top of page
  • Linkedin
  • Twitter
Search

AI for Grassroots Football: Save Time, Reduce Errors, Coach Better

The Future of Grassroots Football

Artificial Intelligence ( AI) represents a revolutionary tool for grassroots football, helping coaches and clubs work smarter, not harder. Whether you’re managing a team, organizing events, or brainstorming new strategies, AI has the potential to elevate your game while giving you more time to do what you love – coach.

Want to be part of this transformation? Fill out One of our surveys below and secure your free guide to unlock the power of AI in grassroots football


In reality, Artificial Intelligence ( AI) has been a part of our daily lives for quite some time. Whether through search engines, predictive text, or sat-nav systems, when AI works seamlessly, we often just call it “engineering.”

But how can AI specifically help you in grassroots football?


AI in Grassroots Football: A Game-Changer

At Sports Path , we’ve been researching how AI is being applied to grassroots football worldwide. In 2025, we will release a free guide titled “How AI Can Support Grassroots Football” to share our findings.

From our research, most respondents highlight these core benefits of using AI:

  • Saves time: Automates repetitive tasks, giving you more time to focus on coaching.

  • Cost-effective: AI tools are often free or affordable, reducing operational costs.

  • Error reduction: Streamlines processes, minimizing mistakes.

  • Boosts creativity: Assists with brainstorming and research.

To receive a free copy of the guide, complete one of these quick surveys:

  • How you are currently using AI here

  • The One Task you would AI to help you with here

Why You Don’t Need Special Skills to Use AI

Contrary to common misconceptions, you don’t need advanced skills to use AI. If you can type questions into Google, you can use tools like ChatGPT – and both are free!

In fact, players and parents in your club are likely already using AI tools such as ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, or specialized apps like Coach Frank  

Australian coaching expert Wayne Goldsmith adds:

“AI is coming fast into your world – it’s the greatest benefit to coaches we’ve ever seen. Imagine creating workouts, practice plans, and programs in seconds instead of hours. It frees you to focus on what matters most: coaching!”

Real-Life Applications of AI in Grassroots Football

Here’s how AI is already transforming grassroots football around the world:

  1. Research: Tools like Arena  help find jobs in sports.

  2. Brainstorming: Apps like Sports Sparks  enhance creativity for sessions.

  3. Planning: Anjal Ammandan in India developed FEN2  using AI for tournament organization

  4. Administration: Alvaro Phan in Long Island, New York, uses ChatGPT to manage player data for Score FC 

  5. Management: Predictive analytics and training programs, like those run by Project 94 in the USA.

  6. Promotion: James Styles in the UK uses AI to grow his coaching business Connection  and refine promotional messages

  7. Translation: ChatGPT offers faster, more reliable translations than traditional apps.

  8. Communication: Sam Siew in Malaysia leverages Napkin.ai to turn text into visuals for his app Courtside 

  9. Evaluation: James Dobbin integrates AI into assessments for time-efficient evaluations for his company Clevernation  in Australia

  10. Talent Identification: Tools like AIScout  (used by Premier League and MLS clubs) identify promising players at the grassroots level.

  11. Education: Platforms like Coach Frank (New Zealand) and UProSoccer.ca (Canada) use AI for home learning and training apps. See a ' Cheat Sheet' below on how you may use AI to support Education !


PS : I wrote this blog as a first draft and asked ChatGPT to improve it !



ree



 
 
 

Recent Posts

See All

Comments

The AI Football Coach Educator Pathway

​

A structured route for Coach Educators and Coach Developers  in Clubs and Associations  to create their own AI Personal Assistants — maximising personalised learning for coaches.
​

Why this matters

Coach educators Coach Developers  in Clubs and Associations face a unique challenge: supporting large numbers of coaches with limited time, resources, and capacity. Many want to offer personalised development but are constrained by admin, scheduling, and the scale of their work.

The AI Football Coach Educator Pathway provides a practical, hands-on journey that enables coach educators to design, build, and apply their own AI assistants. These assistants are not generic tools — they are personalised, context-specific, and directly aligned to the needs of their coaches. They are 'Conversational Assistants'  bespoke created specifically improve Knowledge but also improve Understanding and actually enhance practical coaching skills like communication , reflection and analysis 

By the end of the Pathway, participants will be able to:

  • Create and operate their own Chatbot based on their chosen content

  • Develop individualised learning programmes for their coaches

  • Provide round-the-clock support, resources, and feedback

  • Use AI to extend their impact far beyond what’s possible with traditional methods

​

Development of an AI Assistant to help coaches is more- much more - than the provision of an app with a range of games and practices. It provides the coach with their own Personal Assistant with whom they can engage in personal conversations which allows the AI Assistant to develop a profile of the coach's strengths and weaknesses. The coach can ask questions of the Assistant which they may be reluctant or embarrassed to ask their Coach Educator or Coach Developer. 

Common reservations — and how the Pathway addresses them

We understand that coach educators may feel cautious about using AI tools. The Pathway tackles these concerns directly:

  • Reliability of responses: Participants learn how to train, test, and refine their AI assistants to ensure accuracy and dependability.

  • Hallucinations (AI “making things up”): The Pathway teaches prompt design, precision instructions, and critical evaluation to ensure trustworthy and context-appropriate outputs.

  • Loss of control: AI enhances — not replaces — your expertise. You’ll learn how to use it as an extension of your professional judgement, helping you deliver more personalised support with full oversight.

By confronting these concerns openly, the Pathway helps coach educators integrate AI with confidence and clarity.

The impact on coach educators’ work

We have recently  completed a Pilot Pathway which included the following coach educators:

  • Derek Broadley – Technical Director, Charleston Soccer Club (USA); former Technical Director, Bermuda FA; Academy Director, Crystal Palace FC:

“ I was not really aware of AI and how it could be used prior to the course. That being said, I got inspired very quickly and once I got a bot up and running it got infectious. I loved testing it with the information I was training it with.  My goal is to have our BOTs fully functional for the 26/27 season for our club. Working with the other students is definitely a plus and seeing what they do via the communication process you set up was informative and did save me time”

​

Derek has created the AI Assistants ( bots) for the full range of coaches and parents at his club , mainly to provide simple knowledge exchange and to free his time up to deal with individually with coaches 

​

​ “The course was an eye opening experience into the world of AI and pairing this with coach development and education. Robin sets up an informative and engaging course and I would fully recommend it for those working with coaches across all age groups and levels.The most valuable part was the step by step guide provided for the candidates to follow to explore ChatGPT, create the bot and the ongoing process of feeding the bot and testing it to continue to refine it. The outcome has been excellent and with my job change I'll be exploring adding this concept to the coaches with my new club"

​​

Chris developed the AI Assistant at his club principally to provide quick simple information for the large number of volunteer coaches at his previous Community Club 

​

​     

"I valued the exposure to the use of AI as a development tool and the option of additional support (calls/emails) as required " 

​

As an example of the use of AI in critical thinking .......The Arsenal Youth Academy has a philosophy of developing young players who take responsibility for their own learning and thus similarly want to support the development of coaches who take ownership  for their own development.Matthew's initial work with AI has therefore been on improving the critical thinking and reflection skills of the coaches for which he is responsible 

​

  • Ray Atteveld – Former English Premier League and Eredivisie player; experienced coach in the Netherlands, Ukraine, and Israel; currently completing his role as Technical Director of the FA of Kazakhstan:

“The course was both interesting and challenging. I always looked forward to our meetings — your positive approach kept us motivated. You pushed us to try new things, and I’m grateful for the eye-opening insights you provided.”

​​​

  • Professor Masao Nakayama:   Professor, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan  and  also a National Coach at the JFA National Training Centre  ​

 

" I would like to tell anyone who seems interested about the new course that it  was important to experience the process of creating my own bot through these sessions.I learned the basics of creating my own bot during this session and new functions were introduced , which allowed me to try new things.I really do believe that AI has the potential to help football coaches and those who teach them." 

​

Other examples of AI Personal Assistants we have developed include :

      with UEFA and FIFA disability football expert Jeff Davis )

      Willi Hink,the former Director of Amateur Football for the German FA ( DFB)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​

​

The value of the Pathway

  • Personalised learning at scale – Coach educators can design bespoke learning journeys for each coach. This can mean increased access for those with limited time or money to attend courses or deeper ongoing assistance with coaches already committed to coaching

  • Enhanced efficiency – By automating repetitive tasks educators free up more time to focus on high-value, human interactions with coaches.

  • Better engagement and retention – Coaches receive support that feels tailored and relevant to their own journey. This not only increases motivation but also reduces dropout rates.

  • Professional credibility – Coach educators become pioneers in integrating AI into sport, equipping themselves with future-proof skills that are increasingly in demand worldwide.

Why a “Pathway” — not a “Course”?

Unlike typical short courses, this is a guided, vocational experience combining:

  • Structured learning and feedback

  • Self Paced Progression 

  • Collaborative, shared practice with other coach educators developing their AI Personal Assistants 

  • Ongoing community support

  • Real-world application in live coach education contexts

The focus is on applied learning, professional growth, and tangible results.

Who is it for?

The Pathway is designed for football leaders who want to enhance coach education and development within their clubs, academies, or national associations — including those who aim to:

  • Create tailored learning programmes for individual coaches

  • Support remote learners with limited access to in-person courses

  • Provide CPD and continuing education opportunities

The November 2025 Cohort is limited to the first 12 participants to enrol .

Outcomes

By completing the Pathway, participants will:

  • Identify Needs: Analyse specific coaching needs that AI can address

  • Build Tools: Create customised AI assistants for their own organisations

  • Test & Evaluate: Ensure tools are safe, reliable, and trusted

  • Apply Methodology: Use AI to improve knowledge, deepen understanding, and enhance communication, planning, and evaluation skills

  • Develop Prompts: Build a tailored “Prompt Pack” for your coaching context

  • Produce Resources: Generate customised digital content (presentations, e-books, guides)

  • Create AI Agents: Monitor and optimise your bots

  • Leverage Media: Integrate data, voice, and gamification to engage coaches

  • Extend Use: Apply AI tools for players (13+) and parents

  • Strategise: Develop a plan to embed AI in your education programmes

  • Monetise: Turn your AI creations into professional assets

  • Guide Others: Produce a personal guide to help others develop their own assistants

Delivery Format

The Pathway combines live workshops, guided practice, and ongoing community support over six months (approx. two hours per week):

  • Pre-Course Induction: “The AI Coach Educator’s Starter Kit”

  • Workshops: A Minimum of 6× 60-minute live sessions via Zoom (recorded for replay)

    • Cohort 1- First session: Friday, November 7th, 4pm UK time

    • Cohort 1- Second session: Friday, November 14th, 4pm UK time

  • Study Guides: 10 resources covering key AI skills for coach educators

  • Check-ins: 3 one-to-one consultations

  • Tools: Primarily ChatGPT and Google NotebookLM — these are the most used public facing AI tools but  the principles outlined in the Pathway will apply across all major AI platforms. In using Chat GPT it will be necessary to have a Cha tGPT Plus account for the duration of the Pathway  (£19/month) This would also include access to  the video creator Sora 

  • Support:

    • Continuous email guidance

    • Drop-in “AI surgery” sessions

    • Reflection prompts & worksheets

    • Peer learning community

Participants will also develop a Personal Portfolio to capture their progress and guide future use of AI in coach education.

All successful participants receive a Certificate of Completion.

Why Sports Path?

With decades of experience delivering digital learning in football worldwide, Sports Path brings credibility, expertise, and proven results.

Our projects include:

  • Founding FA Learning Ltd and the first English FA online coach education courses

  • Partnering on the LMA School of Football and the UEFA Coaches Extranet 

  • Publishing Soccer Coaching and the Web (Part 1 and Part 2) 

The AI Football Coach Educator Pathway builds on this foundation — combining innovation with experience.

​

We will be showcasing the use of Google Notebook LM as part of the Pathway and we have created a Google Notebook LM here regarding the Pathway 

Enrolment and Cost

Cohort 1 start: November 2025
Limited to 12 participants

Programme cost:

  • £299 (GBP)

  • $399 (USD)

  • €340 (EUR)

(20% early enrolment discount applies before October 31st — regular price $499 USD)

To enrol, follow the link HERE  for the secure WIX Payment System ( All Credit, Debit Cards and PayPal accepted ) 

For any questions, please contact:
📧 Robin Russell (Programme Director)

& George Hockey (Programme Coordinator)
📩 sportspathteam@gmail.com

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​​

​

​

​

bottom of page