up across England.

Why We Make Footballers keeps a ratio of 10 children per coach, and how smaller groups mean more touches, more feedback and faster progress.

How We Make Footballers coaches use the FA Four Corner Model, covering technical, physical, psychological and social development, in every session.

Practice makes permanent, but repetition can be dull for children. Practical ways coaches keep repeated drills fun, varied and effective.

How WMF coaches teach young players that success has to be earned, building effort, resilience and a winning mindset from an early age.

Which country is the best in the world to play football in? We weigh up facilities, coaching, culture and pathways across the top nations.

Why fear of failure has held English football back, and how coaches can help young players treat mistakes as a normal part of learning.

Good and bad habits both stick. Why making good practice permanent is a core WMF principle and what it means for coaching children.

Our pick of the 10 most influential football managers of all time, and the ideas each of them changed about how the game is played and coached.

How visualisation helps footballers perform under pressure, with simple techniques coaches can use to help young players picture success.

The qualities that make a good grassroots football coach, beyond technical knowledge: patience, communication, organisation and care.

The key differences between coaching children and coaching adults, from attention spans and language to how players learn and stay motivated.

How to plan and run a good football coaching session for children: clear objectives, organisation, progression and plenty of time on the ball.

The role of a football coach goes well beyond drills: session planning, analysis, feedback and, for WMF franchise owners, running a business.

The FA's new coaching pathway explained, including the Introduction to Football Coaching and UEFA C Licence that replaced FA Levels 1 and 2.

Why do football coaches coach? From helping players reach their potential to shaping young lives, the motivations behind the role.

How lockdown affected children's football in the UK, from lost sessions to activity levels, and what the return to training looked like.

A coach's guide to the three player personas we see most often at We Make Footballers, and how to get the best out of each type of child.

An overview of football coaching techniques and how the methods a coach chooses shape a young player's development and enjoyment of the game.

What England DNA actually means: the FA's playing and coaching philosophy for national teams, and how it filters down to grassroots football.

How to get certified to coach children's football: the qualifications, safeguarding checks and first steps you need to take.

Where to find good football coaching resources, from books and podcasts to courses and online drill libraries, to keep improving as a coach.

How children recover after football, why rest and nutrition still matter for young players, and simple recovery habits coaches can encourage.

How to find a football coaching job once you're qualified, from grassroots clubs and academies to running your own coaching business.

Volunteers are the backbone of grassroots football. The personal and career benefits of volunteering at your local club.

The wide range of jobs in football beyond playing, from coaching and analysis to media, medicine and business roles.

How to become a football coach in Europe: UEFA licences, routes into clubs and what it takes to coach in some of the world's top football nations.

You don't need to be a top player to work in football. The routes into a football career, from coaching to the wider industry.

How to get a job at a professional football club: the roles available, the qualifications that help and how to stand out when you apply.

How machine learning and technology could change football training, from automated feedback on technique to smarter player development.

Fear stops many people starting their own business. How to overcome it, and why a franchise can reduce the risk of going it alone.

Practical ways to recruit players for a youth football team, from local promotion and schools to word of mouth and free trial sessions.

The skills scouts build transfer well. Other football roles you can take on alongside a scouting career, including coaching.

Why England is a strong place to run a football coaching business, with high participation and strong demand for quality children's coaching.

Why experience matters in football coaching, how new coaches can build it quickly and how it shapes the way you work with young players.

Meet Matthew Ansah, our 17th franchise owner, who brings grassroots and academy coaching experience to We Make Footballers in Croydon.

Five skills every great football coach needs, from communication and planning to patience and the ability to keep sessions fun.

What the FA Level 2 coaching course involved, what it taught and how it fitted into the FA coaching pathway for developing coaches.

How to go full-time in football coaching: building experience and qualifications, and options from club roles to running your own business.

Weighing up a football coaching career against the security of an office job: lifestyle, income, fulfilment and how to make the move.

Why football coaching can make you a happier person, from purpose and community to working outdoors in a sport you love.

Why coaching qualifications matter: better sessions, more credibility with parents and clubs, and a clearer path through your coaching career.

What the FA Level 1 coaching course covered and why it was the first step on the FA coaching pathway for new coaches.

The qualifications you need to become a football coach in England, including FA courses, safeguarding, first aid and DBS checks.

Four practical tips to help you grow as a football coach and as a business owner, whether you're just starting out or already established.

How to promote a football coaching business locally and online, from social media and schools to partnerships and word of mouth.

Why many entrepreneurs choose a franchise over starting from scratch: a proven model, training, brand recognition and ongoing support.

A franchise sales role at We Make Footballers, helping driven people build careers in football through our franchise model.

How Academy Manager Ryan Mitchell became the We Make Footballers franchise owner for Richmond and Ham, and what he has learned since.

The advantages and trade-offs of buying into a franchise, and what to consider before investing in one.

How much coaching experience you need to start your own football coaching business, and how the right support can fill the gaps.

How playing football can support a child's education, from concentration and teamwork to confidence and wellbeing in the classroom.

Why coaching football for a living is so rewarding: respect, fulfilment and a working life built around a sport you love.

Former Arsenal coach Chris Mason joins We Make Footballers as our 10th franchise owner, launching in Sussex with a first venue in Worthing.

Coach David on launching the We Make Footballers Essex franchise with a talent ID event, and what he has learned as a franchise owner.

A look at the 2018 International London Cup youth tournament, which brought top European academy sides to London.

Our coaches take on AG Football Academy, and what the match showed about experience, teamwork and the WMF coaching culture.

How We Make Footballers grew as a franchise between 2015 and 2017, from our first franchisees to seven franchises in operation.

A short video on how Lionel Messi changed football forever, and what young players and coaches can learn from his game.

A professional Arsenal player joins We Make Footballers, highlighting our links with the professional game and pathways for young players.

Is it ever OK to stop supporting the team you grew up with? A light-hearted look at football loyalty and why fans stay for life.

Tottenham Ladies player Lucia joins our Finchley academy as a guest coach, giving young players a session with a professional.

How a former Chelsea footballer is supporting victims of the Grenfell Tower fire, and why community matters in football.

How a decade of FA investment in coaching and player development is changing English football from grassroots to the national team.

We Make Footballers launches its new franchise website, a big step in sharing our vision for children's football coaching with more people.