How to create fun, safe and welcoming coaching sessions with Andy Somers | S7 Ep5

2026-08-19

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A session that’s fun, safe and welcoming is one that ensures players not only want to come back for more every week, but also continue to develop.And in this episode, Andy Somers, senior manager for grassroots coach development, shares practical advice on planning and delivering sessions that are fun, safe and welcoming for every player.From helping children feel excited to attend sessions, to adapting practices and responding positively to mistakes, Andy explains how even the smallest actions can have a lasting impact.Whether you’re new to coac...

A session that’s fun, safe and welcoming is one that ensures players not only want to come back for more every week, but also continue to develop.

And in this episode, Andy Somers, senior manager for grassroots coach development, shares practical advice on planning and delivering sessions that are fun, safe and welcoming for every player.

From helping children feel excited to attend sessions, to adapting practices and responding positively to mistakes, Andy explains how even the smallest actions can have a lasting impact.

Whether you’re new to coaching or have years of experience, this episode is full of practical ideas to help you create an environment where players feel confident and motivated to keep coming back.

Covered in this episode:

0:00 – Intro.
1:08 – Andy's biggest top tip for coaches.
2:30 – Andy's coaching journey.
6:36 – Early challenges coaches face.
8:28 – Advice for new coaches.
11:46 – What a fun, safe and welcoming session means.
13:00 – How to ensure kids are excited for training.
15:02 – Behaviour and making time for your players.
18:07 – Brilliant basics for welcoming players, including those who arrive late.
23:40 – Adjusting sessions to meet players' needs.
27:44 – Getting to know your players.
30:28 – Planning practices that combine fun, learning and development.
34:13 – Practice design that keeps players engaged.
38:17 – A session example that captured players' imaginations.
42:09 – Adapting sessions to keep them fresh and build learning.
47:08 – Responding to mistakes to build player confidence.
51:52 – One thing every coach should know.
53:20 – A fun practice idea you can use.

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Do you have any coaching questions you’d like answers to? Or perhaps you’re facing a coaching challenge that you’d like help with? Simply head over to our England Football Community forum (https://community.thefa.com/) and post them there. We can then put them to our guests in future episodes to get their advice!

Already listened to this episode or the previous seasons of Coachcast? We’d love to hear from you! Pass on your feedback by contacting us via Coachcast@thefa.com.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Webinar - https://learn.englandfootball.com/ongoing-learning/Grassroots-Webinars/2627/design-and-deliver-sessions-that-are-safe-fun-and-inclusive

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Email - Coachcast@thefa.com

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