09/08/2024
Two months ago my 9 year old son was told not to resign on to a local ‘grass root’ non league football team. (They are to young to play league)
Now as a PT who has specialised qualifications as an interest in movement and biomechanics, the notion of denying a child to play sport has a lot of detrimental effects both physically and mentally.
After being told by two grown men that he couldn’t sign on, he was in floods of tears and didn’t want to go to school the next day as his mates witnessed this all happen. This comment by these men affected his mental health and his education that week. (As well as mine)
Children between the ages of 9-12 have vastly different gross motor skills and are completely different to another child their age. No two 9 year olds boys are the same and they certainly don’t move the same. Movement needs to be taught. It is down to the PT/coach to do this. To say that they haven’t progressed this season is not the fault of the child but rather the fault of the PT/coach. Having 19 children do a penalty shoot out in the cold and rain is not teaching them movement. Having a child sat on the subs bench at every game, is not teaching them movement.
So, in order to help my son and all those children that get over look, I have during these last 2 months, nearly qualified to be a ‘grass roots’ football coach.
Now what I do with these qualifications, I am still toying with. But my son will never have to worry about not being coached or told FA lies.
No child should be denied to play football. No mater how bad they are at it. They are children not professionals footballers.
Safeguarding says that, ‘it is poor practice to have a win-at-all cost attitude.’ Quote England Football example 3 FA Safeguarding
FA Safeguarding says ‘each child is recognised regardless of their ability, praised for their efforts’.
This is FA rules.
Being told that, ‘FA rules say you have to start each game with your strongest players on the pitch’ is NOT Fa Rules.
I contacted Suffolk FA about this rule, ‘it is the discretion of the coach or manager as to who starts. The term ‘strongest player’ should not be used, especially with children under 10’.
