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Forum Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 01/11/2011 01:01:22
Posts: 44,
Visits: 401
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| Should I have a captain? Keeping in mind here that my team is just U9s. I'm undecided yet whether it's worth having one. Last season, I rotated it and really every player had a turn or two. It didn't really matter nor make much difference but some took to it and others couldn't care less. I bought an armband and some liked that and others would take it off! I've been thinking about for next season though and am going back and forth between rotating again or electing one player to do it for the whole season. I have one kid who is an absolute natural for it. Very mature for his age. Very vocal and extremely competetive. I've played him at every position at various times to fill gaps if people are on holiday and he does exactly wht I ask of him and he does it well. He's also extremely good from a sportsmanship point of view. He's an obvious choice whether I do it now or a few years now. On the one hand, I like the idea of an on field leader and it's certainly worked for teams I've played on. I also like that I'm teaching and giving responsibility to my players (well, one of them but maybe the rest will step up too?) But still these are 8 and 9 year old boys. Has anyone gone this route with a captain at this age who does more than the coin toss? If so, what does your captain do - or what do you expect them to do given their young age? Or am I off my rocker and this is a daft idea?
Gav Coach - U8 Boys (Toronto, Canada)
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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 26/03/2010 11:14:46
Posts: 5,
Visits: 4
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| I think that your rotation idea is a good one. at that age when kids are developing their personalities as well as their football skills little things can make big differences. Of course there will be natural Captains in the side who will do the job anyway regardless of wether they are the offical skipper. I think in some way that your rotation idea could be used as a usefull tool in getting the lads to show respect for each other and hammers home, but in a subtle way, that everyone has a part to play in the team and that everyone on the pitch, in their own way should be a skipper.
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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 09/06/2010 09:45:28
Posts: 3,
Visits: 12
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| This season I've rotated my captain with no real rhyme nor reason as to who I pick. Last year at under 8's we had the same player as captain for most of the season as he had been the captain when I took the team over at U8's. He left last summer and this gave me opportunity to change it around. I think it is important for all of the team to feel that little bit of added responsibility and they should take pride in the honour. The FA are trying to promote the respect program which includes the captain being the voice between team and ref which, at an older age, should be something coaches should encourage. As well as the coin flip I always have my captain being responsible for the match ball at the end of the game. Gives them that little added responsibility and also helps you as coach make sure you get your ball back.
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