The Ref Called Me Out for How I Coach My Son

In this episode, hosts Ben and Mike kick off with Grassroots Hero or Bizzy Rascal to call out the latest over-the-top sideline behaviours. The hosts quickly dive into match day realities, debating the frustrating costs of insisting on playing out from the back. Ben opens up about a challenging touchline moment where a referee called out his aggressive shouting towards his son, sparking a vulnerable reflection on dad-coach pressures, tone of voice and avoiding treating young players like personal projects. The pair also tackle operational headaches, contrasting the chaotic logistics of managing 3v3 formats with traditional 5v5 matches, alongside the struggle of balancing equal game time with bloated substitute benches. Finally, drawing on insightful advice from youth performance coaches and AI perspectives, Ben and Mike explore how to alleviate parental "FOMO" and ensure the post-match car ride home remains a safe space for young players. Get the Veo Go phone rig, tripod, and bag (a £50 value) for free when you sign up for £29/month using code IOKFOOTBALL. You can cancel anytime after month one and keep the gear: https://www.veo.com/product/veo-go Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/ Sign up for the newsletter here: https://www.itsonlykidsfootball.com/ TikTok:   / iokfootball   Instagram:   / iokfootball   X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball YouTube:    / @iokfootball   Facebook:   / itsonlykidsfootballpodcast   Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com