Watching football is something millions of children love doing.
Whether it's their favourite Premier League team, a Champions League match or an international tournament, young players spend hours watching the professionals.
They see the goals, the skills, the tackles and the celebrations.
But how often do they notice the decisions being made before those moments happen?
The movement before the pass.
The space a player creates.
The decision to pass instead of shoot.
These are the little things that can make a big difference on the pitch.
And watching football together can be a great opportunity to help your child start recognising them.
That's where Become Unplayable cards can come in.
Don't just watch the ball
Think about how most children watch football.
Their eyes naturally follow the ball.
Who's dribbling? Who's shooting? Who's going to score?
There's nothing wrong with that.
But some of the most important things happening during a match take place away from the ball.
A midfielder moving into space.
A winger making a run behind the defender.
A teammate creating a passing option.
A defender adjusting their position to stop an attack.
These are the situations that young players can begin learning to recognise.
And you don't need to be a qualified coach to help them.
Try this during the next match you watch together
Before the game starts, choose one Become Unplayable card.
For example, you might pick a scenario about finding an unmarked teammate.
Look at the card together and ask:
"What would you do here?"
Let your child explain their decision.
Then put the card down and watch the match.
Give them one simple challenge:
"See if you can spot a player finding an unmarked teammate during the game."
That's it.
No complicated instructions.
No stopping the match every five minutes.
Just one thing to look out for.
Help them notice what happens before the action
Let's say you're watching a Premier League match.
A midfielder receives the ball and plays a pass through to a teammate running into space.
Most young players will naturally focus on the pass.
But there's more to the situation.
You could ask:
"When did the player start making that run?"
Or:
"How did the midfielder know where to pass?"
Maybe the player looked over their shoulder before receiving.
Perhaps the teammate moved into space before the ball arrived.
Maybe the defender was drawn towards another player, leaving a gap.
Now your child is starting to look beyond the obvious action.
They're thinking about the decisions and movements that made it possible.
And that's a valuable habit to develop.
Use the pause button occasionally
Here's another simple idea.
When you spot an interesting situation, pause the match if you're watching a recording or replay.
Ask your child:
"What do you think happens next?"
Let them explain.
Then press play.
Did the player make the same decision?
Did something unexpected happen?
Would another option have worked?
You don't need to agree with every decision the professional makes.
In fact, that's part of the fun.
Sometimes your child might spot an alternative that could have worked just as well.
The important thing is getting them to think about the situation rather than simply watching what happens.
Connect what they watch to their own football
This is where Become Unplayable cards can help make the experience more relevant.
The scenarios encourage young players to consider situations they may face in their own matches.
So when they recognise something similar happening on television, you can ask:
"Have you ever been in that situation?"
Perhaps they've been the player making the run.
Maybe they've had the ball and needed to decide whether to pass or dribble.
Or perhaps they've been the defender trying to stop the attack.
Connecting what they watch to what they experience on the pitch can help them understand why certain decisions matter.
Rather than just admiring what professional footballers do, they're starting to explore why they do it.
Keep it fun. You're still watching football!
This is important.
Your child doesn't need a tactical analysis session every time they sit down to watch their favourite team.
Sometimes they just want to enjoy the match.
Celebrate the goals.
Complain about the referee.
Cheer when their team scores a last-minute winner.
And that's exactly how it should be.
You don't need to work through ten cards or pause every attacking move.
One card. One situation. One conversation.
That's more than enough.
The aim is to make football development feel like a natural part of something they already enjoy.
Not another lesson.
Better players learn to see more of the game
As young footballers develop, their ability to recognise situations becomes increasingly important.
Knowing how to pass is one thing.
Recognising when to pass, where to pass and why it's the best option is another.
The same applies to dribbling, shooting, defending and movement off the ball.
That's what makes football such an interesting game.
There isn't always one perfect decision.
The situation changes constantly.
And players need to learn how to recognise their options and make decisions for themselves.
That's one of the reasons we created Become Unplayable.
To encourage young footballers to look at the game differently.
To see more. Think quicker. And make better decisions on the pitch.
So next time you're watching football together, grab a Become Unplayable card before kick-off.
Choose one situation to look out for.
And see what your child notices.
You might be surprised.
Help Your Child See the Game Differently with Become Unplayable
The Become Unplayable Foundation Pack features 50 visual football scenarios designed to get young players thinking about the decisions they face during matches.
Whether you're watching football together, travelling to training or talking about their latest game, the cards give you a simple way to start conversations that develop their understanding of football.
You don't need to be a coach.
Just ask:
"What would you do?"
