Aug 20, 2026 · 31 min · 10 segments
Why do young players ignore instructions, forget skills they've mastered in training or simply want to play instead of listening? In this episode, hosts Ben and Mike, are joined by Laura…
Over the next six weeks, we're dropping a special six-part series in partnership with Little Kickers, completely dedicated to making you the best coach you can be to create a better experience for kids on the pitch.
To do this right, we are joined by our expert from Stronger Youth Brands, Laura Mellor-Backman, Director of Curriculum and Training and an Early Childhood Learning Specialist.
Today we're breaking down why play-centric learning beats rigid instruction every single time and how it drives cognitive development and emotional safety.
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Over the next six weeks, we're dropping a special six-part series in partnership with Little Kickers, completely dedicated to making you the best coach you can be to create a better experience for kids on the pitch.
To do this right, we are joined by our expert from Stronger Youth Brands, Laura Mellor-Backman, Director of Curriculum and Training and an Early Childhood Learning Specialist.
Today we're breaking down why play-centric learning beats rigid instruction every single time and how it drives cognitive development and emotional safety.
