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Coaching u10 side advice

Daniel Hoy

Hi All 

I have been coaching a side for roughly a year and its been a challenge, mostly with the mixed ability's, parents and my own expectations. i love it but im struggling to also find the balance of fair and firm and also probably my own expecations. the team as come along a lot but some due to different levels have not. this is where the balance comes in. ive been fair all season equal mins 99% of the time and this has worked some times but others not so much. we have lost close games due to me taking better lads off for lesser abilities, this is fine as its kids football however the lads who come off are getting annoyed and disheartened as they are winners and give there all and in most cases are seeing lads come on who arent as bothered dont put in as much effort and tend to hide from the ball or not run. i am worried the lads who put the effort it will look elsewhere. its the fair vs effort scenario. i am swaying to give more mins to anyone who at least gives me 100% effort i tell the boys effort is most important not skill and most get it. i know this wont be new but looking for advice on this. we have a good group all lads get on which is fantastic but i want to boys to progress also as most of the lads do too. we will be 9 a side next year and i will need a bigger squad too so i want to get the boys really firing this year. to finish im not hyper competitive i love coaching the boys and love seeing them grow i just dont want the group split that ive worked so gelling. maybe my expectations are part of the issue too. 

Parents

  • I see this a lot and am Experiencing this at my club, as I understand it as a coach, 4 subsets turn up, 1 to go to a session 2 to train 3 train to win and 4 to dominate the pitch, i also struggle with the mentally in removing good players for weaker players that costs a match, i have no problem losing, but losing to poor pitch choices now being picked up by the team is and I believe will spread the group, i taught boxing, martial arts and dance for well over 20 years with none of these issues, football however is an odd sport fixing on all as one as thats just not true, i would love to see a split in leagues to see if the experience of football would change for the better, I believe a fun league and competitive league would happily supply the needs of all the sub groups, its heart breaking seeing kids loss when its your decision and not there effort that caused the loss. 

  • in reply to Daniel Hoy

    Yes and no, I think football needs to acknowledge that like adults kids are different and so are their needs 

    we need more to separate the two 

    the amount of times I see children and the parents furious or upset as a low player has been used costing a game 

    especially if iin 1/4s the first build a good lead the second reverse that and so in on a weekly basis I Argue isnt healthy 

    we need beginners possibly mid and advanced team's

    there is nothing wrong with being competitive as well as fun 

    most sports do that so why not football

  • in reply to wayne bewley

    i agree maybe part of the responsibilty also falls on the parents to see there child isnt at the level just yet too and either accept less mins or move them to a more suitable team and not rely on a coach to make them that level with only a few hours a week.

  • in reply to Daniel Hoy

    I agree and sadly that’s not the case, I have seen many continue rather than move to a more suitable team. Possibly as not enough variety is offered,  It’s a tough call, it is possible for the lower to catch up, but they really need work in some cases and not enough coach’s understand what they need at the start is Co ordination training especially if there not picking up with the rest, in that situation though I would pull my child and find a more suitable team. Again this is why we need fun squads then those kids just not built for sport can still enjoy it, the lower level often end up ostracised by the team or sometimes themselves as they can feel they don’t quite fit. I believe focusing on positive fun teams over also competitive below 12yrs also creates a separate negative, which we are discussing. It would actually be good to see football expand and supply needs bettter 

  • in reply to wayne bewley

    Thanks Wayne some really good points and opinions.

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