Managing an Under 7's Football Team - Hints and Tips
Discussion
My youngest has been playing for a couple of years, and this year they've started playing matches. There's a chap who runs the team, but during matches he referees and asks another parent to organise the team on the day. It's not working. Invariably it's a different parent each week and no rules seem to be getting applied so we have 10-15 parents on the side of the pitch all screaming different instructions at the kids, plus whoever steps up to organise the team on the day gets complaints from parents that their little Jimmy played too long in goal. The most vocal parents seem to be the quietest ones when asked to volunteer.
My view is the parents need to keep their mouths shut, save for congratulations on good play, and there needs to be one coach on the side of the pitch giving instructions and making sure each player plays in each position for a similar amount of time. I'm reticent to volunteer as I've never played football and don't really follow it now, so am no expert. I have however played hockey to a reasonably high standard for 30 years, only retiring last year, so I have a good understanding of team play.
Am I mad to consider volunteering to organise the team every week?
My plan would be to set out a code of conduct for parents and also set out how I plan to run the team on match days. However, I suspect this may upset a few parents. I may also upset the guy currently organising the team, however, my plan would just be to volunteer to sort them out on match day, he can carry on with the logistics of organising the matches and training, which is what he seems to prefer.
Has anyone done this, got any hints and tips? I'm still not 100% I'll volunteer as I could do without the grief plus committing myself every week could be an issue, but I hate seeing the way the team is going and want the best for my son.
My view is the parents need to keep their mouths shut, save for congratulations on good play, and there needs to be one coach on the side of the pitch giving instructions and making sure each player plays in each position for a similar amount of time. I'm reticent to volunteer as I've never played football and don't really follow it now, so am no expert. I have however played hockey to a reasonably high standard for 30 years, only retiring last year, so I have a good understanding of team play.
Am I mad to consider volunteering to organise the team every week?
My plan would be to set out a code of conduct for parents and also set out how I plan to run the team on match days. However, I suspect this may upset a few parents. I may also upset the guy currently organising the team, however, my plan would just be to volunteer to sort them out on match day, he can carry on with the logistics of organising the matches and training, which is what he seems to prefer.
Has anyone done this, got any hints and tips? I'm still not 100% I'll volunteer as I could do without the grief plus committing myself every week could be an issue, but I hate seeing the way the team is going and want the best for my son.
Cheers for all the really helpful advice.
Yes, the team is part of quite a large club, so training is run by a professional coach, but the running of the team and matchdays is down to parent volunteers.
I think the reason I'm upset is there's no structure to the team, the current guy has laid out no rules for the parents, so it's just a free for all on a Saturday. There are club and league rules on the website but all the parents ignore them, assuming any have actually read them. We do have a respect barrier, but that just means they shout louder.
It's further compounded by the fact my elder son play Under 9's for a different club where the rules are rigidly enforced and it works so much better. And this is one of the reasons I don't really want to commit - I'll effectively never be able to watch my elder son play.
Yes, the team is part of quite a large club, so training is run by a professional coach, but the running of the team and matchdays is down to parent volunteers.
I think the reason I'm upset is there's no structure to the team, the current guy has laid out no rules for the parents, so it's just a free for all on a Saturday. There are club and league rules on the website but all the parents ignore them, assuming any have actually read them. We do have a respect barrier, but that just means they shout louder.
It's further compounded by the fact my elder son play Under 9's for a different club where the rules are rigidly enforced and it works so much better. And this is one of the reasons I don't really want to commit - I'll effectively never be able to watch my elder son play.
Well, I've bitten the bullet. After a couple of weeks of called off games I have stepped forward to manage the team at a tournament tomorrow.
They're playing 5 games and I've picked the teams so each person plays in every position and all get equal time on the pitch. One of the other parents has offered to assist me going forward, but is away this weekend so I'll be flying solo tomorrow.
Wish me luck!!
They're playing 5 games and I've picked the teams so each person plays in every position and all get equal time on the pitch. One of the other parents has offered to assist me going forward, but is away this weekend so I'll be flying solo tomorrow.
Wish me luck!!
UPDATE - I've been managing the team for a little while now and it's going really well. The other chap does all the organising and I manage the team on the day. I get told who's available Friday morning and pull the team together Friday afternoon. There's 9 players and we're playing 5-a-side, so there's quite a bit of rotation. So far this year we've had 6 wins and 2 losses, which has really cheered everyone up and the boys are buzzing on a Saturday. Some of the weaker players have really come out of their shell and the lad who was probably the weakest player last year (pre-Christmas) is currently our top goal scorer, and our best result (5:0 )was when our best player was in goal - meant they had to play as a team and not rely on the best player.
I'm rigidly enforcing rotation of the positions, so they all play in every position and I've stopped doing in-game subs, with 3 or 4 substitutes per game it just became too complicated and the kids never knew what position they were meant to be in. They play 2 games with a half time break, so the teams get changed at each interval. Pre-Christmas I was standing with the other parents, I now stand on the opposite side of the pitch with the other manager and that seems to make a big difference. The other parents are no longer making tactical suggestions, just encouragement and the kids always now look to me for instruction during the game rather than at mum and dad, which makes my life easier.
So far, touch wood, no negatives for me. It's been brilliant to see the kids getting better and better.
I need to do my FA Level 1 Coaching badge, but can't get the dates to work so far due to weekends away / work commitments - 4 weeks of 9am to 5pm is quite a commitment. Hopefully April will be clear and I can get myself booked in.
Do any of you do awards each week? It crossed my mind to do a player of the week award (small trophy), but I'm not sure it's too cheesy and part of me thinks I'd rather they put the effort in because they want to win the game for the team not get a trophy for themselves. However, they did love it when they trained at U6's. I'd welcome any other motivational tips anyone has?
I'm rigidly enforcing rotation of the positions, so they all play in every position and I've stopped doing in-game subs, with 3 or 4 substitutes per game it just became too complicated and the kids never knew what position they were meant to be in. They play 2 games with a half time break, so the teams get changed at each interval. Pre-Christmas I was standing with the other parents, I now stand on the opposite side of the pitch with the other manager and that seems to make a big difference. The other parents are no longer making tactical suggestions, just encouragement and the kids always now look to me for instruction during the game rather than at mum and dad, which makes my life easier.
So far, touch wood, no negatives for me. It's been brilliant to see the kids getting better and better.
I need to do my FA Level 1 Coaching badge, but can't get the dates to work so far due to weekends away / work commitments - 4 weeks of 9am to 5pm is quite a commitment. Hopefully April will be clear and I can get myself booked in.
Do any of you do awards each week? It crossed my mind to do a player of the week award (small trophy), but I'm not sure it's too cheesy and part of me thinks I'd rather they put the effort in because they want to win the game for the team not get a trophy for themselves. However, they did love it when they trained at U6's. I'd welcome any other motivational tips anyone has?
Cheers chaps.
Yep, club are happy to pay for me to do my level 1. Unfortunately it's every Sunday for a month with an evening midweek session thrown in for good measure. I was free for the whole of Jan but left booking too late and the course was full by the time I got round to it, was absolutely gutted. I've got a few ski trips in Feb and March which make doing those dates really hard, so looks like I'll have to leave it until April.
I'll get myself a trophy to hand out, they all love a trophy. Great idea on how to do it, they tend to concentrate on one element at coaching each week, so that could be one to watch and see who can put it into a game situation.
Yep, club are happy to pay for me to do my level 1. Unfortunately it's every Sunday for a month with an evening midweek session thrown in for good measure. I was free for the whole of Jan but left booking too late and the course was full by the time I got round to it, was absolutely gutted. I've got a few ski trips in Feb and March which make doing those dates really hard, so looks like I'll have to leave it until April.
I'll get myself a trophy to hand out, they all love a trophy. Great idea on how to do it, they tend to concentrate on one element at coaching each week, so that could be one to watch and see who can put it into a game situation.
GloverMart said:
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Brilliant stuff, that's exactly what I'd be happy with - just want the kids to enjoy it. I'm certainly enjoying it at the moment and I'm sure tough times will come, a mate had to disband an U16 team this year due to many of the boys discovering girls and alcohol, so I certainly do intend to make the most of it.Gassing Station | Football | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff