Right, so your child’s shown an interest in football and you’re thinking about coaching opportunities – or maybe you’ve somehow volunteered yourself to help out at training and now you’re wondering what on earth you’ve signed up for. Either way, you’re probably staring at this thinking “what equipment do I actually need and how much is this going to cost me?”
The honest truth about coaching equipment
Here’s the thing that might surprise you: you don’t need to remortgage the house to coach football effectively. The FA Coaching Team puts it perfectly when they say:
“Sometimes less can be more. Even if you just have a football and some cones, you can still deliver a fantastic activity.” – The FA Coaching Team, Coach Educators at The Football Association (2020)
That’s genuinely reassuring, isn’t it? No need to turn up looking like you’ve raided the entire Sports Direct.
What you absolutely need to get started
Let’s start with the basics that’ll get you through your first few sessions without anyone (including you) having a meltdown. A decent football is obviously essential – and I mean one that’s properly inflated and appropriate for the age group you’re coaching.
A set of cones is your next best friend. They don’t need to be fancy – those bright orange plastic ones from any sports shop will do perfectly. You’ll use these more than you think for marking out areas, creating goals, or just giving the kids something to aim for.
Training bibs are brilliant for splitting groups into teams without the inevitable arguments about who’s on whose side. Trust me, this saves more tears than you’d expect.
The kit your players actually need
Now, while you’re sorting out your coaching gear, you’ll need to know what the kids should be wearing. According to The FA’s Law 4 guidelines, basic compulsory equipment for football players includes a jersey or shirt, shorts or track suit trousers, socks, shinguards, and appropriate footwear.
The shinguards bit is particularly important – they must be made of suitable material such as rubber or plastic, provide reasonable protection, and be covered entirely by socks, according to The FA’s official rules. Don’t let this slide, even in training.
For footwear, it needs to be appropriate to the local playing conditions and surface type, which often means football boots with suitable studs or trainers. No one’s expecting you to become a boot expert overnight, but astroturf trainers for artificial surfaces and moulded studs for grass pitches will cover most situations.
Equipment that makes your life easier (but isn’t essential)
Once you’ve got the basics sorted, there are a few things that’ll make coaching more enjoyable for everyone involved. Different sized footballs can be brilliant for working with mixed age groups or adding challenges to drills.
According to The FA’s coaching guidance, equipment such as cones, different sized footballs, goals, and marked zones can be used to add challenges and structure in coaching sessions but should be used appropriately to ensure game-related outcomes. Basically, don’t go overboard just for the sake of it.
Small goals or target nets are fantastic if you can get them, but you can easily use cones or jumpers as goalposts. The kids honestly don’t mind, and it keeps things flexible.
What you definitely don’t need
Before you get carried away browsing coaching catalogues online, let me save you some money and storage space. You don’t need elaborate drill equipment, expensive training ladders, or complicated cone sets with seventeen different colours.
Most importantly, you don’t need to feel like you’re not doing it properly if your setup looks basic. The FA actively encourages coaches to use existing pitch markings and minimal equipment effectively to simulate match situations and develop tactical awareness.
The budget reality
Let’s talk numbers because I know you’re wondering. To get properly started with basic coaching equipment, you’re looking at roughly £50-80 for a decent football, set of cones, pack of training bibs, and maybe a simple ball pump.
That’s honestly it for essentials. Everything else can be added gradually if you find you’re enjoying the coaching and want to expand your sessions.
Making it work with what you’ve got
The brilliant thing about football is its simplicity. If you’re coaching in a park and forgot half your equipment, use jumpers as goalposts, count steps instead of using cones for distances, and focus on the fundamentals.
Some of the best coaching sessions happen when you strip everything back to basics. The kids get more touches on the ball, more opportunities to make decisions, and honestly, they usually have more fun.
Getting started without the stress
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all this, start with just a ball and some cones. Run a session, see how it goes, and gradually add equipment as you figure out what works for your group.
Most local clubs will have some equipment you can borrow while you’re finding your feet. Don’t be afraid to ask – everyone’s been where you are now, and the football community is generally pretty supportive of new coaches.
The most important equipment you need as a football coach? Patience, enthusiasm, and a sense of humour. Everything else you can pick up along the way.