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senior football

Lee Cooper

Hi everyone

just after some advice please.

we are moving up to u16's next season and there are some players that will reach the age of 16yrs of age in the september, october months.

There are some players that are showing an interest in training with the senior team which i do not have a major issue with.

but they are also showing an interest in playing for the adult team in the afternoon, after the junior game in the morning.

I am all for youngsters making their own decisions and will obviously not stop them.

My concerns as their coach are 

1. these youngsters although 16 will still be at school

2. As a safeguarding issue are these children, which they are still recognised as according to the junior football safeguarding till aged 18 able to play junior football and senior football.

3. For the sake of a season what benifits are their in footballing terms for these youngsters

many thanks lee

Parents
  • 0

    Hi Lee, 

    I can only answer from a personal perspective and I share your caution, they are still children and as such if they are mixing with the adult players there maybe a need to DBS the adults.

    They obviously can play the adult game but I would suggest its up to them, the physical uplift will need to be weighed up against the actual gains for them, can they cope physically and mentally? 

    Is there an U19 league near you? this could be a stepping stone. I am not sure if it would be wise to play senior football on a Saturday then play junior on a Sunday (for example) as the stress on their still growing bodies may be damaging so to play back to back is a NO. They also will need to stick to the FA guidelines on game time per day??, if it was my players I would want them to choose really. Not between schools or rep sides but certainly the grassroots level. 

    I am sure someone more educated than me can add more details, but hopefully my waffle has helped a little.

    Mark. 

  • 0 in reply to Mark Smith

    Hi Mark 

    these are my exact concerns, what  really would they be gaining and would a bad experience from an adult having his pride destroyed but a young lad in grassroots football flying past him end in the youngster being seriously hurt or even never wanting to play the game again.

    for me it would be a no , my advice would be no, but it would always be their choice

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