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Why the smallest player on the pitch sometimes has the biggest future. Over the last few weeks I've shared a couple of stories on social media about Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. To my surprise, Kiernan himself even took the time to respond. It reminded me just how privileged I was during my 15 years at Leicester City to watch hundreds of young players develop. Some fulfilled their potential. Many didn't. But every now and then, a player comes along whose journey teaches lessons for

Examples Of The Detail Inside An SB Scouting Match Report Below Positive Example “15:55 mins — Great turn and drive forward. Sharp turn / change of direction helped break away from opponents before delivering a strong forward pass. Positive vertical pass created attacking momentum." Positive Example “39:45 mins — spotted danger well and good well timed tackle with weaker foot - excellent reaction when got fouled after the whistle fantastic attitude - How did you manage your

An SB Scouting report is not magic. Modern youth soccer in the USA and Canada has become incredibly expensive. Families now regularly spend thousands every year on: ⚽ elite club fees ⚽ tournaments ⚽ showcases ⚽ private academies ⚽ 1-to-1 coaching ⚽ strength & conditioning ⚽ recruiting services ⚽ travel costs And most parents do it for the right reasons. They simply want to help their child improve and maximise opportunities. But one thing many families still don’t have is: 👉

In modern football, development is no longer viewed through a one-size-fits-all approach. The demands placed on a goalkeeper are completely different from those expected of a winger. A defensive midfielder sees the game differently to a striker. Full-backs are now expected to attack like wide players and defend like centre-backs. Every position requires its own technical qualities, physical profile, tactical understanding, and psychological strengths. That’s why position-spec

For a lot of young players, becoming a goalkeeper doesn’t start with some big plan. Usually, it happens in simple ways. Maybe they volunteer because nobody else wants to go in goal. Maybe they make one brilliant save during training and suddenly love the feeling. Sometimes it’s just the excitement of diving around while everyone else avoids the position altogether. But over time, goalkeeping becomes far more than simply trying to stop shots. At junior and grassroots level, be

This is one of the most common questions parents now ask in modern youth football. And importantly: 👉 it is usually nobody’s fault. Most parents are doing everything they can to help their child. Grassroots coaches are working hard. Private coaches are trying to improve players. Academies are providing extra training. Parents are investing huge amounts of time, money, and energy. Everybody involved usually has good intentions. The problem is often much simpler than people th

Resilience is one of those words you hear constantly on the touchline. Coaches, scouts, and parents use it to describe that "X-factor" in a player, but until recently, it’s always been a bit vague. We know it when we see it, but we haven't always been able to pin it down. A recent study from Nottingham Trent University has changed that by looking at academy players—from the U9s just starting out to the U23s on the brink of professional careers. Lead researcher Ben Ashdown and

If you spend a Saturday morning at a local park watching youth football, you will see a familiar sight: one or two children who look like they belong in a higher age group. They are taller, faster, and stronger than everyone else. In the world of youth sports, these are the "early bloomers". Naturally, these are the kids who get the most cheers from the sidelines and the most attention from coaches. It feels logical—they are the ones winning the games right now. However, a gr

Youth football has changed massively over the last 10–15 years. Children now grow up surrounded by: ⚽ academy trials ⚽ highlight videos ⚽ social media clips ⚽ private coaching ⚽ rankings ⚽ scholarships ⚽ professional pathways For many young players, football stops being “just a game” at a very early age. And while ambition, hard work, and dreams are all positive things, there is an important question adults sometimes forget to ask: 👉 What happens when football becomes a chil

Watching young players develop their skills and passion for football is truly inspiring. But as they grow, it becomes crucial to evaluate their talent effectively to help them progress. Youth football talent evaluation in the UK is not just about spotting raw ability; it’s about understanding potential, attitude, and areas for improvement. Over the years, I’ve learned that a thoughtful, well-rounded approach to evaluation can make all the difference in a young player’s journe

For many young footballers around the world, England represents the dream. ⚽ Premier League football ⚽ Elite academies ⚽ Full-time coaching ⚽ World-class facilities ⚽ Exposure to professional clubs Families from countries such as Australia, Canada, the USA, South Africa, Nigeria, India, and many others often look at the UK as the best environment for long-term player development. But what most families do not realise is this: 👉 Moving to England for academy football is one o

Watching your child chase their football dreams is a thrilling experience. But when the topic of scouting comes up, it can quickly feel overwhelming. How do you support your child without adding pressure? What should you know about the scouting process? And how can you help your child stand out in a sea of talented players? I’ve been there, and I want to share some practical advice to help you navigate this journey with confidence and care. Understanding the Football Scouting

Leicester’s best-kept secret: Bill Wall, the club’s talent-spotter in chief Feb. 4, 2022 If you have been to Leicestershire and watched a junior football game, there is a good chance you will have seen Bill Wall on the sidelines, watching on intently as he searches for the next generation of homegrown stars to make it through to the Leicester City first team, without realising who he is. To the junior club coaches across the county, he is an ever-present figure. To

The Hidden Lessons on the Sidelines: Why We Love This Game for Our Kids When you drop your child off at the field, it might look like a lot of chaotic running and occasional kicking. You might see a group of kids chasing a ball like a swarm of bees, or perhaps yours is the one happily distracted by a dandelion in the grass. While it’s easy to focus on the score or who is the fastest runner, there is something much deeper happening beneath the surface. For us, this game is a