 Posted 23/05/2007 15:58:46
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| In my local league (Oxfordshire) we can only register 14 players for competition. Inevitably, there are many more who want to play but don't make the grade. This is a real bugbear of mine. Does it always have to be competitive? I thought we had a problem with child obesity in this country? Telling an 8 year old child that all his mates are in the team but he isn't doesn't send a very positive message. I've had this with my own son. Does anyone agree? Has anyone organised unofficial teams or competitions and want to share their experience?
Dwyer
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Posted 24/05/2007 15:53:40
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Dwyer
I've been thinking over the possibility of putting together an under 12 team made up of exactly those kids, the ones that didnt make it or sit every match on the subs bench, the ones that would like to give it a go. I bet I could use their enthusiasm to put together a great team. Individually they may not be as good as the teams they would play against but I reckon I could give them a good chance of winning games.
It would be very interesting to see if the same drills, training, motivation that i use for my teams that I coach to great success now, would work with these guys.
I bet it would.
Dave Clarke Soccer Coach Weekly Editor
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Posted 24/05/2007 17:06:05
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| hi all as mentioned on a previous post i coach an under 14 team, this past season has been an absolute joy for me because at the start of it i was told i was taking charge of a team of guys with no or limited ability five or six guys were overweight and some had never even played in a team before and i even had one guy with a behavior disorder. at the start of the season we were beaten regularly 8-0 6-1 etc with the help of some friends, one or two still playing lower league professional football here in scotland we set about just making them enjoy their game as this happened the defeats we suffered were getting narrower 4-2 3-1 etc then we decided hell lets make us even more difficult to beat and each time the players to a person rose to the challenges set by us, and as they rose to these challenges so did their confidence and determination to repay the faith we had shown them, so much so that our last three results have been 4-4 0-0 and in our last game we won 1-0 against a team who had beaten us earlier in the season. the elation on all the faces that day made up for all the hard work put in by myself and others over the season i was so proud of all the guys. what i am probably trying to say is at any level if you are prepared to work with the players their is no such thing in my mind as a lost cause.
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Posted 24/05/2007 17:28:10
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| Hi, It is really difficult to be a coach that will give all players a chance to join in a match, when most of the other coaches are fielding teams to win. I've found, with my U'9s, that by giving the newer or less skilled players a match, they've been able to improve in leaps and bounds. To be honest, it's usually the parents that make the most grumbling if we don't win or if a new player makes a mistake. Sometimes they take the fun out of football. To help things a bit further, I often try to arrange an extra match each week as a friendly to mix the team up, because as has been said before, at this age they may not have found their perfect position yet and the more skilled players can help the others during the match. I'm probably being a bit niaive in my views, but you never know what dedication and talent are lurking in the shy young child at the back of the crowd.
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Posted 28/05/2007 12:47:25
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Fi
you're not being niaive at all, running the extra match is ideal in this situation, but boy does that take some dedication, it must take a lot of your timeup. If you can give all your team a match each week whether it is friendlies or actual matches is excellent, a lot of less obviously talented players will rarely get a full match.
Keep it up!
Dave Clarke Soccer Coach Weekly Editor
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Posted 15/06/2007 00:34:36
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| WHY DON'T YOU START ANOTHER TEAM? GET MORE PARENTS INVOLVED THE MORE KIDS THAT PLAY THE BETTER. WHO CAN TELL WHAT AKID WILL BE AT 8 YEARSOLD.
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Posted 15/06/2007 11:04:39
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| We always make a point of running two games. At the end of last season we had a game against a local side who brought on all their best players half way through the second game and ended up hammering us. Pretty bad sportmanship. Not only do our players learn nothing, but nor do their's. I guess the thing to do is have a phone conversation with the opposition coach the day before the game and agree an approach. There's dignity in being gloriously rubbish. And every little improvement is much more fulfilling. If you're only in it to win it, you've lost something already, in my opinion.
Dwyer
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Posted 15/06/2007 12:46:24
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On many occassions last year when the pitch was big enough I tried to play 8 a side instead of 7 a side. I had 13 players which was way too many but just by having 1 less sub things improved for the lads and myself. I had one coach who had alot of players and wanted to play 2 matches so all could play. I had 11 turn up that day and suggested 8 aside which he declined so being helpful I said ok we'll play 2 matches to give your lads the experience. First game they beat us 9 0. It was cold and raining constantly. Second game started. The ball went at least 2 yards over the dead ball line before their player retrieved it and then scored. The goal was allowed by their ref despite my protests and those of my parents. Not a word from the other coach so I took them all off and went home.
Woolston Rovers Warrington
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