"Why does my child keep getting pushed off the ball?"
- James Donnelly
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
This is one of those questions parents ask with a mix of frustration and worry, and honestly, I completely get it.
It’s tough watching your child do everything right with the ball at their feet, only to lose it the second someone applies real pressure.
And let’s be honest, it’s not just about losing possession.
It’s the look on their face afterward.
That little drop in confidence.
That “why can’t I hold them off?” feeling.
It’s horrible to see, especially when you know they’ve got the ability.
So let’s break down why it happens, and more importantly, what you can actually do to help them.
1. Their technique isn’t the problem
Most parents think this is a technical issue. It almost never is.
Your child knows what they want to do.
They can dribble, they can control the ball, they can turn…but their body isn’t strong or stable enough to support that technique once someone gets tight to them.
When a player doesn’t have the strength to hold their position, their technique falls apart under pressure.
It’s not skill they’re missing.
It’s support.
2. Youth football is massively influenced by physical maturity
Kids don’t grow at the same pace.
Some hit their growth spurt early and suddenly look like mini adults.
Others are still waiting.
A player who’s bigger and further along physically can win challenges even with poor technique. They simply have more strength, weight, and leverage to work with.
It feels unfair, but it’s normal.
And here’s the part most parents don’t realise...
Late developers often end up better athletes AND players if they train properly during this stage.
3. Football strength is different from “gym strength”
A child doesn’t need big muscles to be strong on the ball.
What they need is:
- Hip strength to stay centred when someone leans in
- Core strength to stay upright during turns
- Single-leg strength so they don’t wobble when planting
- Balance so they can hold their shape through contact
- The confidence of knowing that they can hold someone off
That’s what keeps a player on their feet.
Not big arms.
Not heavy weights.
Developing highly functional football strength is very different from bodybuilding.
4. When a child feels weak, they play like they’re under pressure even when they’re not
This is something you really see with players who get knocked off the ball a lot.
They start to feel rushed.
They lack calmness on the ball.
They avoid receiving with their back to goal.
They panic when someone gets close.
It’s not simply a mindset problem.
It’s that their body doesn’t feel reliable enough to protect them.
Once they feel physically stronger, everything changes.
They think clearer.
They hold the ball longer.
They stop rushing decisions.
Confidence and strength are connected more than most people think.
5. With the right training, this changes faster than you’d expect
When a player starts working on strength, stability, and balance properly, you see progress quickly.
They stop getting pushed off the ball.
They keep possession under pressure.
They shield better.
They recover after contact instead of falling over.
And their whole game suddenly looks more controlled.
This is where their technique finally starts to shine, because it’s no longer being knocked out of them every time they try to use it.
If you want to help them right now, focus on this...
The fastest improvements come from:
- Single-leg and upper body strength
- Hip and glute strength
- Core control
- Balanced receiving position
- Practicing shielding and tight-area pressure work
These aren’t “nice extras”, they’re the foundations of staying on the ball under pressure.
And the earlier they build those foundations, the quicker the physical gap closes.
James
Matchfit Football
P.S. When you're ready, here's 3 ways I can help:
If your child needs help building the strength, balance, and confidence to actually hold the ball under pressure instead of getting pushed off it, the Elite Football Athlete programme provides the complete solution they need.
It implements everything outlined in this blog article.
Removes all the guesswork surrounding what to feed a youth footballer for both football performance and general health.
If you haven't grabbed the paperback or hardback copy of the book yet, you can get it on Amazon by clicking the link above.
