The Who behind CoachFIves
The Team
Mike Smith
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.)
Mike’s short wisdom: Through the eyes of a young player the coach is twelve feet tall. So, you will need to kneel a lot.
Alf Gracombe
Alf is the former president and current Technical Director and board member of Jamaica Plain Youth Soccer, Bostn, 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.
Alf's short wisdom: The most powerful technology in youth sports isn't in your hand—it's in the connections you build between coach and player.
James Alexander
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.
James short wisdom: Remember it is their game, not you reliving your youth, so just let them play.
Building Confidence and Connection
One Conversation at a Time.
Why We Created CoachFives
Our simple goal is to make personal player feedback easier and more impactful. To build a better sport experience for young players and their coaches. And to ensure a positive sports experience that continues in some way for a lifetime.
Our motivation for creating CoachFives is rooted in a lifelong love of the game — from the thrill we felt as kids playing football to the satisfaction and camaraderie we’ve carried into adulthood.
Today, that same excitement comes from watching young players fall in love with the game — chasing the ball, dreaming big, imagining themselves scoring that last-minute winner, the volley into the top corner.
We wanted to give something back to the game that’s given us so much — by helping shape a better experience for the 70 million+ boys and girls worldwide who play club football during their formative ages of 7 to 13.
So, we set out to understand what really matters in youth football.
One insight stood out: the game-changing importance of a positive player–coach connection. Supportive, constructive feedback isn’t just helpful — it’s transformative.
Yet there’s a gap. While there are plenty of platforms for team management and training drills — there are no tools designed specifically to make player feedback easy, consistent, and impactful.
That’s why we built CoachFives — a simple, smart app that helps coaches give better feedback, build stronger relationships with their players, and create a more positive football experience for everyone involved.