What are people’s views on players being allowed to play down a year if it helps their development? I’m thinking in particular the U7s/u8s age range.
What are people’s views on players being allowed to play down a year if it helps their development? I’m thinking in particular the U7s/u8s age range.
hi mark
i think its vitaly important that players have the opportunity to play up or down an age in football if the need is there and the player in question feels comfortable with it.
its an ongoing issue where age bias is concerned that children playing in school related years are not getting the correct personal development they desreve
The feeling of not being able to compete with peers in their own years can have long term damge, socially, physically and mentally for them, as adults wether its parents, teachers or coaches we have to understant and recognise the importance that these children could be nearly a year younger than others in their team. It can also work the other way where older children in their years are showing more maturity in their team and could risk becoming bored and disillusioned with where they are as a footballer.
with that in mind we as coaches need to make sure our training is varied in our approach to personal development as well as coaching the team
all the best lee
hi mark
i think its vitaly important that players have the opportunity to play up or down an age in football if the need is there and the player in question feels comfortable with it.
its an ongoing issue where age bias is concerned that children playing in school related years are not getting the correct personal development they desreve
The feeling of not being able to compete with peers in their own years can have long term damge, socially, physically and mentally for them, as adults wether its parents, teachers or coaches we have to understant and recognise the importance that these children could be nearly a year younger than others in their team. It can also work the other way where older children in their years are showing more maturity in their team and could risk becoming bored and disillusioned with where they are as a footballer.
with that in mind we as coaches need to make sure our training is varied in our approach to personal development as well as coaching the team
all the best lee