Leading football coach and dad of England stars backs Play Their Way ahead of World Cup
News by UK Coaching
Nigel James, father of World Cup debutant Reece James and Lioness star Lauren James, hosted a special Play Their Way session at Nigel James Elite Coaching in Wimbledon on Monday (June 8), with the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026 just days away in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.
Monday’s session showcased the role of child-first coaching for young footballers in the talent pathway, with Nigel James instilling a philosophy of fun and enjoyment when he coached Reece and Lauren that he believes was key to their development.
Nigel James Elite Coaching, founded in 2002, works with players aged 7 to 18 and has built a reputation on a philosophy that prioritises enjoyment and the holistic development of young players.
Several of their alumni include current professional footballers, such as Coventry City star Jack Rudoni, while players also continue their sporting journeys in a number of other ways including university sports scholarships.
The Play Their Way session with a group of under 14’s boys’ and girls’ players was led by Pete Sturgess, who spent 17 years at the FA as National Foundation Phase Lead for 5–12-year-old players.
During his time at the FA, Sturgess played a key role in the England DNA project - a coaching philosophy with a focus on play and creativity which is embedded into every England age-group team including both the senior men’s and women’s teams.
Co-leading the session was Play Their Way Ambassador Tom Hartley, Foundation Phase Lead at Oxford United Women's FC, and a coach developer with British Gymnastics and UK Coaching.
From a young age, I always encouraged Reece and Lauren to enjoy their football above everything else. The Play Their Way campaign emphasises exactly that. Putting the enjoyment, rights and needs of every young player at the heart of coaching is how we produce not just better footballers but well-rounded, resilient young people.
Nigel James
Child-first coaching builds on the philosophy we embedded in the England DNA programme, but it goes further. It is not only about prioritising enjoyment. It is about embedding play, ensuring every young person’s voice is heard and supporting their individual goals.
Every child has the right to play, to be heard and to develop in their own way. That is the foundation of the Play Their Way campaign, and it is what we need coaches at every level of the game to understand and embrace.
Pete Sturgess
Child-first coaching and the Play Their Way campaign is not just about grassroots sport. It is relevant and vital at every stage of an athlete’s or footballer’s journey. By putting play, fun and enjoyment at the centre of young people's experiences, child-first coaching creates positive experiences at every level, from the local park or playing field to the talent pathway.
Phil Smith Executive Director, Sport England
The Play Their Way movement was launched in May 2023 to transform the way children and young people are coached by prioritising their rights, needs and enjoyment in a ‘child-first’ approach. The campaign is funded by Sport England and The National Lottery and is led by the 16 partner organisations that make up the Children’s Coaching Collaborative.
To learn more about the campaign, access resources and sign up to join the biggest grassroots movement to transform the way we coach our children and young people, visit www.playtheirway.org.