Evening all, 

Some advise needed, I am a grass roots coach new this year of U10 boys managing the 3rd team with no SEN experience, we a really great bunch of boys and have just won out first game at the 9th attempt.

In my group i have a lad who has some cognitive learning difficulties, meaning his brain is a few years behind his actual age and learning takes much longer for him, during matches he would become very over stimulated and often stop participating because its was just very overwhelming for him, he also has a very small aggressive streak sometimes towards the children on he pitch which means he can vent his frustration openly but i think this can be more down to his frustration rather than an issue surrounding his cognitive learning disability.

I want him to be a part of the team, so i agreed with him mum after the first few friendlies and recognizing the issues that he was having/facing that he would continue to train with us and be apart of the match day squad and we would manage his game time minutes, most matches he was getting around 5 mins but i am still finding this is over stimulating for him.

This evening him mum has pulled me for a chat and explains that he has said he has been feeling left out, which i totally get and i guess she was just pulling me for a chat to ask "do we still feel the pathway we have planned for him is the right pathway"..... well if I'm honest i don't know.... He is clearly well behind the rest of the team in ability but that doesn't matter he's a part of our team but I'm worried about a few things, is our football team right for him? is it fair the pathway we have laid out for him? Should i be more concerned about the aggressive streak? although it would be unintentional there is a very very small chance of him hurting another child........ what are you thought on this?

I have also seen the FA "comets" Pan ability football that goes on very close to us, should i be guiding him in the direction of this safe space where coaches are in a much better position to help, guide and make him a better player? including much more game time with similar people in his position.

Your help appreciated, i just want the boy to play football with a smile on his face.