Mohamed Coach

🇸🇴 Hundreds of Somali spectators cheer as they watch two teams of young women play football in a Mogadishu stadium -- an unimaginable scene in the conservative, conflict-hit country just a few years ago. ➡️ u.afp.com/Sb3u

Most children don’t play football on a pitch. They play it through noise. “Pass it.” “Get rid.” “Don’t lose it.” “Boot it.” “Kick it long.” “Man on.” “Tackle.” “Run.” “Mark up.” “Stop messing.” “Focus.” All at once, from everywhere. Coach ⇢ Parent ⇢ Sideline. Here’s the uncomfortable part, every voice thinks they’re helping, but when everything is urgent, nothing is clear. When every action is dictated, nothing is learned. So what does the child do? ◍ Stop deciding. ◍ Start reacting. ◍ Play safe. ◍ Get frustrated Not due to lack of ability, but because the environment interferes with their thinking and decision-making in the game. We say we want confident players who make good decisions, then build environments that reward obedience. That’s the contradiction and it doesn’t show up in the short-term. It shows up years later when players stop trying things they haven’t been told to do or worse quit the game. If you stripped the sideline back to encouragement, positivity and freedom. What would your players actually do?

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You won’t win anything with kids? Try telling Max Dowman. Such confidence, composure, touch and vision. Such balance. Such a talent. Just turned 16, creates Arsenal’s first, then scores unforgettable second gliding from his own half. Doing his GCSEs, passing his PL tests. #ARSEVE

🚨🔴 Declan Rice admitted he can’t wrap his head around Max Dowman returning to school just days after playing with the Arsenal first team 😳: "I said to Max on the way back from pre-season tour, I couldn’t get my head around it that he was going back to school. He FaceTimed the other day and he had his school uniform on, and I was like 'Mate, you’ve just played in the Premier League a week ago, and now you’re walking back through the school gates.'"

GOOSEBUMPS. Forget your club allegiances - the 16 year old, who is about to start his GCSEs in less than 2 months, is now the youngest goalscorer in PL history. That's an unreal headline that everyone should be celebrating. 👏🏽

He was just 17 when he made his debut for West Ham, a natural goalscorer with a huge future ahead of him. In 2011, during routine drug testing at the U-17 World Cup, doctors discovered he had testicular cancer. Dylan Tombides kept training, kept smiling and kept fighting. He continued to wear the West Ham shirt with pride, even while undergoing chemotherapy. His family later said he never complained, not once. In April 2014, Dylan passed away at just 20 years old. West Ham retired his number 38 shirt, and every year since, his foundation has helped raise awareness and save lives. He never got to score his first Premier League goal, but he left behind something far greater. Courage, strength and a smile that inspired everyone around him.

🇸🇴@Abdisharif01 started as Somalia beat Bahrain 2-1 in an International Friendly today! It was a first win for the Ocean Stars since 2019! Brilliant stuff, Abdi❤️ 📸 - @SomaliAthlete

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Kieron is an incredible youth developer - one of the best in the country to learn from. Proof is in the pudding when it comes to the talent coming out of Hale End. It's no accident.

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I've enjoyed my time coaching in the USA for the past week. Ready to return for the new season and school year. Let's go!

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Day 1 done at our USA football camps with the club. ⚽️

Our @Lionesses lifted the @WEURO2025 trophy at Buckingham Palace in front of 65,000 people 🏆 #UEFAWomensEuro #Euros2025 #Lionesses #England #LionessesParade

OHHHHHHH YES

We all love Sarina Wiegman. Bringing it home in style! 👏

What. A. Night. 👏🏽❤️

Nice way to end the 2024/25 season. The boys were exceptional and deserved that win.