So this weekend I’ve seen some interesting results and score lines come in from across the country. The league sometimes get things wrong and eventually these teams find themselves in the correct divisions, but what happens when it is wrong ?

What does a 20-0 score line feel like for a 9 year old keeper !

As a coach being 3/4 goals up without reply I’d have already started to implement challenges, you can only shoot with your weaker foot, you have to be facing away from goal and we can work on turns, no touch, one touch, multiple touch turns.

There’s plenty of challenges to offer and this surely benefits the development of all the children involved.

So phase one is working we’ve slowed the scoring down and the game has tightened up, but we’re still scoring with no reply 6-0 7-0 what next !

At this point surely  you must be thinking I’m going to have to take a player off. But not until you exhausted all your options, you’ve set challenges, you’re playing you’re less developed players in their least favourite positions. And the strongest players are sat on the bench !

Is that fair ! Should they be punished for wanting to play and score goals. After all they’re 6/7/8/9 years old and want to score and score lots with it.

Do you swap 2 for 1 trying to not let the kids notice that they have one extra player on the pitch .

20-0 games are sole destroying and can take weeks, months to re build a child’s self esteem so why do we witness it week in week out !

I’d like to know how other coaches feel about this ! Parents too ! What’s your thoughts when your or is it just part of the game?

With a reported rise in ref abuse & incidents on the sidelines we ask….

????Is there a rise in tension boiling over on our sidelines at the moment?

✅ Yes
❌No

We spoke to some coaches, parents and refs about tensions on the sidelines and this is what they said, what do you think?

How the awards work

These awards are to recognise and reward the people, clubs and leagues that deliver grassroots football throughout the country. The awards are split into categories, and County FAs select a local winner for each from the public’s nominations. These form a shortlist for our national winners, selected by a national judging panel.

How to make nominations

Individuals are nominated by someone else (not themselves), while anyone involved in a club or league can nominate their own club and/or league.

Nominations are now open. Please follow the link below to vote for this year’s categories:

NOMINATE

A recent survey conducted by The FA and Nielsen found 88% of over 1,000 grassroots participants cite parents as a driver of disrespect in grassroots football.

To have an impact on this off-pitch behaviour, The FA has launched the Pledge of Positivity, encouraging those on the side-lines to support all players involved and respect referees, coaches and other spectators. The Pledge is based on The FA’s RESPECT behavioural code of conduct which seeks to improve behavioural standards in football.

England captains Steph Houghton and Harry Kane are the first two people to make the Pledge of Positivity, encouraging others to follow suit at www.TheFA.com/Pledge  

The two skippers also penned a joint letter to parents and spectators, which was painted into the touchlines at their childhood clubs; Harry Kane’s Ridgeway Rovers, Essex and Steph Houghton’s Boldon Girls, South Shields.

The letter highlights the importance of positive support and the role it played in their own footballing development, from the grassroots game all the way to Wembley. To watch the full launch video involving Houghton and Kane, click here.

England men’s captain Harry Kane, a father of two, said: “As parents and spectators, it is our job to make sure that children enjoy playing football. The pitch should be a place of support and encouragement. Youngsters should never feel pressure or intimidation from the side-lines, so I’m delighted to add my name to the Pledge of Positivity and I’d like to encourage as many people as possible to do the same.”

Lionesses captain Steph Houghton added: “Positivity is essential in football. It’s important to create an environment where everyone enjoys playing. There are small things you can do on the touchline – like applauding good play from both teams – that has a big impact on young players.”

The FA’s Chief Executive, Mark Bullingham said, “Having coached grass roots football for the last five years, I’ve seen first-hand the huge impact that parents on the side-lines can have on players from both a positive and negative point of view.  It’s no surprise that kids play better in a positive environment and our research has confirmed this impacts 90% of players.  It’s crucial that we create an atmosphere where players are encouraged rather than abused, for their enjoyment of football as well as their mental health.  I urge others to join me in making this pledge and showing their support for kids’ football.”

The FA’s Respect campaign was re launched ahead of the 18/19 season [having been originally launched in the 2008-09 season] with a new mantra of ‘We Only Do Positive’. As a result, The FA has seen positivity in grass roots football rise with 88% of tracked U12-U18s matches being played in a positive environment, a 2% increase from the previous season. The FA hope that the Pledge of Positivity will ensure that number continues to rise.

Make your pledge at HERE

But what do you think?

Tell Us, We’ll Tackle It will be rolled out by every County FA across the country and was designed to put further emphasis on the importance of reporting incidents, reassuring people that it makes a tangible difference and that the updated process is simple and effective.

The FA has also created a video to outline its zero-tolerance approach, reiterating that there’s no place for discrimination in football, whether it’s online, in training, on the pitch or on the sidelines. You can download both the main version and social media version here.

The updated reporting process and website means all completed online forms will be sent directly to the relevant FA and County FA staff so they can begin any investigation process immediately. It also includes clarity on the process and FAQs to assist with any further queries.

For more information or to report an act of discrimination, head to www.TheFA.com/tellus

Last year we launched 21 Days of Positivity with the aim of sharing positive hints, tips and challenges with youth coaches across the country. Almost 4,000 coaches took part & this year we have even more positive practices to share that will put the We Only Do Positive mantra into practice.

Sign up to receive 21 Days of Positivity through six emails covering training and matchdays. All content is created by our coaching experts in The FA Education team. Every coach that completes the 21 days will receive one hour towards their Continued Professional Development and be in with a chance to win a Respect pack (T&Cs apply).

SIGN UP NOW

Why 21 Days?

21 days is the time it takes to form a habit & the ideal amount of time to understand you, your club and begin to find the best methods to use for your coaching style.

For three weeks from the 20th January, there will be a mixture of information, hints, tips and suggested actions to take to strengthen your relationship within your teams and help create a long-lasting positive environment for them to continue to enjoy the game for many years to come.

This is also perfect opportunity to get parents more involved in the game, teaching them how to adapt their behaviour and help create a more positive environment on the touch line for their children.

We want everyone to get back the core reason we all play, coach and watch football – the love of the game. If this is something you feel as passionately about as we do, then sign up to take part today!

SIGN UP NOW

What did last year’s coaches learn?

The response from coaches about the difference the tips made to them has been brilliant. Here are a few things they said:

“I have found this has reinforced my desire to make coaching fun and reduce the pressure and stress for both me and the players.”

“We now celebrate players and their achievements. Our players aren’t influenced by score lines.”

“We get parents to play a bigger part in creating a positive environment. They’ve enjoyed being included within the sessions and it really helps the team.”“I’m now more aware about giving players space to think and play without me stepping in too much.”

“I have reconnected with my love of the game and am focused less on winning now.”

“After 21 days, getting the parents away from the attitude of let’s thrash them to let’s play good football.”

On top of that every coach that completes the full 21 days will receive one hour towards their Continued Professional Development and be entered into a draw to win a Respect pack that includes a host of physical respect branded assets for parents and coaches (full list in our T&Cs).

Registration is open 13 December 2019 – 17 Jan 2020. So if this is something you feel as passionately about as we do then be sure to sign up now!

SIGN UP NOW

]]> https://www.teamgrassroots.co.uk/sign-up-to-be-part-of-2020s-21-days-of-positivity/feed/ 0 https://www.teamgrassroots.co.uk/could-you-play-like-this/ https://www.teamgrassroots.co.uk/could-you-play-like-this/#respond Fri, 12 Jul 2019 11:20:49 +0000 https://www.teamgrassroots.co.uk/?p=13027