Choosing a football coach for your child is less about celebrity playing CV and more about coaching craft. The best 1-to-1 coach for an eight-year-old is not the same person as the best coach for a fifteen-year-old chasing an academy trial.
Start with what you actually want to fix
Before you enquire, be honest about the goal. Is your player being released and needs to rebuild confidence? Are they in a school team and want a competitive edge? Are they a keeper who never gets specific work? Every coach's answer to "yes I can help with that" is meaningless without them naming what they'd actually do in session one.
Qualifications that matter
- FA Level 2 (UEFA C) as a working baseline for 1-to-1 coaching
- Enhanced DBS check — non-negotiable for any coach working with under-18s
- Current safeguarding certificate (renewed every three years)
- Public liability insurance covering 1-to-1 sessions
On CoachSpot every published coach has all four verified. The blue tick isn't cosmetic — it means we've seen the paperwork.
Red flags
- 'Great player, will pass it on' — playing history alone isn't coaching
- Vague about safeguarding or DBS status
- One-size-fits-all session plans regardless of age or position
- No footage or written feedback after sessions
Cost and cadence
Private 1-to-1 football coaching in the UK typically runs £35–£60 per hour. Do a block of five or six sessions, not one-offs — technique changes need repetition, and both you and the coach need feedback loops. Ask about a discounted block on your first booking.