Clocks go back in a little over two weeks, the pitches are properly heavy, and most of us are deep enough into the season to know which of our players hate Tuesday nights. Here is what was worth your time this week.
What went up on Trac
Last Friday's piece was how to pick a captain. The short version: do not let it become a vote the kids can see. The week before that was how to run a parents' meeting, which is still the quickest fix I know for touchline trouble. This morning a piece on handling a losing run goes live, and it is one for any coach whose team has gone four or five games without a win.
If the losing run is the thing keeping you up, remember that kids are rarely as gloomy about it as the adults on the touchline. Keep training fun, keep the team talk short, and judge the week on whether players tried the things you asked for, not on the scoreline. Results come back when confidence does.
Play Safe Weekend 2026
On 2 October the FA announced that English football is coming together for Play Safe Weekend 2026. I have only seen the headline and a short teaser, not the full guidance, so I will not pretend to tell you what it asks of clubs. What I would do is simple. Check you know who your club welfare officer is, check that every coach and helper on the touchline has done what your league requires, and tell parents where to go if they have a worry. None of that needs a campaign weekend to justify it.
The FA's Origins series
The FA site has been running its Origins features on England players and where they started out. Harry Kane's went up on 6 October and Alex Scott's on 3 October. I have read the headlines and teasers rather than the full pieces, but the idea is a good one to borrow. Ask your own squad who they think will still be playing at 30, then remind them that nearly every name on that list once stood on a wet pitch in a borrowed bib.
One for the diary
The clocks go back on Sunday 25 October. If your training runs past 5pm, sort the light situation this month, not on the first pitch-black Tuesday. Check the floodlights, check whether your hired pitch has any, and have a plan B for the hall.
One thing to do this weekend
Pick one player who has had a quiet few weeks and give them one specific bit of praise on Sunday. Not 'well done'. Something like 'that pass in the second half opened the whole left side'. It costs nothing and it works.
That is the lot for this week. If there is something you want covered, or you want a hand with the site, drop me a line through contact.