“Keep your knee over the ball!”

“Bend your leg!”

“Lock your ankle”

If you’ve ever shouted these phrases from the sideline (or heard a coach do it), this episode will change how you give instructions when coaching football or playing with your child in the garden.

We break down the powerful difference between internal vs external focus — and why telling kids how to move could actually hurt their performance.

You’ll learn:

• Why telling kids what to do with their body parts is often the wrong during youth football
• A quick fix to help kids learn football skills faster
• Practical examples of external focus cues that boost performance
• Metaphors, missions & mindset shifts for playful, purposeful coaching

Whether you're a parent, grassroots coach, or just trying to help your child fall in love with the game, the tips in the episode can really help.

Don’t forget to like, comment & subscribe for more content on child development through football.

Studies:

Influence of attentional focus distance on motor learning of skilled children - Francisco Milton Gonçalves

Pereira Júnior, Giordano Marcio Gatinho Bonuzzi

Effects of Internal, External and Preference of Attentional Focus Feedback Instructions on Learning Soccer“Head Kick” Bülent Okan Miçooğulları and Sadettin Kirazcı, Ömür Serdal Altunsöz 

The Effect of External Focus Distance on Learning Shooting for Beginners Male Soccer Players - Aiman Sarhan

A systematic review of motivational and attentional variables on children’s 2 fundamental movement skill development: The OPTIMAL theory. 3 Thomas Simpson, P. Ellison, E. Carnegie and D. Marchant

Frequent External-Focus Feedback Enhances Motor Learning - Gabriel Wulf