boys club football for beginners

[RickyS]

fellow .netters, looking for some advice.
I have 2 boys (6&9) who love the Hibees and love a kick about with their dad, they have been asking me if they can play for a boys club team, now they aint superstars and have had no "proper" coaching apart from me teaching them my brilliant first touch :cool2:
I live in Granton and know there are some clubs close by but my question is, what standard do the coaches expect the kids to be when they start?

[Twa Cairpets]

fellow .netters, looking for some advice.
I have 2 boys (6&9) who love the Hibees and love a kick about with their dad, they have been asking me if they can play for a boys club team, now they aint superstars and have had no "proper" coaching apart from me teaching them my brilliant first touch :cool2:
I live in Granton and know there are some clubs close by but my question is, what standard do the coaches expect the kids to be when they start?

It depends very much on the club and the coaches for that particular age group - before signing your boys up I'd go and watch a training session and/or (for your older boy) maybe a match (although the seven a side season wont start back until March).

Different guys will have different opinions Im sure, but for 6 and 9 they have plenty of time to develop. What youre looking at as a coach is enthusiasm and willingness, and for them to be willing to enjoy themselves.

Check to see if Clubs have the SFA Quality Mark (which means that coaches for each team must be at least trained to level 2, have appropriate disclosure, Child protection policies etc). It doesnt always translate to a good coach, but it does at least show that a club is well organised.

For the younger lad, coaches are likely to be be pretty raw - usually Dads stepping in - so general attitude and behaviour is a good guide as to how they'll be with your lad. If they turn up chain smoking and still drunk from the night before its probably not the best indicator (and believe me Ive seen this!).

If you have a coach who insists on the kids being Messi, and give them a hard time when they're not, then run a mile. You just know that when a better player than your boy comes along your lad will be out. Also ask the coaches about their playing time policy - it should be fair and equitable. Kids arent competing for anything by way of leagues or cups, so if they turn up for a game and only get 2 minutes thats out of order.

Fortunately, most coaches are in it for the good of the kids, so you should be alright. Why not get involved as a coach yourself - it is genuinely great fun.:agree:

[RickyS]

It depends very much on the club and the coaches for that particular age group - before signing your boys up I'd go and watch a training session and/or (for your older boy) maybe a match (although the seven a side season wont start back until March).

Different guys will have different opinions Im sure, but for 6 and 9 they have plenty of time to develop. What youre looking at as a coach is enthusiasm and willingness, and for them to be willing to enjoy themselves.

Check to see if Clubs have the SFA Quality Mark (which means that coaches for each team must be at least trained to level 2, have appropriate disclosure, Child protection policies etc). It doesnt always translate to a good coach, but it does at least show that a club is well organised.

For the younger lad, coaches are likely to be be pretty raw - usually Dads stepping in - so general attitude and behaviour is a good guide as to how they'll be with your lad. If they turn up chain smoking and still drunk from the night before its probably not the best indicator (and believe me Ive seen this!).

If you have a coach who insists on the kids being Messi, and give them a hard time when they're not, then run a mile. You just know that when a better player than your boy comes along your lad will be out. Also ask the coaches about their playing time policy - it should be fair and equitable. Kids arent competing for anything by way of leagues or cups, so if they turn up for a game and only get 2 minutes thats out of order.

Fortunately, most coaches are in it for the good of the kids, so you should be alright. Why not get involved as a coach yourself - it is genuinely great fun.:agree:

great advice mate, I appreciate it.
I have been asked to get involved with the school because they have no coaches and cant get a team together for that reason, but they are looking for a years commitment, and as I was made redundant before xmas i cold help just now but when I get a job the chances are i would need to limit involvement.
are you speaking from experience as a coach or as a father of boys who play a bit?

[Twa Cairpets]

great advice mate, I appreciate it.
I have been asked to get involved with the school because they have no coaches and cant get a team together for that reason, but they are looking for a years commitment, and as I was made redundant before xmas i cold help just now but when I get a job the chances are i would need to limit involvement.
are you speaking from experience as a coach or as a father of boys who play a bit?

I took my sons team from u8 through to 19s, and am currently back working with the 10s again having been with that group since pre-school. I also referee youth football in West Lothian, and its what you see from the latter in particular that makes me occasionally think "if that was my kid, he wouldnt be playing for you pal". The things that really get me are seeing wee lads shivering in a sideline and getting literally two minutes at the end because theyre not as good as the star striker who's just scored his eigth goal and never comes off the pitch, and coaches with a humour bypass who forget that their charges are not mini-professionals and are there because they want to have fun.

Fortunately, guys like this are something of a dying breed.

As kids get older (especially at u13 when 11-a-side kicks in), the competitive nature of games generally drives clubs/teams to be more selective in terms of ability, but at 9 and 6 (in particular), it should be about learning the basics and having fun.

[HNA11]

fellow .netters, looking for some advice.
I have 2 boys (6&9) who love the Hibees and love a kick about with their dad, they have been asking me if they can play for a boys club team, now they aint superstars and have had no "proper" coaching apart from me teaching them my brilliant first touch :cool2:
I live in Granton and know there are some clubs close by but my question is, what standard do the coaches expect the kids to be when they start?

If you are in the Granton area and looking to get your boys involved with a well run football team then i can't recommend Spartans highly enough.

They have a fantastic youth set up. Well run by enthusiastic and knowledgable coaches, fantastic facilities and they try to get all the boys involved in games for a reasonable period of time.

At the moment i think they have about 2 or 3 teams at every age group up to under 19s. The focus is very much on enjoyment, teamwork and learning how to play the game properly. If you want any info regarding contact details or whatever give me a shout and i'll be happy to pass them on to you.

[12AlbionPlace]

Also in your area is Craigroyston.

Their set up may not be as sparkling as Spartans but it is worth checking out. They are a small well run outfit who are developing their own facilities.

Good Luck.

[GB6]

also check out lochend http://www.lochendyfc.co.uk/