Youth football teams, or boys clubs as they are often referred to in Scotland, regularly place advertisements in the local area in order to attract new players. A couple of recent adverts, both for the Under 12 age group, stood out – at the bottom of each was a requirement:
Previous boys club experience required
Basically, any 10 or 11 year old hoping to play for either of these teams, must have played for another side previously. While nobody is expecting a kid who has barely kicked a ball to go straight into a competitive game, surely this type of rule is harsh?
With this way of thinking, potentially talented young players who do not meet the criteria will slip through the net. For instance, some kids will have played non-competitive games at Primary School or attended skills classes organised by the local council or private organisations.
Then there are youngsters who are multi-talented, and divide their attentions between more than one sport, before deciding on football. Also, some boys and girls at this age may have simply played with friends for the enjoyment of kicking a ball around. They will be denied the opportunity of displaying and developing any natural ability, simply because their ‘CV’ isn’t up to scratch.
So who are the beneficiaries of this policy? Clearly it’s not the kids looking for a game of football. More likely it’s some of the coaches. Unfortunately, there are still some out there who think that, regardless of the age group, it’s all about winning.
You know the type – the wannabe Jose Mourinho’s who patrol the touchline, constantly barking orders, and thinking nothing of tearing a strip off any young player who dares to misplace a pass. Learning the basics and improving is secondary to moving the ball upfield as quickly as possible, and aiming for three points on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Granted, kids have to be exposed to football with a more competitive edge eventually, but for kids of Primary School age, the result isn’t the be all and end all.
These coaches will tell you how many trophies they’ve won and how good their team is, but will forget about those kids who faithfully turn up to training every week, and other than the occasional 5-10 minutes on the pitch, spend match day standing on the sidelines as a sub. What are they going to learn there, other than to wear a warm jacket in winter?
Then there is the social aspect. We don’t all turn out to be like Messi or Kaka, but youth football isn’t all about developing future talent. It’s about allowing kids to enjoy themselves while working as part of a team, and learning the importance of self-discipline. It also provides regular exercise, which is crucial in an era when childhood obesity is a huge problem in the UK. Ignoring youngsters because they haven’t played for another team could drive them away from the game altogether. There are plenty of other distractions nowadays, both health and unhealthy.
This isn’t an attack on youth football. Every week, thousands of selfless, dedicated people help children to play the game they love. In recent years the emphasis has moved away from the pressure of league titles and cup finals to small sided games, where kids become more involved and have more touches of the ball. Sadly, some clubs have failed to move with the times. Next time one of them places an advertisement for a coach, perhaps it should read something like this:
Experience of allowing young people to participate in, and enjoy, football is required.
Written by William Heaney
