Play on: how video games are changing the way we coach youth football

The pioneer of 'the video game approach to coaching' explains why kids are being taught to transfer skills from Fifa to the pitch

The youth of yesterday will vividly remember playing football in the street: concrete-grazed knees, picking up the ball to get out of the way of oncoming traffic, sprinting home at half-time for dinner. But football and the environment it is played in are different for today's kids.

The majority of the next generation of professional footballers hone their talents at grassroots clubs against a backdrop of chatter about Pokemon GO, Fifa Ultimate Team and Fortnite dance celebrations. For young people, video games aren't just a hobby but a part of life. With that in mind, perhaps encouraging children to engage in sport using terminology and processes they're already familiar with may be a good way to improve both participation levels and sporting excellence.