FA Buggering up junior football
Discussion
I was talking to some family in Scotland at the weekend. They play without any goalkeepers at a young age, focus is more on playing attacking football. As a result, lots of goals scored and people playing football without being overly defensive.
My son is still playing u8s. I've not seen anything negative from parents, all the teams seem to be approaching it the right way. Could they do more? Absolutely - quality of coaching isn't great at times but we get round that by taking my son to coaching away from the team as well as with them.
My son is still playing u8s. I've not seen anything negative from parents, all the teams seem to be approaching it the right way. Could they do more? Absolutely - quality of coaching isn't great at times but we get round that by taking my son to coaching away from the team as well as with them.
Recent story ? I am Chair of a reasonable sized Juniors club - around 250 kids these year.
Despite the fact we have successfully managed to keep the coaches from sexually assaulting anyone for 10 years or more,(our entire history before you lot start) the FA this year are issuing increasingly desperate and meaningless "gestures" in the form of forms, compliance, audits and even visits to check the coaches are who we say they are...
Additionally from next year for every four level 1 coaches we will need a Level 2 coach - to remain Chartered. Which is over 35 hours of training, For us that's about six coaches we need and over £1400 in fees.
It is almost as if they want to sell coaching courses
Gargamel said:
Recent story ? I am Chair of a reasonable sized Juniors club - around 250 kids these year.
Despite the fact we have successfully managed to keep the coaches from sexually assaulting anyone for 10 years or more,(our entire history before you lot start) the FA this year are issuing increasingly desperate and meaningless "gestures" in the form of forms, compliance, audits and even visits to check the coaches are who we say they are...
Additionally from next year for every four level 1 coaches we will need a Level 2 coach - to remain Chartered. Which is over 35 hours of training, For us that's about six coaches we need and over £1400 in fees.
It is almost as if they want to sell coaching courses
Same here, Gargamel. I've taken my under-16's from the age of five, all certificated up and no issues whatsoever.Despite the fact we have successfully managed to keep the coaches from sexually assaulting anyone for 10 years or more,(our entire history before you lot start) the FA this year are issuing increasingly desperate and meaningless "gestures" in the form of forms, compliance, audits and even visits to check the coaches are who we say they are...
Additionally from next year for every four level 1 coaches we will need a Level 2 coach - to remain Chartered. Which is over 35 hours of training, For us that's about six coaches we need and over £1400 in fees.
It is almost as if they want to sell coaching courses
Yet I'm having to do my First Aid again next month plus I've re-certificated my Safeguarding Children course online even though there's a 50/50 chance my team will cease this year as we probably won't go into u-18's football. All this palaver and cost for what could be two or three games maximum.
Gargamel, there are funding options available to clubs for those coach education fee's, unlikely you'll get the full £1400 but you should get the majority covered.
GloverMart, the emergency aid and safeguarding courses have to be done every 3 years to remain licensed, it does go down as CPD hours though which is a small bonus.
I had an interesting conversation the other day with a coach who's daughter has just started karate classes, he was shocked at the costs involved and the fee's put in to milk as much money as possible. Football, even with high pitch hire costs is a bloody cheap sport compared to most others.
GloverMart, the emergency aid and safeguarding courses have to be done every 3 years to remain licensed, it does go down as CPD hours though which is a small bonus.
I had an interesting conversation the other day with a coach who's daughter has just started karate classes, he was shocked at the costs involved and the fee's put in to milk as much money as possible. Football, even with high pitch hire costs is a bloody cheap sport compared to most others.
Gargamel said:
Recent story ? I am Chair of a reasonable sized Juniors club - around 250 kids these year.
Despite the fact we have successfully managed to keep the coaches from sexually assaulting anyone for 10 years or more,(our entire history before you lot start) the FA this year are issuing increasingly desperate and meaningless "gestures" in the form of forms, compliance, audits and even visits to check the coaches are who we say they are...
Additionally from next year for every four level 1 coaches we will need a Level 2 coach - to remain Chartered. Which is over 35 hours of training, For us that's about six coaches we need and over £1400 in fees.
It is almost as if they want to sell coaching courses
Are you a Standard Charter Youth or Development club? If CS Youth I don't think you need any Level 2's Just Level 1 and 1 Youth Award Module 1 per 4 teams. Despite the fact we have successfully managed to keep the coaches from sexually assaulting anyone for 10 years or more,(our entire history before you lot start) the FA this year are issuing increasingly desperate and meaningless "gestures" in the form of forms, compliance, audits and even visits to check the coaches are who we say they are...
Additionally from next year for every four level 1 coaches we will need a Level 2 coach - to remain Chartered. Which is over 35 hours of training, For us that's about six coaches we need and over £1400 in fees.
It is almost as if they want to sell coaching courses
48Valves said:
Are you a Standard Charter Youth or Development club? If CS Youth I don't think you need any Level 2's Just Level 1 and 1 Youth Award Module 1 per 4 teams.
You are right we only need the youth module hence the 35 hours. I have done it already - two full weekends and one other morning. Not overly complaining - I get the need to drive standards and improve the grassroots coaching, however it is quite a build in one year to ask for this.
I've just read "playing with the boys" about a young lass who played through mixed sex football up until the age of 16 alongside girls football all the way upto international level. Cracking read and show's up the FA's attitude decision towards grassroots, ladies football and youth football quite a bit!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1909534382/ref=cm_sw_r...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1909534382/ref=cm_sw_r...
WildCards said:
I had an interesting conversation the other day with a coach who's daughter has just started karate classes, he was shocked at the costs involved and the fee's put in to milk as much money as possible. Football, even with high pitch hire costs is a bloody cheap sport compared to most others.
Quite, 30 quid registration then 5 quid for a one hour lesson once a week. 30ish for suit, 25 for badges for the suit, same for sparring pads (fair enough), 30 quid for grading every three/six months, same for competition entry every few months. Final straw was a fiver for 'personalisation' of the small plastic cup for winning the 'Forms'. I was expecting to give details and get a small brass plaque in the post or something, nope a dymo label printed and stuck on the plinth 
Football, £20 a month and buy your own boots, give a bit of time for fundraisers and helping at tournaments and that's yer lot
Now dance classes, I don't know about these directly as not my kids but apparently just like karate above and you aren't even allowed to watch them practice, just the performances (for which of course, you have to pay for a ticket)
mfmman said:
WildCards said:
I had an interesting conversation the other day with a coach who's daughter has just started karate classes, he was shocked at the costs involved and the fee's put in to milk as much money as possible. Football, even with high pitch hire costs is a bloody cheap sport compared to most others.
Quite, 30 quid registration then 5 quid for a one hour lesson once a week. 30ish for suit, 25 for badges for the suit, same for sparring pads (fair enough), 30 quid for grading every three/six months, same for competition entry every few months. Final straw was a fiver for 'personalisation' of the small plastic cup for winning the 'Forms'. I was expecting to give details and get a small brass plaque in the post or something, nope a dymo label printed and stuck on the plinth Football, £20 a month and buy your own boots, give a bit of time for fundraisers and helping at tournaments and that's yer lot
Now dance classes, I don't know about these directly as not my kids but apparently just like karate above and you aren't even allowed to watch them practice, just the performances (for which of course, you have to pay for a ticket)
This year I'm going to do the Level 1 Goalkeeping and Probably Module 1 of the Youth Award. Thats the best part of 70 hours of my time. But as my team are currently Under 7's I could have another 10 years coaching them, so the investment in my time is well worth it.
Bit of an update...
His old team still haven't won a game in three years, let 400 plus goals in, it's a shame the managers putting the time in but the play is dismal.
The new one.
It's been a hard slog going up a division,
We're 6th out of 9, but to be honest I'm hoping the league and his manager drop us down a division
The standard is much harder, in the past we had 7 stand out players, this season were relying on one or two, and, were
Playing hoof it to the quickest to hold onto a game, which isn't much cop,
but a mechanism to get us across the line.
Had a bit of a fallout with his manager though,
We love the furthest away, and we were playing at the furthest away game and with 14 players he got 8 minutes.
He's not the best there but. But not the 14th best either
It took further to walk to the pitch from the car, than he played
So rather than make a scene, I dropped him wan email saying it's not much of a pathway to adult football etc, and
It wasn't on etc etc, and to his credit he started the next game and played most of it assisting two goals and we won 5-1
So to his and my sons credit, all is well,
Although during that particular game another team was quizzing me about signing him on lol.
But generally speaking, he's happy teams ok, we've enough players every week but if we drop down a divn
We will be a lot more competitive
His old team still haven't won a game in three years, let 400 plus goals in, it's a shame the managers putting the time in but the play is dismal.
The new one.
It's been a hard slog going up a division,
We're 6th out of 9, but to be honest I'm hoping the league and his manager drop us down a division
The standard is much harder, in the past we had 7 stand out players, this season were relying on one or two, and, were
Playing hoof it to the quickest to hold onto a game, which isn't much cop,
but a mechanism to get us across the line.
Had a bit of a fallout with his manager though,
We love the furthest away, and we were playing at the furthest away game and with 14 players he got 8 minutes.
He's not the best there but. But not the 14th best either
It took further to walk to the pitch from the car, than he played
So rather than make a scene, I dropped him wan email saying it's not much of a pathway to adult football etc, and
It wasn't on etc etc, and to his credit he started the next game and played most of it assisting two goals and we won 5-1
So to his and my sons credit, all is well,
Although during that particular game another team was quizzing me about signing him on lol.
But generally speaking, he's happy teams ok, we've enough players every week but if we drop down a divn
We will be a lot more competitive
bump!!
Has anyone read this article from Amy Lawrence ahead of Michael Calvin's new youth football book "No Hunger in Paradise"
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/apr/19/p...
I thought it might provoke some discussion
Has anyone read this article from Amy Lawrence ahead of Michael Calvin's new youth football book "No Hunger in Paradise"
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/apr/19/p...
I thought it might provoke some discussion
ribiero said:
bump!!
Has anyone read this article from Amy Lawrence ahead of Michael Calvin's new youth football book "No Hunger in Paradise"
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/apr/19/p...
I thought it might provoke some discussion
I dont think there is any new material there to be honest. My experience (my kids) of the world of footie academies is pretty well described in the article. Professional in name only. Has anyone read this article from Amy Lawrence ahead of Michael Calvin's new youth football book "No Hunger in Paradise"
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/apr/19/p...
I thought it might provoke some discussion
I have t read it but I bets its chew em up spit em out?
One of his mates his doing his GCSEs in the next few weeks,
Just got asked to start training with a league club,
Not on that is it, the kids head is full of it now at the most crucial time of his life
His teams struggled this season and he's managed to get himself a Saturday job
Partly so he can still play and partly so he can buy 140 quid laceless boots
One of his mates his doing his GCSEs in the next few weeks,
Just got asked to start training with a league club,
Not on that is it, the kids head is full of it now at the most crucial time of his life
His teams struggled this season and he's managed to get himself a Saturday job
Partly so he can still play and partly so he can buy 140 quid laceless boots
I blame the parents.
Having seen friends and family go through this and make it pro for a short while.
Some are that daft that they think their kid is going to be world class because he's scored a few goals in a local mini league. An old mate of mine is touting his 9 year old son round pro teams trying to get him signed on to their books to make his son's dream come true. He's even offering to move house. His son isn't even the best in his team and many other children in that league are already signed on at pro clubs. I believe he is damaging the poor lad by doing this and giving him false hope.
One of my under 7 players has just been offered a place on a pro club development program. Luckily his dad is switched on and understands that it's not the golden ticket to millions.
It's no different to any other sport really. My daughter is a gymnast. The parents can be even worse there, and I've seen it with kids playing golf too.
Mostly the kids just want to play and have fun. All the pressure comes from push parents.
Having seen friends and family go through this and make it pro for a short while.
Some are that daft that they think their kid is going to be world class because he's scored a few goals in a local mini league. An old mate of mine is touting his 9 year old son round pro teams trying to get him signed on to their books to make his son's dream come true. He's even offering to move house. His son isn't even the best in his team and many other children in that league are already signed on at pro clubs. I believe he is damaging the poor lad by doing this and giving him false hope.
One of my under 7 players has just been offered a place on a pro club development program. Luckily his dad is switched on and understands that it's not the golden ticket to millions.
It's no different to any other sport really. My daughter is a gymnast. The parents can be even worse there, and I've seen it with kids playing golf too.
Mostly the kids just want to play and have fun. All the pressure comes from push parents.
48Valves said:
I blame the parents.
Having seen friends and family go through this and make it pro for a short while.
Some are that daft that they think their kid is going to be world class because he's scored a few goals in a local mini league. An old mate of mine is touting his 9 year old son round pro teams trying to get him signed on to their books to make his son's dream come true. He's even offering to move house. His son isn't even the best in his team and many other children in that league are already signed on at pro clubs. I believe he is damaging the poor lad by doing this and giving him false hope.
One of my under 7 players has just been offered a place on a pro club development program. Luckily his dad is switched on and understands that it's not the golden ticket to millions.
It's no different to any other sport really. My daughter is a gymnast. The parents can be even worse there, and I've seen it with kids playing golf too.
Mostly the kids just want to play and have fun. All the pressure comes from push parents.
I've watched my son play probably 150 games now.Having seen friends and family go through this and make it pro for a short while.
Some are that daft that they think their kid is going to be world class because he's scored a few goals in a local mini league. An old mate of mine is touting his 9 year old son round pro teams trying to get him signed on to their books to make his son's dream come true. He's even offering to move house. His son isn't even the best in his team and many other children in that league are already signed on at pro clubs. I believe he is damaging the poor lad by doing this and giving him false hope.
One of my under 7 players has just been offered a place on a pro club development program. Luckily his dad is switched on and understands that it's not the golden ticket to millions.
It's no different to any other sport really. My daughter is a gymnast. The parents can be even worse there, and I've seen it with kids playing golf too.
Mostly the kids just want to play and have fun. All the pressure comes from push parents.
I can't remember seeing anyone who I though wow that kid will go far.
Suppose though the academy's pick them up early. Even then there may be 1 or 2 kids per age group who makes it to play in the 1st team.
Academies pick them up at all sort of ages. My lad was spotted when he was 7- he now has a long term contract with a Premier League team but he is one of the lucky ones (they say you make your own luck!). In the 13 years he's been there there must have been 80 ish lads come and go and in his age group 4 have made it at one level or another.
We also ensured he worked hard academically and has 9 GCSEs (mainly A's and A stars) even though he only went to school four days a week. He also has a BTEC. I won't pretend it was easy because as a family it is disruptive and it takes a certain person to get there (seen many go who have had the talent but the wrong attitude) but, it has been worth it and the feeling as a parent when he made his Premier League debut and later scoring his finest senior goal is immeasurable. From his personal view his dedication and sacrifices (no parties/alcohol etc.) are now paying off giving him financial security and reward which most people can only dream of. In addition the experience of playing all over the world and meeting many new people is fantastic- even for those who don't eventually make it.
We also ensured he worked hard academically and has 9 GCSEs (mainly A's and A stars) even though he only went to school four days a week. He also has a BTEC. I won't pretend it was easy because as a family it is disruptive and it takes a certain person to get there (seen many go who have had the talent but the wrong attitude) but, it has been worth it and the feeling as a parent when he made his Premier League debut and later scoring his finest senior goal is immeasurable. From his personal view his dedication and sacrifices (no parties/alcohol etc.) are now paying off giving him financial security and reward which most people can only dream of. In addition the experience of playing all over the world and meeting many new people is fantastic- even for those who don't eventually make it.
Craig1912 many congrats on your lad.
My son was in the Academy system for 5 years ...Now given up the game at 14 .. This article has rung true ... Thoughts ?
https://inews.co.uk/essentials/sport/football/foot...
My son was in the Academy system for 5 years ...Now given up the game at 14 .. This article has rung true ... Thoughts ?
https://inews.co.uk/essentials/sport/football/foot...
Gassing Station | Football | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff