Episode 125 - How AI can be used in football coaching, a conversation with Kevin Middleton
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “Episode 125 - How AI can be used in football coaching, a conversation with Kevin Middleton” inside PodZeus.
Kevin Middleton, a grassroots football coach with 16 years of experience and a background in IT, has built Football GPT — a suite of AI-powered tools designed to save time and enhance coaching at all levels. What began as a personal solution to overwhelming workloads has evolved into a platform used by over 4,000 coaches, offering animated session plans, match analysis, technical skill assessment, and even a 'second brain' for coaching reflections. Kevin argues that AI isn't a replacement for coaching craft, but a force multiplier — especially for time-pressed grassroots coaches. The real value lies not in automation, but in the human-in-the-loop: using AI to generate 80% of a session plan, then applying critical thinking, context, and experience to refine it. He emphasizes that tools like Football GPT are only as good as the coach’s judgment, and that the future of coaching isn’t about replacing human insight, but amplifying it through intelligent, accessible technology. The episode reveals a seismic shift in how coaches access knowledge. Where once coaches relied on scattered Google searches or generic session plans, Football GPT now delivers context-aware, verified, and personalized content — all powered by a curated data layer from FA sources and user profiles. From animating scribbled session notes to analyzing player technique via skeleton overlays, the platform demonstrates how AI can democratize elite-level tools.
AI tools like Football GPT can generate 80% of a session plan in under 20 seconds, saving grassroots coaches hours of planning time.
Coaches must provide detailed context (player age, formation, experience level) for AI to deliver relevant, accurate outputs — 'garbage in, garbage out'.
Football GPT uses a curated data layer from official sources (FA, UEFA) to avoid unreliable internet noise, ensuring higher-quality responses.
AI doesn’t replace coaching — it amplifies it. The 20% of refinement, adaptation, and human judgment remains the coach’s core responsibility.
Tools like the technique analyzer and match event timestamping allow coaches to assess player performance and game patterns with precision, once reserved for elite clubs.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introducing Kevin Middleton and the AI Coaching Revolution
Scott and Ray welcome Kevin Middleton, a grassroots coach and IT professional, to discuss his journey into AI and the creation of Football GPT. They set the stage by reflecting on how AI has quietly transformed coaching over the past year, with Kevin sharing his personal motivation: the need to save time and reduce stress while supporting 1,800 coaches on his community platform.
Why Early AI Tools Failed and How Football GPT Fixed It
“ChatGPT's data layer is the whole internet. Unless you're really defined with that prompt, you might get something back that's not a right fit for your environment, your players, your stage as a coach and the age and stage of your players.”
From Session Planning to the Coach’s Digital Workbench
“It's taken me to 80% in 20 seconds, as I said, and that's the massive win here. We've saved so much time, we've saved so much pain and hopefully we've saved maybe damaging our players by running the wrong session with them.”
The Human Element: Why AI Can’t Replace Coaching Craft
“No one knows their players and their environment better than the coach. And that element of critical thinking... that needs to come into play.”
Demo: How Football GPT Works in Practice
“It's actually saying, all right, Riverside FC, let's get your under-12s sharp. It's referencing my qualification level. I also forgot I filled in my team profile, so it's referencing my players by name here.”
“It's taken me to 80% in 20 seconds, as I said, and that's the massive win here. We've saved so much time, we've saved so much pain and hopefully we've saved maybe damaging our players by running the wrong session with them.”
“no one knows their players and their environment better than the coach. And that element of critical thinking, which we may be losing as”
“I don't think we'll ever get to a position where we will never need that. So you'll be able to build your own apps, but they'll just be for you.”
Hosts
Guest
Kevin Middleton
person
Football GPT
product
Scott
person
Ray
person
ChatGPT
product
Claude
product
X (formerly Twitter)
other
English FA
organization
Perplexity
product
Nottingham Forest
organization
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “Episode 125 - How AI can be used in football coaching, a conversation with Kevin Middleton” inside PodZeus.
Start discovering podcast insights today
Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.
No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime