About Kickstart Coaching
Kickstart Coaching provides a safe and challenging learning environment focused on Youth Football. Since 2014, our team of committed staff and coaches have created an exciting and engaging football experience for your child.
With Kickstart Academy, we offer a comprehensive football training program for talented youngsters. The forward-thinking professional coaches here at Kickstart Coaching combine the development of each individual player with a fun, positive environment for our players to thrive. Backed by our comprehensive syllabus with clear, attainable objectives.
For younger players, we offer Saturday Mini Kicks which provide a pathway to grassroots clubs for U6s. Our after-school clubs enable your child to join us for training straight after school, making it even easier to join us.
For players who wish to receive coaching outside of school terms, Kickstart Camps are designed for youth players to enjoy a team game with our expert coaches while also learning new skills in the holidays.
For parties, our birthday packages are the perfect complement to make the day extra special. Our Kickstart coaches will provide fun football-themed party games that will work on individual skills, attacking, defending, and of course, scoring lots of goals.
As you can see, Kickstart Coaching offers a wide range of services and events for budding footballers to bring them to the next level. Check out our full list of services via the Services section on our website or by contacting our team today!
Meet the Team
JACK
Role:
Managing Director – Founder
Supports:
Manchester City
Fav player:
Yaya Toure
Tell us about your coaching journey, how did you start and where are you now?
My journey started in 2010 when I joined Merrist Wood College to study football coaching. After completing my studies and coaching qualifications, I gained experience working with various companies and football clubs. Kickstart was then born in 2014 and started with just one after school football club. Fast forward to today, through hard work and dedication, and undoubtedly the fantastic team of staff we’ve managed to build, Kickstart has a thriving football academy, schools programme, and offers many services to the local community.
What is the most rewarding aspect of coaching with Kickstart?
Being able to offer a great environment for our players to develop. We pride ourselves on creating an environment in which players can have access to great coaching, learn new things, and most importantly have fun.
What are the most important values for you as a coach and role model?
As coaches we must be positive, to create the ultimate learning environment. It’s vital to encourage a good attitude and effort, and to regularly challenge our players individually to maximise learning and engagement.
My main values are integrity, respect, and organisation.
MATT
Role:
General Manager
Supports:
Yeovil & Man Utd
Fav player:
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Tell us about your coaching journey, how did you start and where are you now??
Having had a love of football from a young age and just finished school. I applied to Merrist Wood College to complete my Football Coaching Level 1 & 2. After college I went on to complete my Goalkeeping, Futsal and FA Youth Awards. I am now General Manager at Kickstart Coaching where my main roles are overseeing the day to day operations of our schools programme, holiday camps and Mini Kicks programme.
What is the most rewarding aspect of coaching with Kickstart?
Having the ability to watch and help develop children with their passion for football. Helping them grow and improve as footballers and to help them have fun and enjoy the sport we all love. Also working with a great group of coaches each day, this allows me to grow as a person and as a leader.
What are the most important values for you as a coach and a role model?
- Being reliable & professional
- Being positive
- Having fun and enjoying our passion of football
- Ensuring children gain / learn something from every session
CHARLIE
Role:
Kickstart Academy Manager
Supports:
Manchester United
Fav player:
Paolo Maldini
Tell us about your coaching journey, how did you start and where are you now?
My coaching journey began in 2016, since then I have gained a lot of experience of various age groups and abilities, from Under 6 all the way up to senior football. Managing Eastbourne Town Women in step 5 of the football pyramid is a personal achievement that I am proud of. Having completed my UEFA B in 2019 and finishing my University Degree in 2020, I have now taken on the role as Academy Manager with Kickstart. I coordinate the weekly programme, manage the team of coaches and players. I am also the team manager for our KSA player pathway squads at Godalming Town Football Club, running the U13 and U18 age groups.
What is the most rewarding aspect of coaching with Kickstart?
Easily the most rewarding aspect of coaching with Kickstart is the players enjoyment during the session, watching them learn and develop their skills is incredible. Players that leave the session with a smile on their face is key, football is supposed to be enjoyable and to be able to facilitate that is something that I and the rest of the Kickstart coaching team take great pride in.
What are the most important values for you as a coach and a role model??
My values revolve around enjoyment, development and respect. The enjoyment aspect will come through by designing sessions which are enjoyable to participate in. Learning is more likely to occur if the players are engaged and having fun. My method for development is through problem solving, as the coach I like to pose tasks and problems to the players to see if they can figure out how to get around them.
VINNIE
Role:
Lead Coach
Supports:
Liverpool
Fav player:
Steven Gerrard
Tell us about your coaching journey, how did you start and where are you now?
Being coached under Kickstart for Godalming Town U18’s made me realise it was something I would love to do. I was lucky enough to be offered a job in the Summer of 2021 and I have loved it ever since. From assisting other coaches in our holiday camps, I am now leading sessions within the academy and working towards various coaching qualifications.
What is the most rewarding aspect of coaching with Kickstart?
The most rewarding aspect of coaching with Kickstart is watching the children develop and gain confidence throughout their football journey as well as the enjoyment they get out of it, as I believe fun and enjoyment comes first when coaching. Children are more inclined to listen and learn when they are having a great time.
What are the most important values for you as a coach and a role model?
- Enjoyment
- Positive reinforcement
- Constructive feedback
- Ensuring something is developed or learnt from every session
RITCHIE
Role:
Lead Coach
Supports:
Manchester United
Fav player:
Wayne Rooney
Tell us about your coaching journey, how did you start and where are you now?
My Kickstart journey started when I was in Year 11. For work experience I spent the week with Kickstart. I thoroughly enjoyed my week which turned into a gradual process of moving through the company. Having been an assistant on Saturday mornings to now being a Lead Coach. I have achieved my FA Level 1 which has allowed me to build the foundations to grow and now work towards the FA Level 2 qualification and many more.
What is the most rewarding aspect of coaching with Kickstart?
The most rewarding aspect of coaching is seeing the development over time. This is very rewarding when this happens, to the player and myself. The knowledge that you’re building the future generation of footballers in a high quality environment and knowing the success our players will have, is the best feeling for a football coach.
What are the most important values for you as a coach and a role model?
- High Energy
- Positive environment
- Motivation
OLLIE
Role:
Lead Coach
Supports:
Bournemouth
Fav player:
Iker Casillas
Tell us about your coaching journey, where did it begin and where are you now?
My coaching journey began in 2019 helping run a small goalkeeper coaching session before reigniting it in Summer 2022 when I was offered an opportunity to help at the Kickstart Holiday Camps. Having finished college and knowing that I wanted to follow a career path involving sport, this was the perfect opportunity for me. Since then, I have moved from a more assistant role, to now being a lead coach in the academy and doing a lot of work in schools around the local area.
What is the most rewarding aspect of coaching with kickstart?
The most rewarding part of coaching with Kickstart definitely has to be the development of the players. We all know how much time and dedication they put into improving themselves as footballers and seeing that sense of joy when their hard work finally pays off is always a brilliant thing to see.
What are the most important values for you as a coach and a role model?
First and foremost, would have to be enjoyment; if the session isn’t enjoyable then players aren’t going to want to take anything away from the session. Secondly would be looking to create challenges to help development and learning. Skills and ideas are best learnt through constant practice and trial and error, so letting players try to work out their own solutions is a key idea to me. Finally, would be development; no matter how small players may think it is, as long as they are able to take something positive away from a session that is a successful session in my eyes.
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