We started CoachFives because we’ve watched a lot of kids fall out of sport.
Not because they weren’t good enough. Because no one made them feel like they were getting better.
The insight that started everything.
CoachFives was built on one observation: the most important factor in whether a young player stays in the game isn’t their ability. It’s whether they feel a genuine connection with their coach — and whether that coach sees them as an individual, not just a member of the squad.
That’s not a new idea. Good coaches have always known it. The problem is that for grassroots youth sport — where most coaches are volunteers, where rosters run to 15 players, where sessions happen twice a week and life happens the rest of the time — it’s very hard to do consistently.
We built CoachFives to make it easier. Not more impressive. Not more data-rich. Just easier — for the coach who’s doing their best with limited time and a genuine desire to help every kid on their team.
Kids are not pros. They don’t need pro tools.
When we look at what the sports technology market has built for youth sport, we see products designed for professional clubs, scaled down and reskinned. Video analysis. Heat maps. Running metrics. Sprint speeds.
None of that is what a nine-year-old needs. And none of it is what a volunteer coach on a Saturday morning can actually use.
The question that drives everything at CoachFives is simple: Are your players getting better?
Not: Are you winning more games? Not: What does the data show? Just: Is every kid on your team developing, feeling seen, and going home with something worth working on?
That’s the measure of a great youth season.
That’s what CoachFives is built to help coaches deliver.
A (long) lifetime in football/soccer, in Europe and the USA, Mike is currently Network Development Lead for Coerver Coaching, global leaders in the teaching of ball mastery, 1v1 and small group play.
Mike grew up in England then went on to study psychology at Harvard, where he was the captain of the Varsity soccer team. The soccer pathway continued at pro semi-pro levels, followed, then a career in youth sports development - first as the Global Football(soccer) Director for Special Olympics International, and then 10 years as CEO for the 52 countries of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia.
Mike is the founder of BIGIDEASPORTS SL based in Barcelona (and needless to say, a big fan of Barca FC.)
Alf is the former president and current Technical Director and board member of Jamaica Plain Youth Soccer, Boston, where he works to develop high-quality experiences accessible to all children.
An entrepreneur and technologist at heart, Alf founded and served as CEO of GivingData for nearly 15 years, building a market-leading platform that empowers philanthropic organizations to maximize their social impact. His 25+ year career spans the intersection of technology and nonprofit work, giving him unique insights into how digital tools can serve community needs.
Off of the football pitch, Alf launched CoachCraft and the CoachCraft Podcast, where he draws out real-world wisdom from top coaches, giving listeners actionable insights to improve their coaching.
James is the founder of thefingerprint.co.uk, a multi award winning creative design agency that specialises in brand identity and digital solutions for ambitious organizations.
With a strong understanding of design, user experience, and community-focused projects, James is known for bringing both creative and strategic insight into his collaborations.
James has a long-standing commitment to grassroots football through his work as a youth coach, a club executive member, and as a member of Board of Directors at Stenhousemuir FC, Scottish League 1 Team, where he helps shape the club’s future both on and off the pitch.
James’s experience at various levels of the game gives him a deep understanding of the practical needs and challenges coaches face at the grassroots level.
CoachFives works for everyone.
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