Hi Paul, thanks for sharing the challenges you are having with your 8 year olds. Rest assured, it is not an uncommon one simply because they are 8 year old children...... and want to PLAY, whatever that looks like. Naturally, this needs to be safe both in terms of what they are doing as well as you knowing where they are. Therefore, reinforcing the message that they simply cannot run off to parent/carer on the other side of the pitch, without asking your permission, is a really important one to include in any expectations that you create for your youngsters and their parents/carers.

Returning to the footie, here are a few tips that I have tried out over a number of seasons having worked with my current U14 squad since they were U7s:

- Think about rephrasing 'substitutes' to 'game changers', explaining: "We will have our starter players and our gam changers." Then encourage your youngsters when they are off-pitch to have a brief chat with you/your assistant about how they might try to 'change the game." Remember that this interaction on a 1-to-1 basis is actually good coaching, as opposed to a tendency for many coaches (not suggesting at all that you do this) being a 'play station' coach and constantly shouting instructions and commands onto the pitch. Research shows that children do not like, or benefit from, this approach,

- Especially at this time of year as the poor weather arrives, look to set up a separate small-sided game near to your pitch; naturally this requires space which I appreciate isn't always available. In the lead up to match-day, share this idea with the coach(es) from your opposing team. If you have 3-4 extra players and they have similar, you could set up a 3v3 game or 'world cup' type activity where 3v3 play against the one goalkeeper with first team to score 2 goals wins, then rotate the GK.

Of course, the children might not want to play in the above game for the whole time that they are off pitch, though I would be surprised if this 'uncoached game' didn't help to engage some of them.

A true story to finish with. In doing something similar with my U9s a few seasons ago, when I called one of my boys to tell him that it was his turn to go onto the 'main' pitch he replied: "Can I stay over here for a few more minutes as I'm having lost of fun?" How could I refuse? Remember, they are children, not mini-adults ;-)

Let me know how things go and keep trying to enjoy your coaching, despite all of the challenges.

Regards,

Vinny Halsall

FA Grassroots Coach Development Team & Volunteer Grassroots Coach

Hi Paul, thanks for sharing the challenges you are having with your 8 year olds. Rest assured, it is not an uncommon one simply because they are 8 year old children...... and want to PLAY, whatever that looks like. Naturally, this needs to be safe both in terms of what they are doing as well as you knowing where they are. Therefore, reinforcing the message that they simply cannot run off to parent/carer on the other side of the pitch, without asking your permission, is a really important one to include in any expectations that you create for your youngsters and their parents/carers.

Returning to the footie, here are a few tips that I have tried out over a number of seasons having worked with my current U14 squad since they were U7s:

- Think about rephrasing 'substitutes' to 'game changers', explaining: "We will have our starter players and our gam changers." Then encourage your youngsters when they are off-pitch to have a brief chat with you/your assistant about how they might try to 'change the game." Remember that this interaction on a 1-to-1 basis is actually good coaching, as opposed to a tendency for many coaches (not suggesting at all that you do this) being a 'play station' coach and constantly shouting instructions and commands onto the pitch. Research shows that children do not like, or benefit from, this approach,

- Especially at this time of year as the poor weather arrives, look to set up a separate small-sided game near to your pitch; naturally this requires space which I appreciate isn't always available. In the lead up to match-day, share this idea with the coach(es) from your opposing team. If you have 3-4 extra players and they have similar, you could set up a 3v3 game or 'world cup' type activity where 3v3 play against the one goalkeeper with first team to score 2 goals wins, then rotate the GK.

Of course, the children might not want to play in the above game for the whole time that they are off pitch, though I would be surprised if this 'uncoached game' didn't help to engage some of them.

A true story to finish with. In doing something similar with my U9s a few seasons ago, when I called one of my boys to tell him that it was his turn to go onto the 'main' pitch he replied: "Can I stay over here for a few more minutes as I'm having lost of fun?" How could I refuse? Remember, they are children, not mini-adults ;-)

Let me know how things go and keep trying to enjoy your coaching, despite all of the challenges.

Regards,

Vinny Halsall

FA Grassroots Coach Development Team & Volunteer Grassroots Coach