Football on the Brain at the Greater Game Conference

Football on the Brain Project recently attended The Greater Game conference at St George’s Park, organised by England Football (The FA). The two-day meeting (6th and 7th June) provided training, resources and networking opportunities for grassroots coaches, in particular those from “Flagship Clubs” from across England. It featured interactive workshops, panel discussions with experts, Q&A’s with England Players, and a football festival (featuring our very own Holly Bridge and Megan Groombridge).  

England Football’s initiative to use the power of football to improve the health and wellbeing of young people across the nation targets the 12-16 age group. The event programme focused on the four core pillars of the Greater Game:

• Move Well: Increasing physical activity and improving athletic foundations. 

• Eat Well: Providing nutrition and fuelling advice (often supported by M&S Food). 

• Sleep Well: Emphasizing the importance of rest for growth, mental health, and performance. 

• Think Well: Building emotional regulation, mental resilience, and coping strategies. 

As we know, the brain controls everything we think, feel and do, so neuroscience is linked to all aspects of The Greater Game. England Football invited the Football on the Brain team to be involved in a number of ways: 

• Running an exhibition space where coaches could try out activities and resources to engage young people in finding out how their brains are involved in football (Professor Saad Jbabdi, Megan Groombridge and Dr Catherine Wheatley); 

• Delivering a “Think Well” workshop on adolescent brain development, patterns of negative thinking, and how coaches can create psychologically safe environments for young players (Professor Holly Bridge and Louise Aukland). 

• Delivering a “Sleep Well” talk and expert panel on sleep and neuroplasticity in football (Professor Russell Foster and Professor Heidi Johansen-Berg). 

In the Think Well session I learnt how the brain (mind) can react to different situations
- FotB Exhibit Visitor (coach)

The organisation of the conference was impressive and the audience of attentive, engaged and motivated coaches made the weekend unforgettable. The audience attention and participation in the 'Think Well' and 'Sleep Well' sessions delivered by the University of Oxford. We also had the pleasure of meeting many individuals as they participated in our Football on the Brain activities designed to illustrate the brain's ability to adapt ('neuroplasticity') and the detrimental effects of 'cognitive load' and 'multitasking' on performance. We very much look forward to continuing to work with many of them through our budding research programmes.  

 
Finally, having the opportunity to meet some England Legends and play football at St George's Park was particularly special for our football loving FotB team!  

I would like to know what research there is for girls grassroots football
- FotB Exhibit Visitor (coach)