Guides
Coaching guides from a grassroots coach
Short, practical, written by someone who stands on a wet touchline on Sunday mornings. No theory you can't use this week.
FA FutureFit formats by age group, 2026/27
Which format your age group plays from this season: 3v3, 5v5, 7v7, 9v9 or 11v11, what changes when you move up, and how to plan a squad for it.
Read the guideHow to pick a fair team without upsetting the parents
A coach's way of picking the team that you can explain on the touchline: ratings, positions, availability, and why writing it down beats doing it in your head.
Read the guideHow to make training teams that are actually balanced
Why the 1-2-1-2 pick fails, what balanced really means (ability and positions), and a method that takes fifteen seconds with the free tool.
Read the guide