do any of you lovely people know where to find out about footy coaching/oganised games for kids?

-- Anonymous, September 08, 2000

Answers

Swift one, I am heavily involved in the coaching/running of boy`s/girls teams, up till 5 years ago the guidance on this was pretty scarce, get a few kids together, get a sponsor, form a league and then try to contain the screaming parents on the touchline who in reality were hindering the progress of "Wee Johnny". The Scottish FA got their act together and issued a series of directives, so we are pulling in the same direction. I cannot comment on what the English FA have done, but I list some of the changes that have taken place. Note, By kids I mean 5 to 16. 1..12 and under we run "Soccer Sevens", Pitch size is minmised and size of goals also reduced, (grants from the SFA helped) 2..six members of club attended a basic coaching course (6 modules) specially geared to children 3..Most committee have attended one three hour course on "Working with Children", I forwarded names so probably been vetted. 4..New directive from SFA, Official on line must have current 1st Aid 5..Girls team, gotta have ladie officials running them. 6..Rewards for winning cut back, medals etc, enjoyment is the aim 7..Hard to implement, but in Soccer 7 `s League if score reaches say 6-0 in under 10 match, this reverts back to 0-0. 8..The hardest part at times is getting the parents involved, sadly some treat it as a baby sitting service, others put their heart and soul into it. 9..The plusses are there to see, as I said at our 5 a side gala, We do not see 10 kids chasing a ball like bees round a honeypot, young as they are they are taking things onboard, playing correct positionally and most important playing the passing game. 10.Suggest Olly that before you get involved on the playing side,get the basics toghether for presentation to interested parties, potential sponsors. parents etc, ie one page constitution,stating aims, non sectarian, non racist, the usual. Finally you can get help, everything costs these days, I would have suggested initially your County FA but drop a line to the Youth Development Officer, English Football Ass, Lancaster Gate,? they should provide you with advice.

-- Anonymous, September 09, 2000

As a adder, one of the most memorable experiences of my life was introducing /coaching soccer skills to 20 Iban kids at Lundu,Sarawak in the early sixties. It was my contribution to a "Hearts and Minds" campaign, problem was they could not decipher my Geordie brogue and everything was done by demostation and whistle blasts, Happy Days.

-- Anonymous, September 09, 2000