Kids Grassroots Football - The good stuff!

[martt]

Bumping this thread, it's good to read other stories in grassroots

I've been running a team since U6, now at U13. We've a strong team who compete in the top league in the region.

The parents are great and i have a strong relationship with most of them but like has been noted there will always be a few missing for various reasons each week.

My biggest bugbear however is the number of schoolboy or district games that are played on a Saturday morning. I often have a few of my stronger players missing to take part in these games. I've also had players missing to play in a shadow academy (PL) friendlies that have also taken place on a saturday.

Surely Saturday morning should be universally reserved for grassroots.

Schoolboy / district football on a Wednesday afternoon or perhaps an evening and academies should leave my kids well alone on a Saturday am!

[LastPoster]

I'm no longer involved as both mine gave up at the u16/u18 point

But THE main day for grassroots is Sundays in the Bristol area, Saturdays was a smaller league set up with significantly fewer teams and development/JPL stuff. A good number of the lads in my younger son's team played JPL on a Saturday and arrived injured or knackered for the Sunday game

[48Valves]

LastPoster said:

I'm no longer involved as both mine gave up at the u16/u18 point

But THE main day for grassroots is Sundays in the Bristol area, Saturdays was a smaller league set up with significantly fewer teams and development/JPL stuff. A good number of the lads in my younger son's team played JPL on a Saturday and arrived injured or knackered for the Sunday game

Cambs FA is the other way round.

I coach U14s and am chairman of a small club. I love coaching the boys. But get more and more frustrated by the behaviour of many of the adults involved.

[JQ]

LastPoster said:

I'm no longer involved as both mine gave up at the u16/u18 point

But THE main day for grassroots is Sundays in the Bristol area, Saturdays was a smaller league set up with significantly fewer teams and development/JPL stuff. A good number of the lads in my younger son's team played JPL on a Saturday and arrived injured or knackered for the Sunday game

Same in the North West U6-U11 games are played on a Saturday then once the kids hit high school all grassroots games are played on a Sunday.

[Takemeaway]

JQ said:

Same in the North West U6-U11 games are played on a Saturday then once the kids hit high school all grassroots games are played on a Sunday.

This is not true. There are plenty of U12 upwards leagues in the north west, well manchester at least

[Glassman]

I packed it in end of last season. The team I was managing won the league and cup double two seasons in a row (second season finished the league unbeaten) and all things considered, it was the best high to end it on. My son is Under 15 now, playing for a team in the EJA League (Eastern Junior Alliance).

What tipped me over the edge:

1. Parents running the line and blatantly cheating.

2. The league fining you for the most pettiest of 'offences'. If you know the Watford Friendly League, you know.

3. No support from the parent club. Ours was all about the production line of little Johnnies who can't kick a football coming in at seven years old. They develop and start play well; you teach them about life as well as football and inevitably, they start winning (which we did, emphatically). This wasn't the success the club wanted to celebrate.

4. No support from the FA. My assistant was punched during a game. We reported and provided witness accounts, and some video footage; the sanction: £15.00 fine and an instruction to complete a course (online) on how to be friendly to others.

5. No appreciation from parents for what you do. Some were convinced I was paid, so saw it as my job.

6. No help from parents on training and match days.

7. Unrealistic directives from the FA when they're not implemented at elite level. They asked for respect but whack on the telly to watch your favourite team and the players are all over the referee and the fans are unruly.

8. While I was coaching and managing 18 players, I wasn't watching my own son play in the team in the way parents watched theirs. Despite this, I still came under criticism for how I managed the team or wasn't doing enough for their child. This was of course from the ones who never, ever helped in any way.

9. Meeting/seeing coaches and managers who should never be in charge of a kids, never mind a sports team.

My son wants to play football and I will continue to support him - as a parent - in every way that I can, but football? Nah. Corrupt, unruly and infested with horrible people. That said, I have made some good friends on my journey. Never again though, and I watch games from a distance (and still see and hear the same ole, same ole).

[craig1912]

Glassman said:

I packed it in end of last season. The team I was managing won the league and cup double two seasons in a row (second season finished the league unbeaten) and all things considered, it was the best high to end it on. My son is Under 15 now, playing for a team in the EJA League (Eastern Junior Alliance).

What tipped me over the edge:

1. Parents running the line and blatantly cheating.

2. The league fining you for the most pettiest of 'offences'. If you know the Watford Friendly League, you know.

3. No support from the parent club. Ours was all about the production line of little Johnnies who can't kick a football coming in at seven years old. They develop and start play well; you teach them about life as well as football and inevitably, they start winning (which we did, emphatically). This wasn't the success the club wanted to celebrate.

4. No support from the FA. My assistant was punched during a game. We reported and provided witness accounts, and some video footage; the sanction: £15.00 fine and an instruction to complete a course (online) on how to be friendly to others.

5. No appreciation from parents for what you do. Some were convinced I was paid, so saw it as my job.

6. No help from parents on training and match days.

7. Unrealistic directives from the FA when they're not implemented at elite level. They asked for respect but whack on the telly to watch your favourite team and the players are all over the referee and the fans are unruly.

8. While I was coaching and managing 18 players, I wasn't watching my own son play in the team in the way parents watched theirs. Despite this, I still came under criticism for how I managed the team or wasn't doing enough for their child. This was of course from the ones who never, ever helped in any way.

9. Meeting/seeing coaches and managers who should never be in charge of a kids, never mind a sports team.

My son wants to play football and I will continue to support him - as a parent - in every way that I can, but football? Nah. Corrupt, unruly and infested with horrible people. That said, I have made some good friends on my journey. Never again though, and I watch games from a distance (and still see and hear the same ole, same ole).

I recognise all this. The FA are largely a joke. Both sons were refs at a point in time, both gave it up because of parents abuse. One is a pro player and if anything the refs standard has got worse.
Parents are however the worst thing that could happen in kids football. I’d ban them from watching

[jodypress]

Glassman said:

I packed it in end of last season. The team I was managing won the league and cup double two seasons in a row (second season finished the league unbeaten) and all things considered, it was the best high to end it on. My son is Under 15 now, playing for a team in the EJA League (Eastern Junior Alliance).

What tipped me over the edge:

1. Parents running the line and blatantly cheating.

2. The league fining you for the most pettiest of 'offences'. If you know the Watford Friendly League, you know.

3. No support from the parent club. Ours was all about the production line of little Johnnies who can't kick a football coming in at seven years old. They develop and start play well; you teach them about life as well as football and inevitably, they start winning (which we did, emphatically). This wasn't the success the club wanted to celebrate.

4. No support from the FA. My assistant was punched during a game. We reported and provided witness accounts, and some video footage; the sanction: £15.00 fine and an instruction to complete a course (online) on how to be friendly to others.

5. No appreciation from parents for what you do. Some were convinced I was paid, so saw it as my job.

6. No help from parents on training and match days.

7. Unrealistic directives from the FA when they're not implemented at elite level. They asked for respect but whack on the telly to watch your favourite team and the players are all over the referee and the fans are unruly.

8. While I was coaching and managing 18 players, I wasn't watching my own son play in the team in the way parents watched theirs. Despite this, I still came under criticism for how I managed the team or wasn't doing enough for their child. This was of course from the ones who never, ever helped in any way.

9. Meeting/seeing coaches and managers who should never be in charge of a kids, never mind a sports team.

My son wants to play football and I will continue to support him - as a parent - in every way that I can, but football? Nah. Corrupt, unruly and infested with horrible people. That said, I have made some good friends on my journey. Never again though, and I watch games from a distance (and still see and hear the same ole, same ole).

It is indeed tricky at grass roots football. My son started U10's up on Hackney Marshes for a year before we moved to SE London. He was in SelKent for 2 seasons then joined a team in KYL from U13' to U16's. He's now doing A-levels and at a showcase academy.

It's definitely been an interesting ride for sure. TBH the KYL and JPL has been pretty good. There were some odd incidents but nothing major and as a football parent who also ran the line it varies from team to team. Yes there are some seriously dodgy parents who might need a visit to Specsavers or just blatantly cheat but that's part and parcel of football. Tell me the World Cup wasn't engineered firstly to be in Qatar and then Argentina to win, when so much money is involved, corruption follows. Such a shame.

[craig1912]

jodypress said:

He's now doing A-levels and at a showcase academy.

Just as a matter of interest, what is a “showcase academy”?

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Glassman said:

I packed it in end of last season. The team I was managing won the league and cup double two seasons in a row (second season finished the league unbeaten) and all things considered, it was the best high to end it on. My son is Under 15 now, playing for a team in the EJA League (Eastern Junior Alliance).

What tipped me over the edge:

1. Parents running the line and blatantly cheating.

2. The league fining you for the most pettiest of 'offences'. If you know the Watford Friendly League, you know.

3. No support from the parent club. Ours was all about the production line of little Johnnies who can't kick a football coming in at seven years old. They develop and start play well; you teach them about life as well as football and inevitably, they start winning (which we did, emphatically). This wasn't the success the club wanted to celebrate.

4. No support from the FA. My assistant was punched during a game. We reported and provided witness accounts, and some video footage; the sanction: £15.00 fine and an instruction to complete a course (online) on how to be friendly to others.

5. No appreciation from parents for what you do. Some were convinced I was paid, so saw it as my job.

6. No help from parents on training and match days.

7. Unrealistic directives from the FA when they're not implemented at elite level. They asked for respect but whack on the telly to watch your favourite team and the players are all over the referee and the fans are unruly.

8. While I was coaching and managing 18 players, I wasn't watching my own son play in the team in the way parents watched theirs. Despite this, I still came under criticism for how I managed the team or wasn't doing enough for their child. This was of course from the ones who never, ever helped in any way.

9. Meeting/seeing coaches and managers who should never be in charge of a kids, never mind a sports team.

My son wants to play football and I will continue to support him - as a parent - in every way that I can, but football? Nah. Corrupt, unruly and infested with horrible people. That said, I have made some good friends on my journey. Never again though, and I watch games from a distance (and still see and hear the same ole, same ole).

I've just started coaching u14s and luckily, don't see much/any of the above.
1. we did play a match a few weeks ago, first game of the season against a team who we're led to believe have "challenges" with kids and parents. A few parents spent the whole game trying to coach them, shouting for subs, the lot. One of them was also running the line... at least 5 times the ball went "out" with no protesting from players on either team that it had done so assumed it must have stayed well in. There was a few the opposite way too when I could see from the far side the ball had stayed a foot inside the line. We them anyway.
5. Quite the opposite - our parents are brilliant, as are the kids. I wouldn't have accepted the role if I had any issues with kids or parents.

[vladcjelli]

Glassman said:

My son wants to play football and I will continue to support him - as a parent - in every way that I can, but football? Nah. Corrupt, unruly and infested with horrible people. That said, I have made some good friends on my journey. Never again though, and I watch games from a distance (and still see and hear the same ole, same ole).

Same here. Coached my youngests team for a number of years, a change of job put paid to my involvement.

But whenever asked about it, I would happily tell anyone, football is a great game and I love it, but everyone involved is a dick.

[48Valves]

In my experience it is a small but vocal minority that spoil it. And too many people who think that winning a plastic trophy with their U12s makes them Pep.
These people can’t differentiate between professional football and kids playing a game.

Unfortunately there aren’t many sensible people who will challenge poor behaviour. So it continues.

[paulrockliffe]

It's not that bad up in the north east, I've seen one incident in 3 years and it's was dealt with well by both the club and the FA.

Worse thing I've witnessed was actually Man United's under 16 team very recently, abusing the referee, starting fights, abusing spectators and nothing from the manager to deal with it.

[essayer]

My son has started U7 this year and he loves it. I get caught up in it too, feels like a real adventure going to away games! Let’s see if the novelty wears off when it’s 2 degrees in December..

He did a U6 group last year so has continued with his friends, they’re starting to work well as a team which is good to see.

None of them want to go in goal though, and when they do go they keep forgetting to use their hands, leading to frequent drama

[craig1912]

48Valves said:

In my experience it is a small but vocal minority that spoil it. And too many people who think that winning a plastic trophy with their U12s makes them Pep.
These people can’t differentiate between professional football and kids playing a game.

Unfortunately there aren’t many sensible people who will challenge poor behaviour. So it continues.

I think you are right re the minority. I loved being a parent watching and occasionally running the line. It was different kettle of fish when my lads were referees, particularly in the less salubrious parts of Southampton and Portsmouth.
One team played their last match when my youngest was referee. U13’s who called him the c word, deliberately went kicking opponents. There were three red cards and god knows how many yellows. I was threatened by some Neanderthal and he was told they hoped we cashed on the way home.
Fortunately there was a Hampshire FA rep watching (to observe the team as their last two matches had been abandoned due to their behaviour. My lad was congratulated for getting the game to conclude and the team were then removed from the league.
Some good experiences though and plenty of good people- Parents don’t seem to appreciate that without a ref their lads can’t play.

[Zoon]

Our local league have had more yellow and red cards issued at the end of October than they did for the whole of last season!

[Glassman]

My son's team had a game where the referee was excellent. His overall game management was fair and he let the game go on as much as he could without stopping it. There was even a goal flagged off-side and he went over to consult the (away team parent) lino and, like they do on the telly, he pointed to the middle of the pitch and declared that the goal stands.

He also showed a very humble and human side, tying the visiting team goalie's laces for him.

Jake Basham, take a bow.

[jodypress]

craig1912 said:

jodypress said:

He's now doing A-levels and at a showcase academy.

Just as a matter of interest, what is a “showcase academy”?

Sorry somehow missed this reply. So my son is at Kinectic.

https://www.kinetic-foundation.org.uk/kinetic-acad...

They do these showcase games a few times a year where a lot of scouts come down. Unfortunately last month when they had one, my son was on a 2 week rest after a concussion and missed it. About 10 players got picked up for trials etc and one of them is trialing at Man City.

[s m]

Glassman said:

My son's team had a game where the referee was excellent. His overall game management was fair and he let the game go on as much as he could without stopping it. There was even a goal flagged off-side and he went over to consult the (away team parent) lino and, like they do on the telly, he pointed to the middle of the pitch and declared that the goal stands.

He also showed a very humble and human side, tying the visiting team goalie's laces for him.

Jake Basham, take a bow.

It’s all best endeavours etc and teams have to accept whoever volunteers to do it …… but having done it for my sons teams it was blindingly obvious that some parents doing the line don’t know the rules ( as well as a lot of spectators )

[Zoon]

s m said:

It’s all best endeavours etc and teams have to accept whoever volunteers to do it …… but having done it for my sons teams it was blindingly obvious that some parents doing the line don’t know the rules ( as well as a lot of spectators )

Agreed, we had a guy yesterday who put the flag up as soon as the ball was played forwards, it got so bad in the end the referee ended up overruling him most of the time.