very fine line here. on one hand you want the kids to enjoy football without too much pressure and get fit and active etc but on the other hand to get kids to excell at their sport there has to be a competetive edge. in other sports i.e tennis you'll find kids at a phenomenally young age thrust into competition to get to the top of their chosen sport. lots of football teams snap up youngsters from a very early age nowadays. when i was young it was from about 12 years of age. now its as young as 7-8 year olds.
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FA to ban leagues for under 8s
- Thread starter The Large One
- Start date
Skint Gull
New member
The children will still be competative, children still want to score goals and win every time they pick up a ball, as far as I am concerned this move stops the coaches and parents applying too much pressure and I think its about time.
If it was up to me i'd proabably increase the age where league's are introduced to under 10s, it just shouldn't be that competative at that age. As others have said, the idea of football at that age should be to instill a mentatlity of quality foot ball and make the boys comfortable on the ball. Competativeness will come naturally in time but young children should feel football is 'win at all costs'
If it was up to me i'd proabably increase the age where league's are introduced to under 10s, it just shouldn't be that competative at that age. As others have said, the idea of football at that age should be to instill a mentatlity of quality foot ball and make the boys comfortable on the ball. Competativeness will come naturally in time but young children should feel football is 'win at all costs'
The Large One
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Fine, but kids as young as seven aren't - as a general rule - able to cope with failure to the extent that it has little or no bearing on their outlook.
Taking away the direct influence of aggressive and over-competitive parents (who do make the problem 100 times worse), is not going to teach the children about how to cope with the concept of losing. They must learn that for themselves.
At that age, the targets you strive for are within yourself, not in a league table.
But the FA are just taking away league tables, no more !!
Those parents and coaches that impose their 'win at all costs' will continue to impact on those teams during any given game.
I have been to tournaments recently where 7 year old kids are playing on a mini soccer pitch, surrounded by overly excited parents and coaches.
It was more like watching cage fighting than football.
These little kids were 'helping the ball on' and smashing the ball without a touch, to the roars of the adults watching.
It was exciting and the drama was intense, but no-one was encouraged to pass or recieve the ball, because the likelihood of a mistake was scaring them to death.
Those parents and coaches that impose their 'win at all costs' will continue to impact on those teams during any given game.
I have been to tournaments recently where 7 year old kids are playing on a mini soccer pitch, surrounded by overly excited parents and coaches.
It was more like watching cage fighting than football.
These little kids were 'helping the ball on' and smashing the ball without a touch, to the roars of the adults watching.
It was exciting and the drama was intense, but no-one was encouraged to pass or recieve the ball, because the likelihood of a mistake was scaring them to death.
interesting thing on wimbledon. the commentator said one of the girl players started playing matches at 7 years old and her parents were told she wouldn't make it cos she was starting way too late. i personally think competition is good and healthy. kids will compete over anything from a very early age. be it at sport or life in general
The Large One
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supaseagull
Well-known member
But they DO compete believe me...Go to any Under 10's game and you'll see just how competitive the kids are themselves and thats without the pressure from the parents and a structured league or cup competition!!!
Anyway, this is a pointless discussion really as all teams in the Sussex SUnday Youth League from Under 8's to Under 11's play in a non-competitive league basis and have no cup competitions so it's a bit like locking the gate after the horse has bolted!
Mrs Coach
aka Jesus H. Woman
But they DO compete believe me...Go to any Under 10's game and you'll see just how competitive the kids are themselves and thats without the pressure from the parents!!!
Anyway, this is a pointless discussion really as all teams in the Sussex SUnday Youth League from Under 8's to Under 11's play in a non-competitive league basis and have no cup competitions so it's a bit like locking the gate after the horse has bolted!
I couldn't agree more. Our parents are not the howler monkeys that you see at some matches, with little johnny scared to make a pass - yet our lads are still very competative without a league to worry about. All the time we've been involved, no parent has said to me that they'd like their child to be in a league.
Lil' Coach has been involved for four years now with mini-soccer (and the SSYL as SupaSeagull rightly says above is NON competative.) All it means is the kids know on a Sunday whether they win or lose a match and dont worry about the result the next week. They are learning how to play football at that age and shouldn't worry about where they might finish in a league. Our lads approach the match on a Sunday with a clean slate, and how they play and develop in THAT match is all that matters.
I know that some coaches have moved their teams out of the SSYL because they WANT the league placing that another area would give them (I think mid-sussex is competative). I cant speak for the reasons those coaches have moved, but they have ALL been in the 'strongest teams that we previously played' bracket.
Our team is looking forward to playing one more year of non-league football in preparation of going 11-a-side and tabled next year, but I can guarantee you none of them would want it this year, despite the fact that we would be very likely to be in the top two teams in our league.
supaseagull
Well-known member
thedonkeycentrehalf
Moved back to wear the gloves (again)
- Jul 7, 2003
- 9,128
As someone who coaches young kids, it is the attitude of some managers/parents that causes the problems. The kids just want to play football in a fun way and at under 8 level, yes they want to win still but it isn't the be all and end all. We coach kids in technique and encourage them to play football - not hoof and hope.
Something else the FA are doing is a new Age Appropriate Coaching qualification. At the moment you have the standard coaching qualifications but they are for all coaches. The AAC qualifications are specifically for those working with youths from 5 years old and up. I've attended a couple of taster sessions recently with the specialist FA coaches that have been appointed for the South East. The course are formally launched shortly and focus on how to coach appropriate to age - not just the skills but around the psychology, physical and motivaional aspect of dealing with kids at different age groups.
It's all part of Sir Trev's big plan and hopefully it will work out well.
Something else the FA are doing is a new Age Appropriate Coaching qualification. At the moment you have the standard coaching qualifications but they are for all coaches. The AAC qualifications are specifically for those working with youths from 5 years old and up. I've attended a couple of taster sessions recently with the specialist FA coaches that have been appointed for the South East. The course are formally launched shortly and focus on how to coach appropriate to age - not just the skills but around the psychology, physical and motivaional aspect of dealing with kids at different age groups.
It's all part of Sir Trev's big plan and hopefully it will work out well.
1066familyman
Radio User
- Jan 15, 2008
- 15,189
I coach an U9's team ( next season U10) in the East Sussex Mini Minoir League. Last season was split into two, and the second half was a competitive league with a cup to be won ( no cup competitions though ).
I've mixed feelings over 'competition'.
I feel from age 8 kids naturally enjoy a challenge and healthy competition is a good thing. That means taking pride in your performance, playing for the team, and trying your best to be the best you can be. A competition to reward achievement gives a meaningful goal to strive for, and I see nothing wrong with that. It also means learning that you can't win every game/competition you ever play, and so dignity in defeat is learnt too.
I put the stress on healthy though as there certainly is a lot of pressure from certain adults on kids at an age where it is totally inappropriate. On a personal level, this can be damaging for kids, and on a technical level, it stifles their development and makes them clueless hoofers, shit scared to make mistakes or decisions. I keep drumming into our kids the old classic - " the man who never made a mistake never made anything ". I would rather have a team of footballers make bold decisions for themselves and learning from them, rather than a winning team of robots any day.
Unfortunately, the biggest problem in kids football in this country remains the jump to 11 a side at too early an age. I've started threads on this on here, and all the points have been covered, so I won't repeat. But until the F.A does something about THIS issue, our kids will always be short changed in their football development, and that saddens me more than anything.
I've mixed feelings over 'competition'.
I feel from age 8 kids naturally enjoy a challenge and healthy competition is a good thing. That means taking pride in your performance, playing for the team, and trying your best to be the best you can be. A competition to reward achievement gives a meaningful goal to strive for, and I see nothing wrong with that. It also means learning that you can't win every game/competition you ever play, and so dignity in defeat is learnt too.
I put the stress on healthy though as there certainly is a lot of pressure from certain adults on kids at an age where it is totally inappropriate. On a personal level, this can be damaging for kids, and on a technical level, it stifles their development and makes them clueless hoofers, shit scared to make mistakes or decisions. I keep drumming into our kids the old classic - " the man who never made a mistake never made anything ". I would rather have a team of footballers make bold decisions for themselves and learning from them, rather than a winning team of robots any day.
Unfortunately, the biggest problem in kids football in this country remains the jump to 11 a side at too early an age. I've started threads on this on here, and all the points have been covered, so I won't repeat. But until the F.A does something about THIS issue, our kids will always be short changed in their football development, and that saddens me more than anything.
Basil Fawlty
Don't Mention The War
Definitely the right thing to do. When I was playing cricket, up at Little Common two weeks ago. There was a Six A Side tournament, going on. Two under 8 teams were having a match, and a mother screamed out. Break that boys legs, to her son!
To many competitive parents, at such a young age.
To many competitive parents, at such a young age.
Bars Mar
Registered Drug User
f***ing Political Correctness Gone Mad.
This Is The Same Country Where The Poxy Police Banned Me From Holding Tarts And Vicar Themed Discos For Primary School Children.
This Is The Same Country Where The Poxy Police Banned Me From Holding Tarts And Vicar Themed Discos For Primary School Children.
1066familyman
Radio User
- Jan 15, 2008
- 15,189
I find this site really good. And you can learn all about GUBOG their too, which addresses the whole issue of competition in kids football.
http://www.footy4kids.co.uk/
http://www.footy4kids.co.uk/
Beach Hut
Brighton Bhuna Boy
Interesting as competitive league tables have been banned in Sussex Sunday Youth League for 8s, 9s and 10s since I started coaching 9 years ago and I suspect well before that.
Can't see the problem personally.
Can't see the problem personally.
Billy the Fish
Technocrat
That is a big point that everyone seems to be missing. I listened to Trevor Brooking on the Talksport breakfast show last week and one of the main points was that it would shift the emphasis onto playing football properly.
At that age the kids are at various stages of physical development, and if a team has a couple of lads that are bigger than everyone else then there is a tendancy to put them up front and hoof long balls for them to chase. The smaller players get ignored no matter what their skill level because they can't compete with the bigger players.
Beach Hut
Brighton Bhuna Boy
True but as they progressed the big kids were soon found out as they levelled up. There were several players Junior played against who were the size of Shrek when younger but a few years on gave up as actually not that good.
1066familyman
Radio User
- Jan 15, 2008
- 15,189
I was at that tournament. The youngest age group you would of seen that day would of been U9's. Our Under 8's are playing there this weekend ( a lot of tournaments split the days into odds and evens age groups ).
I've never heard anything as outrageous as you mention, but your point is taken. At same tournament I heard a coach call one of his boys an idiot ( out loud for all to hear ) just because he handballed it on the goal line, which was just an instinctive reflex action on the part of the poor lad
Nice coach eh ?
Billy the Fish
Technocrat
That's what seems to happen. There was a player on my U13 team who had trials for a couple of london clubs and I remember him being massive at the time, I didn't see him after that until I was 18 and I was about a foot taller. The problem is that it can slow the development of good players. Also there is an attitude right up to the professional leagues that casts aside small players, how many times do you hear a pro saying they were released at youth level for being too small. I'm sure we didn't sign Ian wright for that reason
1066familyman
Radio User
- Jan 15, 2008
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Like I say, we were non-competitive ( results had to be reported to league but no league table was published ) before Christmas. Then leagues based on 'ability' were drawn up based on first half of season results and those leagues were competitive. But no knockout cup competitions for U9's in E.S.M.M.L
We happened to win our league and have a nice big trophy to show for it,which of course the kids are well chuffed with, but which means very little to me. It means much more to me that so called 'weaker' players get to play in every game ( we capped our numbers to 10 boys so that everyone gets plenty of football, despite having enquiries from several interested parents ) and that they develop as people and footballers. Like has been said elsewhere, in simple terms, that means playing football not hoof ball.