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What expectations do you set around training attendance?

Laura Wildbore

Coach U7s going to U8s next year and we have several players who are 100% committed and turn up twice a week to training and the matches. We then have a handful of players who have other commitments and only show for games and rarely make training. These players are then all given equal game time and with a squad of 10 @ 5 a side it means that 4 of them only get 10mns on pitch and have to play 10mns in goal. It also becomes hard to then work on areas for improvement after games as half the team are missing. I also think team building is so important at this age and is integral for their development.  Interested to hear how you manage these situations and how you set expectations with parents around commitment and attendance? Obviously first port of call is to talk to the parents so it was more club stance on attendance and playing time I was looking for insight on.

  • 0

    I'm not sure you can set expectations at that age. Ultimately it's down to the parents. Having been on both sides of the fence, getting one child to training once a week and a game on a Saturday is not always easy given other commitments like work and other siblings.

    You can set out at the start of the season what you'd like to achieve and explain why you'd like to get as many at training as possible, but you'll always have those who are super committed and those who aren't. Some kids just want to turn up and have a bit of fun because their friends do, but it's not their main focus, then you've others (like my lad) who eat, sleep and breathe football.

  • 0 in reply to Phil Monk

    Thanks Phil. Super helpful. We are moving to ability based teams to help with development pathways and this team would be the highest ability team and stiff competition with numbers to be in it so probably should have mentioned that previously. definitely have what you have described in other other 3 in this age group. Thanks for taking the time to reply Slight smile

  • 0

    Our rule is that if a player doesn't attend training, then they won't be selected for the match that week. Regardless of ability.

  • 0

    Hi Laura. My experience over different ages and different clubs is that principles are easier to instil than fixed rules. My current team, young teenage girls, are not that fussed or even notice a team selection that was absent from training. We have multiple rolling subs and and I reinforce 'you are starting as sub because we did X in training and that will give you some time to watch what we do/what you missed (they know the difference!) We also have separated parents and the challenges that can bring (so I never want a kid to think they are being punished for their parents feud), and at 13 they are also experiencing puberty and react differently. My take away is that you can use your substitution policy and time with those kids to help them make those attendance decisions or at least help you understand if it is motivation or other stuff in their often busy (too busy) lives. They personally often have little or no control over attendance (i was told no late kids, only late parents - bit simplistic I know) hope this is helpful