Kids Grassroots Football - The good stuff!
Discussion
What's happening people?
2 weeks until football training starts again, and we have our first game on the 10th. Going in to my second year of managing the team and we are now moving from u8 to u9 so will be taking the step up to 7-a-side. I had 8 players last season, 1 quit so we recruited 3 new boys over the summer to make a squad of 10. It's a mixed abilities squad, but I have 3-4 really quite exciting little players. I think the team have potential!
This year I will be trying to step up my own commitment, and I will be trying to get the kids to step up as well and I am looking for ideas on how to do this. This is how I am planning to improve and give the boys a better football experience.
1. Cut downtime at training. We only have 1.5h once a week and I will try and maximize this by cutting chit-chat/mindless kicking balls around and try and move on from task to task more efficiently.
2. A better pre-match routine. Ideally I'd like a 10 minute 'welcome and warmup' led by the boys themselves, then a 10 minute drill - some sort of small sided game, 1v1' etc. Needs to be competitive to get them in the right frame of mind. 5 minute speech. Play!
3. In-game coaching. Despite knowing better I find myself talking too much from the sidelines, I am far from the worst but I need to be mindful in getting the kids to think for themselves and be clever with my input.
4. Team captain for each game determined by attitude/effort at training that week.
I think particularly the 'welcome and warmup' led by the boys themselves on matchday could be a game changer. If I can get the boys take this responsibility, and each other, more seriously. Then they would surely take their responsibilities on the pitch more seriously too. No idea really how to make this work in reality..
Not looking to go drill-sergeant at them at all, my idea is to make it more fun and aid learning for all of us by bringing in a bit more structure, add bit more discipline and give the boys more opportunities to make their own decisions.
The theory bit is easy, but translating this into training and matchday is easier said then done even though I have massive help by a professional coach!
2 weeks until football training starts again, and we have our first game on the 10th. Going in to my second year of managing the team and we are now moving from u8 to u9 so will be taking the step up to 7-a-side. I had 8 players last season, 1 quit so we recruited 3 new boys over the summer to make a squad of 10. It's a mixed abilities squad, but I have 3-4 really quite exciting little players. I think the team have potential!
This year I will be trying to step up my own commitment, and I will be trying to get the kids to step up as well and I am looking for ideas on how to do this. This is how I am planning to improve and give the boys a better football experience.
1. Cut downtime at training. We only have 1.5h once a week and I will try and maximize this by cutting chit-chat/mindless kicking balls around and try and move on from task to task more efficiently.
2. A better pre-match routine. Ideally I'd like a 10 minute 'welcome and warmup' led by the boys themselves, then a 10 minute drill - some sort of small sided game, 1v1' etc. Needs to be competitive to get them in the right frame of mind. 5 minute speech. Play!
3. In-game coaching. Despite knowing better I find myself talking too much from the sidelines, I am far from the worst but I need to be mindful in getting the kids to think for themselves and be clever with my input.
4. Team captain for each game determined by attitude/effort at training that week.
I think particularly the 'welcome and warmup' led by the boys themselves on matchday could be a game changer. If I can get the boys take this responsibility, and each other, more seriously. Then they would surely take their responsibilities on the pitch more seriously too. No idea really how to make this work in reality..
Not looking to go drill-sergeant at them at all, my idea is to make it more fun and aid learning for all of us by bringing in a bit more structure, add bit more discipline and give the boys more opportunities to make their own decisions.
The theory bit is easy, but translating this into training and matchday is easier said then done even though I have massive help by a professional coach!
Good ideas
one of the problems with letting kids do a warm up is that they naturally may not want to lead or you'll end up doing the same warm ups. I use the fifa 11+ warm up for my team and it is really good. Google it. I get individuals to lead this. Good for a 10min warm up.
There can be no coaching from the sidelines unless from you or another coach. Try to make the coaching appropriate for the drill you are doing it don't eg go on about poor defending if the session is about one touch finishing.
Have a look at doing some fa coaching modules. We all expect the players to improve so why shouldn't we also strive to improve?
Good luck.
one of the problems with letting kids do a warm up is that they naturally may not want to lead or you'll end up doing the same warm ups. I use the fifa 11+ warm up for my team and it is really good. Google it. I get individuals to lead this. Good for a 10min warm up.
There can be no coaching from the sidelines unless from you or another coach. Try to make the coaching appropriate for the drill you are doing it don't eg go on about poor defending if the session is about one touch finishing.
Have a look at doing some fa coaching modules. We all expect the players to improve so why shouldn't we also strive to improve?
Good luck.
Good call on the 11+, not heard of this before. I've downloaded the manual '11+ for kids' and I will definitely use that as a template for the warm up routine.
Regarding learning more myself, you are right, and i try! I have FA level 1 coaching licence, but to go to the next level is way to time consuming unfortunately (I think it is equivalent to 6 weeks full time studying or so?). I've done loads of the online free courses on the FA licenced coach website and a couple of free courses about coaching kids on the open university.
I think I am learning alot, but then it's about putting theory into practice..
If I learnt one thing last season is that if you have a plan and stick to it everything is easier.
Regarding learning more myself, you are right, and i try! I have FA level 1 coaching licence, but to go to the next level is way to time consuming unfortunately (I think it is equivalent to 6 weeks full time studying or so?). I've done loads of the online free courses on the FA licenced coach website and a couple of free courses about coaching kids on the open university.
I think I am learning alot, but then it's about putting theory into practice..
If I learnt one thing last season is that if you have a plan and stick to it everything is easier.
Can you be too keen...?
So I have help by a professional coach who plays football at a high level and also teaches sport to kids as a day job. But the training sessions are lazy. Too much time is wasted starting the lesson, and in between different drills/exercises. My group is of mixed abilities and of mixed enthusiasm.. This environment seems to let the less keen boys mess around, and it the rubs off on the group. In my mind it should be a much snappier session that gives them no time to mess around, and hopefully the hard working mentality of some boys should rub off onto the less enthusiastic boys..
The coach is well liked among parents and the boys, that's not the issue.
A couple of parents agrees with me. Others (outside the squad i should add) suggested it is only U9 and possibly I am a bit keen. I know I am a bit keen, but I also think I am right...
So I have help by a professional coach who plays football at a high level and also teaches sport to kids as a day job. But the training sessions are lazy. Too much time is wasted starting the lesson, and in between different drills/exercises. My group is of mixed abilities and of mixed enthusiasm.. This environment seems to let the less keen boys mess around, and it the rubs off on the group. In my mind it should be a much snappier session that gives them no time to mess around, and hopefully the hard working mentality of some boys should rub off onto the less enthusiastic boys..
The coach is well liked among parents and the boys, that's not the issue.
A couple of parents agrees with me. Others (outside the squad i should add) suggested it is only U9 and possibly I am a bit keen. I know I am a bit keen, but I also think I am right...
fredt said:
Can you be too keen...?
So I have help by a professional coach who plays football at a high level and also teaches sport to kids as a day job. But the training sessions are lazy. Too much time is wasted starting the lesson, and in between different drills/exercises. My group is of mixed abilities and of mixed enthusiasm.. This environment seems to let the less keen boys mess around, and it the rubs off on the group. In my mind it should be a much snappier session that gives them no time to mess around, and hopefully the hard working mentality of some boys should rub off onto the less enthusiastic boys..
The coach is well liked among parents and the boys, that's not the issue.
A couple of parents agrees with me. Others (outside the squad i should add) suggested it is only U9 and possibly I am a bit keen. I know I am a bit keen, but I also think I am right...
My answer would be, no you cant!So I have help by a professional coach who plays football at a high level and also teaches sport to kids as a day job. But the training sessions are lazy. Too much time is wasted starting the lesson, and in between different drills/exercises. My group is of mixed abilities and of mixed enthusiasm.. This environment seems to let the less keen boys mess around, and it the rubs off on the group. In my mind it should be a much snappier session that gives them no time to mess around, and hopefully the hard working mentality of some boys should rub off onto the less enthusiastic boys..
The coach is well liked among parents and the boys, that's not the issue.
A couple of parents agrees with me. Others (outside the squad i should add) suggested it is only U9 and possibly I am a bit keen. I know I am a bit keen, but I also think I am right...
Sessions should be planned and set in advance to minimise down time.
All of our kids know they don't mess around during the session. We have a laugh and a mess around at the beginning and the end, but the bit in the middle is where they listen to us and concentrate.
We still keep the sessions fun and light hearted. Once you let the kids mess around it's very difficult to get them back focused.
One thing we do is get them to help set up for drills. It keeps them involved and gives them responsibility and stops any messing around.
We are often complimented by other teams in our club and others about the behaviour of our players.
48Valves said:
My answer would be, no you cant!
Sessions should be planned and set in advance to minimise down time.
All of our kids know they don't mess around during the session. We have a laugh and a mess around at the beginning and the end, but the bit in the middle is where they listen to us and concentrate.
We still keep the sessions fun and light hearted. Once you let the kids mess around it's very difficult to get them back focused.
One thing we do is get them to help set up for drills. It keeps them involved and gives them responsibility and stops any messing around.
We are often complimented by other teams in our club and others about the behaviour of our players.
This echos my sentiment. I continue to push for my way, if I can't get it my way within a couple of weeks I guess the coach needs sacking. I just don't think we have enough time to mess around. Yeah I know it only U9 but I have to do what I think is right for the boys.Sessions should be planned and set in advance to minimise down time.
All of our kids know they don't mess around during the session. We have a laugh and a mess around at the beginning and the end, but the bit in the middle is where they listen to us and concentrate.
We still keep the sessions fun and light hearted. Once you let the kids mess around it's very difficult to get them back focused.
One thing we do is get them to help set up for drills. It keeps them involved and gives them responsibility and stops any messing around.
We are often complimented by other teams in our club and others about the behaviour of our players.
fredt said:
This echos my sentiment. I continue to push for my way, if I can't get it my way within a couple of weeks I guess the coach needs sacking. I just don't think we have enough time to mess around. Yeah I know it only U9 but I have to do what I think is right for the boys.
We are under 8 btwApparently police were called to a 20 person punch up in Bolton area this weekend, during an under 16s match. Involving not the players, but parents and officials.
Meant to have started when a player was back chatting the ref, a parent told him to zip it, another parent had a go at the first parent, and it all kicked off.
I'm so glad my youngest (now 19) has given up reffing. It was good exercise, and the money was great, and I think it helped his confidence (he did it for 5 years) but all the crap off parents and officials. Just awful. The kids usually weren't too bad.
If the FA don't crack down, in a few years we'll have no refs. It starts at the top. Wenger got a 4 match touchline ban for pushing the 4th official. Should have got a 2 year ban from all football. That would have made people sit up and take notice.
Meant to have started when a player was back chatting the ref, a parent told him to zip it, another parent had a go at the first parent, and it all kicked off.
I'm so glad my youngest (now 19) has given up reffing. It was good exercise, and the money was great, and I think it helped his confidence (he did it for 5 years) but all the crap off parents and officials. Just awful. The kids usually weren't too bad.
If the FA don't crack down, in a few years we'll have no refs. It starts at the top. Wenger got a 4 match touchline ban for pushing the 4th official. Should have got a 2 year ban from all football. That would have made people sit up and take notice.
My lads in his second year reffing and he's only doing U15s and below - to be fair it's not been too bad but I've had to keep my mouth shut a couple of times (parents comments) and he's managed to avoid a couple of teams with "reputations".
There is a dire shortage of refs and the ones that do it tend to only last 2/3 years- partially because of jobs and university but partly from the abuse they get from the sidelines.
There is a dire shortage of refs and the ones that do it tend to only last 2/3 years- partially because of jobs and university but partly from the abuse they get from the sidelines.
Anybody had a listen to this yet?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05h6ztq
There are some good points and some hysteria. I must admit to some inside information on this and I know there is some nonsense being spoken which gave it some entertainment value for me.
Points being made
1. More 4G pitches, I'm not sure this is the key
2. Cards (red, yelow) for parents. Good idea, totally unenforceable unless the team managers enforce it, as they are often the worst offenders, forget it.
3. Multipositional play, i.e. no specialists at under 15. Absolutely agree with this but this is about the managers as again,they tend to put players were they want to.
4. Academy players (kids) being stopped from grass roots play should be stopped. Again I agree, my kid's been in a couple of development squads and he's scared of being signed because he doesn't want to stop playing with his mates. Personally my experience of the academies is that they are clueless and unprofessional so its just pot luck anyway. I think the academies should have more connections into the grass roots teams and do some training with them.
5. Smaller pitches - don't agree having seen teams that play on small pitches, they all end up playing kick chase with 16 boys around the ball.
Any thoughts?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05h6ztq
There are some good points and some hysteria. I must admit to some inside information on this and I know there is some nonsense being spoken which gave it some entertainment value for me.
Points being made
1. More 4G pitches, I'm not sure this is the key
2. Cards (red, yelow) for parents. Good idea, totally unenforceable unless the team managers enforce it, as they are often the worst offenders, forget it.
3. Multipositional play, i.e. no specialists at under 15. Absolutely agree with this but this is about the managers as again,they tend to put players were they want to.
4. Academy players (kids) being stopped from grass roots play should be stopped. Again I agree, my kid's been in a couple of development squads and he's scared of being signed because he doesn't want to stop playing with his mates. Personally my experience of the academies is that they are clueless and unprofessional so its just pot luck anyway. I think the academies should have more connections into the grass roots teams and do some training with them.
5. Smaller pitches - don't agree having seen teams that play on small pitches, they all end up playing kick chase with 16 boys around the ball.
Any thoughts?
Well it's been an interesting start to the season for my under 7s. I've been working them hard in training, on fitness and a formation that I want us to play, to give us the best chance of being competitive.
The first game came and the formation worked a treat, the kids stuck to their roles and loved every minute of it.
Then I had a problem with one of my coaches not following FA rules on social media. She didn't agree with them so chose to ignore them. As a result she has now quit the team, meaning I have to postpone 2 upcoming matches because I'm on holiday.
It's never bloody easy is it!
The first game came and the formation worked a treat, the kids stuck to their roles and loved every minute of it.
Then I had a problem with one of my coaches not following FA rules on social media. She didn't agree with them so chose to ignore them. As a result she has now quit the team, meaning I have to postpone 2 upcoming matches because I'm on holiday.
It's never bloody easy is it!
XM5ER said:
Anybody had a listen to this yet?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05h6ztq
There are some good points and some hysteria. I must admit to some inside information on this and I know there is some nonsense being spoken which gave it some entertainment value for me.
Points being made
1. More 4G pitches, I'm not sure this is the key
2. Cards (red, yelow) for parents. Good idea, totally unenforceable unless the team managers enforce it, as they are often the worst offenders, forget it.
3. Multipositional play, i.e. no specialists at under 15. Absolutely agree with this but this is about the managers as again,they tend to put players were they want to.
4. Academy players (kids) being stopped from grass roots play should be stopped. Again I agree, my kid's been in a couple of development squads and he's scared of being signed because he doesn't want to stop playing with his mates. Personally my experience of the academies is that they are clueless and unprofessional so its just pot luck anyway. I think the academies should have more connections into the grass roots teams and do some training with them.
5. Smaller pitches - don't agree having seen teams that play on small pitches, they all end up playing kick chase with 16 boys around the ball.
Any thoughts?
My thoughts:http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05h6ztq
There are some good points and some hysteria. I must admit to some inside information on this and I know there is some nonsense being spoken which gave it some entertainment value for me.
Points being made
1. More 4G pitches, I'm not sure this is the key
2. Cards (red, yelow) for parents. Good idea, totally unenforceable unless the team managers enforce it, as they are often the worst offenders, forget it.
3. Multipositional play, i.e. no specialists at under 15. Absolutely agree with this but this is about the managers as again,they tend to put players were they want to.
4. Academy players (kids) being stopped from grass roots play should be stopped. Again I agree, my kid's been in a couple of development squads and he's scared of being signed because he doesn't want to stop playing with his mates. Personally my experience of the academies is that they are clueless and unprofessional so its just pot luck anyway. I think the academies should have more connections into the grass roots teams and do some training with them.
5. Smaller pitches - don't agree having seen teams that play on small pitches, they all end up playing kick chase with 16 boys around the ball.
Any thoughts?
1- Good idea certainly for younger ages as so many games seem to get called off
2- Good idea but I agree unenforceable
3- Agree
4- I agree up until age 13/14 and not at the current age of 8/9. I’m not sure I agree with the sentiment of “being scared to be signed”. We are talking elite sport here and anyone that has any hope of making it has to be totally focussed and want it. Things like wanting to play with your mates is fine but in that case just don’t sign and let them enjoy their football at a lower level. In my experience most academies are very professional (although there are individuals at academies that are far from professional) and luck plays very little part in any kid making it. The academy closest to me does have some involvement with grass roots, inviting teams to play and getting involved in community stuff and with mentally and physically disabled kids. But there could be more with greater leadership from Premier League and FA.
5- I think smaller pitches are a good idea and coaching the youngsters properly and getting them to develop good habits such as not chasing the ball etc should be encouraged.
craig1912 said:
XM5ER said:
Anybody had a listen to this yet?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05h6ztq
There are some good points and some hysteria. I must admit to some inside information on this and I know there is some nonsense being spoken which gave it some entertainment value for me.
Points being made
1. More 4G pitches, I'm not sure this is the key
2. Cards (red, yelow) for parents. Good idea, totally unenforceable unless the team managers enforce it, as they are often the worst offenders, forget it.
3. Multipositional play, i.e. no specialists at under 15. Absolutely agree with this but this is about the managers as again,they tend to put players were they want to.
4. Academy players (kids) being stopped from grass roots play should be stopped. Again I agree, my kid's been in a couple of development squads and he's scared of being signed because he doesn't want to stop playing with his mates. Personally my experience of the academies is that they are clueless and unprofessional so its just pot luck anyway. I think the academies should have more connections into the grass roots teams and do some training with them.
5. Smaller pitches - don't agree having seen teams that play on small pitches, they all end up playing kick chase with 16 boys around the ball.
Any thoughts?
My thoughts:http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05h6ztq
There are some good points and some hysteria. I must admit to some inside information on this and I know there is some nonsense being spoken which gave it some entertainment value for me.
Points being made
1. More 4G pitches, I'm not sure this is the key
2. Cards (red, yelow) for parents. Good idea, totally unenforceable unless the team managers enforce it, as they are often the worst offenders, forget it.
3. Multipositional play, i.e. no specialists at under 15. Absolutely agree with this but this is about the managers as again,they tend to put players were they want to.
4. Academy players (kids) being stopped from grass roots play should be stopped. Again I agree, my kid's been in a couple of development squads and he's scared of being signed because he doesn't want to stop playing with his mates. Personally my experience of the academies is that they are clueless and unprofessional so its just pot luck anyway. I think the academies should have more connections into the grass roots teams and do some training with them.
5. Smaller pitches - don't agree having seen teams that play on small pitches, they all end up playing kick chase with 16 boys around the ball.
Any thoughts?
1- Good idea certainly for younger ages as so many games seem to get called off
2- Good idea but I agree unenforceable
3- Agree
4- I agree up until age 13/14 and not at the current age of 8/9. I’m not sure I agree with the sentiment of “being scared to be signed”. We are talking elite sport here and anyone that has any hope of making it has to be totally focussed and want it. Things like wanting to play with your mates is fine but in that case just don’t sign and let them enjoy their football at a lower level. In my experience most academies are very professional (although there are individuals at academies that are far from professional) and luck plays very little part in any kid making it. The academy closest to me does have some involvement with grass roots, inviting teams to play and getting involved in community stuff and with mentally and physically disabled kids. But there could be more with greater leadership from Premier League and FA.
5- I think smaller pitches are a good idea and coaching the youngsters properly and getting them to develop good habits such as not chasing the ball etc should be encouraged.
2. Disagree that managers are the worst offenders. In my experience anyway. Most managers simply don't want the confrontation.
3. I mostly agree with not having set positions. Kids will develop a better all round appreciation of the game playing everywhere. I say mostly agree because we have a lad who loves to play in goal. Hes not in the slightest bit interested in playing outfield. For me this is great becaues I have someone at a young age who loved keeping rather than having to rotate them all in goal. (I have more than one keeper)
4. I would say there is a large element of luck when it comes to making it through an academy. Obviously kids need to have the ability. but that is not enough. As you know, football is very subjective, so if soemone doesn't think you are the right fit then you will struggle. I certainly wouldnt call academies elite sports. Not unless you mean the top PL and european clubs. To takea large part of a kids childohhod away from them for the small % chance they will make it into top flight football is wrong in my opinion.
5. Smaller pitches would need rules to manage them. Teams we play at U8 are already playing long ball if they have a kid with a decent kick.
48Valves said:
4. I would say there is a large element of luck when it comes to making it through an academy. Obviously kids need to have the ability. but that is not enough. As you know, football is very subjective, so if soemone doesn't think you are the right fit then you will struggle. I certainly wouldnt call academies elite sports. Not unless you mean the top PL and european clubs. To takea large part of a kids childohhod away from them for the small % chance they will make it into top flight football is wrong in my opinion.
I'd disagree Academies are elite sport maybe it's semantics but I'm talking about cat 1-4 Academies attached to professional clubs- which do tend to insist that players drop playing for their other clubs. More info here https://playerscout.co.uk/football-academies/XM5ER said:
Anybody had a listen to this yet?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05h6ztq
There are some good points and some hysteria. I must admit to some inside information on this and I know there is some nonsense being spoken which gave it some entertainment value for me.
Points being made
1. More 4G pitches, I'm not sure this is the key
2. Cards (red, yelow) for parents. Good idea, totally unenforceable unless the team managers enforce it, as they are often the worst offenders, forget it.
3. Multipositional play, i.e. no specialists at under 15. Absolutely agree with this but this is about the managers as again,they tend to put players were they want to.
4. Academy players (kids) being stopped from grass roots play should be stopped. Again I agree, my kid's been in a couple of development squads and he's scared of being signed because he doesn't want to stop playing with his mates. Personally my experience of the academies is that they are clueless and unprofessional so its just pot luck anyway. I think the academies should have more connections into the grass roots teams and do some training with them.
5. Smaller pitches - don't agree having seen teams that play on small pitches, they all end up playing kick chase with 16 boys around the ball.
Any thoughts?
Hi fella, http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05h6ztq
There are some good points and some hysteria. I must admit to some inside information on this and I know there is some nonsense being spoken which gave it some entertainment value for me.
Points being made
1. More 4G pitches, I'm not sure this is the key
2. Cards (red, yelow) for parents. Good idea, totally unenforceable unless the team managers enforce it, as they are often the worst offenders, forget it.
3. Multipositional play, i.e. no specialists at under 15. Absolutely agree with this but this is about the managers as again,they tend to put players were they want to.
4. Academy players (kids) being stopped from grass roots play should be stopped. Again I agree, my kid's been in a couple of development squads and he's scared of being signed because he doesn't want to stop playing with his mates. Personally my experience of the academies is that they are clueless and unprofessional so its just pot luck anyway. I think the academies should have more connections into the grass roots teams and do some training with them.
5. Smaller pitches - don't agree having seen teams that play on small pitches, they all end up playing kick chase with 16 boys around the ball.
Any thoughts?
I understand RS is managing an Egerton team now, must have moved his lad away from Wilmslow. We played against Freddie's team last season, being narrowly defeated 2-1. Would have got through to the final at Trafford FC if we'd have got a result! Interesting that RS refers to "sons" forgetting that lots of girls play at U12 and are allowed still at U12 to play alongside boys.
1. More 4G pitches would be great. It allows for games to actually go ahead instead of being called off due to poor weather conditions. Our club partnered with a local school to have their old 3G converted into a modern pitch. My team had the benefit of using this 3G pitch for our home games last season and the football at times was really good as the pitch was consistent and easier to read for the kids. Cutting grass pitches regularly is a great idea in principle, long grass is a nightmare for the players!
2. Rotating positions - absolutely, I'm a big advocate of this and we move players into different positions regularly but always allowing the kids game time in the position they themselves prefer. Never had an issue with parents over this rotation as I explained the philosophy early on. I've seen "strikers" having their best games playing at left back.
3. Red/yellows - Yes I agree that disciplining the parents is a good idea. I'm lucky that I've got a decent set of parents that have never really stepped over the line. It cannot be the often young referee that dishes the punishment out though. I see it as follows;
Each home team/club should have a welfare officer on site whilst games are going ahead, at our home venue we could have 6/7 games going ahead at the same time but only one WO would be required. The ref speaks to one of the coaches for the home team, who in turn finds the WO to speak to the parent concerned and the WO confirms the punishment to the parent. I don't believe that the parents son/daughter/grandchild should be punished at the same time though by being taken off the field of play. Our kids should not be punished for the sins of their fathers/mothers et al.
4. Subs - A squad of 10 at 9v9 is too small. Got to allow for absences/illness etc. Playing 60 mins as our boys do at U12, they get very tired, especially those playing in hi-mobility positions like CM. If I have all 13 of my squad available, the goalie gets 60 mins, the outfield players 40 minutes each as I make subs 4 off, 4 on at 20 and 40 minutes. Some of my players are better than some of the others but I wouldn't be doing the right thing if I wasn't fair with minutes on the pitch. They certainly won't learn that much sitting on the sidelines not getting match experience.
5. Under 12 sin bin - good idea, no problem with that. Maybe just make it 5 minutes in the sin bin, not 10.
6. Smaller pitches/underhead height I don't agree. We actually play 9v9 on a smaller pitch than an 11v11 pitch so not sure what his point is. We play proper rules now and the kids understand what they can and can't do at Under 12. Playing long(er) lofted passes is a skill in itself and shouldn't be discouraged, some kids are of course stronger than others and can kick the ball further but that's just genetics/technique. If a weaker team comes up against a stronger team (we are seeing this this season as the league is trying fixtures cross division to see if they've got it right for the upcoming cup competition) and they are not allowed to kick it over head height I can see cricket scores happening and that helps no one.
7. Zonal positions - in training yes ie. playing through the thirds, but the kids should have freedom of movement in matchplay. That way they learn if they are found out of position what the consequences are/can be.
8. League tables - there is already competitive "non-competitive" football, this is a non-issue, at U13 there is a league. At our age group we play to play in a cup final, the top two going in to the final so there is a league in effect. What does it matter if they end up 3rd, 6th, 8th?
9. Academies - Agree that the kids should only be allowed to join academies at an older age perhaps U11 is the right age the year before secondary school as kids who play in academies have to have an agreement with secondary schools to be allowed a day off school to play for their academy. The academy coach who Flintoff describes is a disgrace and simply shouldn't be involved in football.
Took me ages to write this as I've been listening to the show at the same time.
S
Edited by anniesdad on Wednesday 27th September 14:06
XM5ER said:
I think I agree with most of that, a first for PH .
RS's lad is playing for the Lions team that play in the Cheshire leagues. You really don't get many gobby parents down there.
That said, I've just seen a notice about abuse in our league, to incidents last Saturday. Not good.
We played a team from Alderley last week. Some questionable parenting and one of the coaches was a disgrace. Offering to decapitate my oppo's head and stamp on it. A first for me. He described himself as a nutter apparently. I was reffing at the time had no idea it had happened until my assistant and all the kids that heard it told me...RS's lad is playing for the Lions team that play in the Cheshire leagues. You really don't get many gobby parents down there.
That said, I've just seen a notice about abuse in our league, to incidents last Saturday. Not good.
We've got a coaches meeting tomorrow to discuss some behavioural issues. Not sure if it's our own or a generic problem that the league have pushed out?
anniesdad said:
XM5ER said:
I think I agree with most of that, a first for PH .
RS's lad is playing for the Lions team that play in the Cheshire leagues. You really don't get many gobby parents down there.
That said, I've just seen a notice about abuse in our league, to incidents last Saturday. Not good.
We played a team from Alderley last week. Some questionable parenting and one of the coaches was a disgrace. Offering to decapitate my oppo's head and stamp on it. A first for me. He described himself as a nutter apparently. I was reffing at the time had no idea it had happened until my assistant and all the kids that heard it told me...RS's lad is playing for the Lions team that play in the Cheshire leagues. You really don't get many gobby parents down there.
That said, I've just seen a notice about abuse in our league, to incidents last Saturday. Not good.
We've got a coaches meeting tomorrow to discuss some behavioural issues. Not sure if it's our own or a generic problem that the league have pushed out?
I’m lucky that my parents are really good. I have 1 or 2 dads that might have wanted a quiet word with the coach you mentioned.
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