Utilizing AI to Support Coach Education and Development in Grassroots Football: Sports Path Practical Guide No.2

Currently in a majority of countries the dropout rate for Grassroots Coaches is over 25% per year - meaning the life of an average Grassroots Coach is less than 4 years, We want therefore to focus - Continued Ongoing Support - for the Grassroots Coach 

We are already working on the next Sports Path Practical  AI Guide and this is devoted exclusively to embedding a Chat GPT bot into  Grassroots Coach Education and Coach Development ( available June 2025)

We want to focus on how using a Chat GPT bot - or any other bot - can reduce  Grassroots Coach drop out rates. 

This Guide will be FREE and is targeted for those curious individuals  :

• Curious Coaches committed to their own Personal Development 

• Anyone responsible for Coach Development in a Club or Association

• Club or Association Directors of Coaching 

• Technical Directors 

This Guide will include :

Content : Step by Step outline of how we trained our bot on specific content to provide  effective and reliable answers  on coaching 5-11 year olds 

Prompting : probably the most important aspect in the success of your bot 

• Advice on how best  to ‘Prompt’  & ’Provoke’ the bot to achieve the most reliable and effective answers

• Ensuring the bot provides references for answers given 

Embedding & Integrating  Chat GPT into Coach Education and Development 

• How to maximise continued, self - paced learning for your coaches 

• Helping the coach deal with real life problems which  challenge them 

• How to create and manage Personalised Learning for your Coaches

• How Coach Educators are using Chat GPT to support their Coach Education Programmes 

• How Clubs and Associations are embedding Chat GPT into Coach Education and Coach Development 

• How Coach Mentors can use Chat GPT to support their Coach Mentoring  Programmes

Becoming an AI Tutor & Mentor

• How to evaluate the interaction between your coaches and the bot 

• Strategies to maximise high accuracy in bot responses 

• Freeing up more time for observing coaches and one - to -one support

Sharing Good Practice 

- The Guide will also include access to a What’s App group of fellow Coaches who are committed to creating their own bots 

To be the first to receive this Guide just complete these simple quick tasks :

1. Go to our bot https://chatgpt.com/g/g-673f3e1c188c819193ecc09ced9f2cfe-your-grassroots-football-coach-assistant and ask it at least THREE  questions. Please be as specific as possible when asking the questions. Ask questions which matter to you. Some questions previously asked are listed below ***

2. Copy the url in the top of the bot which shows the interaction you have had with the bot and send to rrussellsportspath@gmail.com

3. As you would now be more aware of what Chat GPT can an cannot do ,complete this 3 question  survey here based on how you are or how  you would like to use Chat GPT( or any other bot ) to support Coach Education and Development. 

If you complete all 3 tasks we will then send you the Free “ Sports Path Practical Guide to using AI in Grassroots Football : Number 2- Supporting Coach Education and Development  “ when it is finalised in June 2025 

We look forward to hearing from you and helping you use AI support Coach Education and Development !

***

I asked the bot: “ What are the 5 most common questions you have been asked to date ?” 

It’s answers were as follows:

1. How do young children learn best in football?

This one comes up all the time. Coaches want to know how kids actually develop skills and understanding at these early stages. The answer always circles back to learning through play – using fun, game-based practices that match their age and stage of development. Small-sided games, simple instructions, and letting kids explore and experiment are essential.

2. How can I manage a child who displays challenging behaviour during training?

Very common – and very valid. Many coaches want help with kids who act out, distract others, or struggle to focus. The key is to see behaviour as communication, not defiance. Strategies like positive reinforcement, setting simple routines, involving the child in tasks, and engaging parents

3. How do I engage kids who seem bored, distracted, or uninterested?

This question reflects a coach who really cares. And it’s usually solved by making sessions more fun, inclusive, and imaginative. Using themes (e.g. pirates, superheroes, animals), competitive scoreboards, or role-playing elements keeps their attention high.

4. What’s the best way to communicate with parents and manage their expectations?

A key part of modern coaching! Good coaches want to build positive partnerships with parents. This means setting expectations early, keeping them informed, listening, and educating them on development over winning. It’s about collaboration, not conflict.

5. How do I plan a fun, effective training session for young players

Many new coaches worry about session design. The answer is to keep things simple: use small-sided games, include lots of touches, keep teams rotating, and build in freedom to play. Use fun themes and don’t over-coach. Just enough guidance is perfect

I then asked it What questions would you recommend you are asked to get maximum value of your knowledge ?

The bot  replied :

Love this question – it shows you're not just coaching to fill time, but to really help your players thrive. To get the maximum value out of our conversations and give your players the best possible experience, here are some powerful, purposeful questions I'd recommend you ask (or reflect on) as a grassroots coach:

🔑 PLAYER DEVELOPMENT & HOW CHILDREN LEARN

1. How do I design sessions that help kids make decisions, not just follow instructions?

   
   

   (Leads to: Game intelligence, autonomy, creativity)

2. What’s the right balance between teaching technique and letting them just play?

   
   

   (Leads to: Session structure, enjoyment, confidence-building)

3. How do I help every child improve – even if they’re shy, new, or struggling?

   
   

   (Leads to: Inclusion, differentiation, positive coaching)

4. What are the signs a child is actually learning, not just copying?

   
   

   (Leads to: Learning through play, questioning, observation tips)

🧠 COACHING MINDSET & REFLECTION

1. How can I be a calm, positive coach even when I feel frustrated or stressed?

   
   

   (Leads to: Emotional control, modelling behaviour, coach self-awareness)

2. What questions should I ask players to help them reflect and improve?

   
   

   (Leads to: Growth mindset, guided discovery, boosting engagement)

3. What does great coaching look and sound like in the Foundation Phase?

   
   

   (Leads to: Voice tone, body language, phrasing, child-led language)

⚽ GAME DESIGN & PRACTICE IDEAS

1. How can I adapt games so kids stay challenged but never overwhelmed?

   
   

   (Leads to: STEP principles, challenge vs success, flexible game rules)

2. What small-sided games are best for teaching specific skills like dribbling or passing?

   
   

   (Leads to: Scoreboard Soccer, mini-football, TGfU models)

3. How can I build game understanding in 5v5 and 7v7 without over-complicating it?

   
   

   (Leads to: Position rotation, problem-solving, guided play)

🤝 WORKING WITH PARENTS & RETENTION

1. How can I involve parents in a positive way without feeling judged?

   
   

   (Leads to: Communication tips, Respect guidelines, engagement tools)

2. How do I make sure kids want to come back next week?

   
   

   (Leads to: Enjoyment-first coaching, confidence boosts, celebration culture)