We've had discussions before on here before about the pros and cons of youth football in this country but I have also mentioned about the cost of playing these days
Neil Lennon (booo/yaaaay/meh/whatever) raises this point about us losing a generation of footballers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41909778
What I will say is it isn't the clubs making it too expensive. I know from my experience that the club I am involve din actively try to make it as affordable as possible without going in to debt.
It is the cost of pitches, referees, league fees etc etc that is driving folk away. I pay £20 a month for my eldest. Which in relative terms is similar to what I paid when I was a teenager.
However
I can afford that. I also live on a nice quiet estate where the kids have a park to go play football without cars, trouble etc
If I was still living where I grew up there would be nowhere to play. Parks are now fenced off and extortionate fees put in place to rent them. If they aren't rented they are closed.
Kids are chased off parks these days. When I was a kid we'd go play at the back of a church hall. The church elders had no problem with it, their one stipulation was if we bring rubbish in we take it out. so we did that
Football talent does not come from money nor does it come from poor, it comes from an ability to get out and play.
We need to make football in this country open for all not open for all if you can afford it
Football is too expensive
posted on 8/11/17
I used to live in Carfin St Weig, 1982-1994
posted on 8/11/17
We used to use the big Gates up at the chapel as our goals, for one and two man cuppies
posted on 8/11/17
I had a very good school team and we often did well in the Scottish cup.
I remember going to Castlemilk where we were 2 up after 5 minutes. next thing you know the pitch is surrounded by guys with bats telling us if we scored again we'd be chibbed.
The game finished 2-0. The referee had us all at one area of the pitch for the final whistle so we could leg it to the mini bus which our coach had subtly snuck away to start up
posted on 8/11/17
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posted on 8/11/17
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posted on 8/11/17
The lack of facilities seems to be the problem or affordable ones. Indoor pitches and all weather for everyone. If only Iceland seemed to do it and for a small country it has worked.
posted on 8/11/17
comment by Call Sign: Armstong's Sexy Quiff (U3627)
posted 1 minute ago
I had a very good school team and we often did well in the Scottish cup.
I remember going to Castlemilk where we were 2 up after 5 minutes. next thing you know the pitch is surrounded by guys with bats telling us if we scored again we'd be chibbed.
The game finished 2-0. The referee had us all at one area of the pitch for the final whistle so we could leg it to the mini bus which our coach had subtly snuck away to start up
posted on 8/11/17
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 8/11/17
comment by Call Sign: Armstong's Sexy Quiff (U3627)
posted 1 hour, 53 minutes ago
comment by My POV-my name until the end of the year! (U10636)
posted 4 minutes ago
My son has just started with a team, and I’m surprised at the age group he’s in at the behaviour of the teams they’ve played against. Kicking the ball away at fouls, coaches telling opposition players that they’re crap-and at the weekend one of the players from the other team grabbed and twisted the baws of one of our players-where do they learn this stuff?!?
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I coach at 2006 age group and some of the teams, players, coaches and parents we come up against is beyond belief
Remember 2006's right now is the oldest age in the non-competitive scheme. next year we go to 11 a side and competitive football. Each team has a coach referee a half each just now. Next year referees are introduced.
However we have had coaches screaming at their kids "looks they are fvcking cheats" when they don't get a corner or a throw in their way. Kids booting the ball out then arguing it is their throw in.
The worst are the teams who actively encourage their teams to put the boot in. Parents on the side cheering when a player is taken out. We played in Greenock a few weeks back. 4-2 up at half time and we could hear their coach shouting and screaming at them at half time. It was their turn to referee the second half. My team walked off having been kicked off the park 5-4 - stud marks down chests, booted across both ankles at the same time, elbows everywhere while their coach refereeing it says "I can't get them all right"
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did you win 5-4 ?
I have to say Pro-youth is what it is , it's for the big clubs where it is dog eat dog - accept pro-youth for what it is and prepare your child for disappointment and if it happens then you need to move on
Where it's a problem is when the parents of the kid take over and their son HAS to make it now he's at Patrick Thistle U9s . They put pressure on the kid , speak to others bragging about their son ..social media etc etc
And how does the son feel because he's let go ? Disappointed firstly for himself but he also has this whole thing of feeling he's let everyone down because his parents built him up to be a fcking superstar at 8 ye old
Let kids enjoy football , as smid says so much learning has been taken from the game due to over coaching
Decision making is part of football , some coaches just constantly tell the kids what to do ...pass here , run there , don't do that , do this
As has been famously said
Football is played in the mind , your feet are just your tools
Engage the brain - let the kids decide
posted on 8/11/17
CT spot on
And no we lost 5-4
Drew 7-7 at the weekend just gone. Mental game. Two cracking teams just going for it. Played in a great spirit