Football Coaching For Adults: Getting Started

Football coaching usually gets associated as something that's 'just for children' and that assumption can potentially keep plenty of adults from either reaching out and getting some additional support - or even picking the game back up when the interest never really left.

Perhaps you played regularly when you were younger before work, family life or other commitments gradually took priority, or maybe you have always enjoyed football but never felt confident enough to join a team or take that next step?

For others, it may simply be a case of wanting to improve becoming more comfortable on the ball, developing particular technical skills, building confidence or understanding the game in greater depth e.g. tactical elements or game rules.

Whatever your reason, adult football coaching (applicable to both men and women) can be a great way to reconnect with the game while working towards goals that are relevant to you (without feeling as though you have to be at a certain level or fit into a particular mould).

So if the idea of getting some proper one to one football coaching as an adult has crossed your mind more than once, It's worth exploring what that could look like, why more adults are choosing to invest in their own development, and what getting started actually involves...

Why Football Coaching Gets Seen As 'Just A Kids' Activity'

Most people's first experience of football coaching happens at school or through a junior club, so it's easy to see why the sport gets tied to childhood almost by default...

Grassroots setups are built heavily around youth teams and academies, and adult football usually means a Sunday league game, a weekly training session or a kickabout with friends rather than structured, one-to-one football coaching.

Even when adult teams do have regular training, it is often just once a week, with sessions understandably designed around the needs of the group as a whole rather than the individual player.

That can make it difficult for personalised football coaching to really take effect - particularly when there are different ability levels, positions and development needs within the same squad.

There are also the practical realities of adult life to consider... Work, family commitments, holidays, weather and other responsibilities etc. can all mean that training sessions are occasionally moved, deferred or cancelled (which can make consistent development more difficult depending on the setup).

Let me be clear - none of this means that group football training isn't valuable... but it does highlight why some adults may benefit from having additional one to one football coaching that is built specifically around them and the areas that they want to improve.

As a result, that gap isn't really about interest fading with age - It's more that the coaching pathway for adults was never signposted as clearly as it is for children, and so the option quietly falls out of view even for people who could get real value from it.

For an adult who wants to improve a particular part of their game, rebuild confidence after time away, or simply make better use of the limited time they have available, tailored one to one football coaching can provide an opportunity to focus on their development without having to rely entirely on the structure and schedule of a team environment.

What's Actually Driving More Adults To One-To-One Football Coaching?

The adults booking sessions come to it for a genuine mix of reasons...

Some are picking football back up after years away and want a bit of structure before jumping into a team again.

Others have been playing five/seven/nine or 11-a-side for years and are curious what focused work on a specific skill (like their weaker foot or their positioning), could do for their game.

A good number come through the door because of what football does for their mental health as much as their fitness - especially if match nerves or a dip in confidence have been holding them back from playing more (for more information on this topic, please visit by blog post "The Mental Health Benefits Of Football"

None of these reasons need justifying, and I feel it's important for me to state that wanting to get better at something you enjoy is reason enough on its own...

Every Fitness Level And Football Background Is Welcome

One thing I hear often from adults considering coaching for the first time when they call or message me is a worry about not being fit enough or not having played to any serious level... but honestly, neither of those things matter!

All of my one to one football sessions get built around the person in front of me (not a fixed standard everyone's expected to meet) so someone returning after a decade away and someone playing regularly already are both working from a starting point that makes sense for them - there's no benchmark to clear before you're allowed to ask for help with your game...

One-to-one football coaching covers the same wide range for adults that it does for younger players - just with different aims attached.

Coaching That Meets You Where You Are

Every session gets shaped around who's actually in front of me - and that looks different for every adult who gets in touch.

Some people are complete beginners who have never had a formal session in their life.

Others are women easing back into the game after time away, or men picking football back up later than they expected to.

My football coaching at Pitch & Prep isn't limited either - with SEN and disability-inclusive sessions available for anyone who needs a different approach, built around what actually works for them.

Sports nutrition often comes into these conversations too, especially for adults getting back into regular training and wanting some proper guidance on how/what to eat/drink pre, during or post matches for optimal energy and recovery.

What Football Coaching for Adults Sessions Actually Look Like

A typical adult session is built around whatever you actually want to work on.

That might be your first touch, your reading of the game, position, tactical discussions about your role or getting match-sharp again after some time away from the game.

Sessions usually start with a conversation about what's brought you to football coaching and what you're hoping to get from it, and the plan gets built from there rather than pulled from any generic template.

Because it's one-to-one, there's no waiting around for a full squad and no drills pitched at a level that doesn't suit you.

Sessions run across Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, New Milton and the wider Dorset area, and sit comfortably alongside your existing team football sessions (if applicable) rather than replacing it.

Fitting Football Back Into A Busy Adult Life

Adult life doesn't leave a lot of empty evenings (for me, it's mornings, afternoons, evenings and weekends these days)! and that's usually the real barrier rather than it being motivation.

Fixed training nights that clash with work or family commitments are one of the quickest ways an adult ends up drifting away from football altogether.

One-to-one football coaching sidesteps a lot of that because sessions get booked around your schedule rather than any club fixture list.

Some players prefer an early morning slot before work, others a weekend session when childcare (as an example) allows for it.

The format bends around your week instead of asking you to bend around it.

Taking The First Step

Getting started is simpler than most adults expect... really, I'm very friendly, accommodating and understanding! There's no trial to pass and no minimum standard to meet before booking a first session.

All it takes is getting in touch, saying a bit about where you're at with football and what you'd like to work on - and going from there!

For frequently asked questions, please visit the FAQs page here - or reach out with any questions about what coaching for adults involves. You can (if you're ready) also book a session directly online today!