Winter Pitches

Good to see that things are beginning to change. Two of my mates are coachings a team each, one is with St. Kevin's Boys (Whitehall) and the other is with Grange Woodbine (Raheny). They are between 16-19 years old and are doing a great job. Their respective clubs are paying for the fees for them to go on the coaching course. They are also paying the fees for them to do the referee's course.

However, there is still a minority with the hoofing attitude, yesterday morning I witnessed this with St.Malachys. Their manager seemed to be 40/50 and he was just shouting the usual tripe - "hoof it" and "lash it up the field".

Anyway, it's great to see clubs paying the fees for the young and upcoming coaches involved with the kids!

I don't doubt that RR, I see it myself, from opposing managers and I’m sure I’ve let it slip out of my mouth every now and again, Unfortunately teams St Martins, Malacheys, Artane Beaumount, Elm Mount etc... don't have any infrastructure like St. Kevin’s which arranges these FAI course’s, I am with St. Kevin’s and that course I did over the weekend involved a few managers from Sword's and at least one from Ashbourne, but as I said before unless the club is willing to actively get the course's done or find out when and where they're getting, we going to be stuck with these fool's who think like that women sirhamish mentioned and the Malachey's manager.

ps. I have played for all of them teams I mentioned above and I am aware there are some excellent managers in them club's but from what I’ve seen and heard its always been the manager who went out and got the information and not the club.

If I was the chairman of a club I would make sure over the next 4-5 years to have all my managers attend the FAI coaching course its only 45 euro and well worth it.

ps On a good note RR, there was a lot of young coaches at the course some as young as 17 which is great for the future, and again there where a few of the older generation there who now realise that shouting and winning isn't everything, Its more about progression...

pps who is your mate at Kevin's , is it one of the twin's who play on the BD team

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Originally Posted by Mark Breen

if they got rid of competitive football until 11-12 then we would have much better players with better techniques no matter what the pitches where like, At this moment in time there is to much pressure on players and coaches to win leagues and cup’s and that will only change if the league get’s rid of competition,

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Could not agree more. No kids should be playing competitive ball under the age of 10. Absolutely ridiculous to have kids under 10 being screamed at by "managers" and parents in games which I've witnessed on numerous occasions. Christ it should be all about fun and running around enjoying themselves before 10.

KOH

I think the general consensis is that under 11's shouldn't be playing competitive ball and as you say they should be just running around having fun, thats what i personally try and incorporate into my training sessions, one of the best thing's i've incorporated into my training is a game called olympic handball, Basically its handball but you score with a header as opposed to your hand's, the kid's love it and you'll be surprised how much they learn about showing for the ball and moving as the ball carrier isn't aloud to move once he/she catches the ball. Games like this should be incorporated into training as apposed to players (U7-U13,14) doing lap's, could someone explain to me why players that age need to be doing fitness training,

Anyway something has to be done to get rid of competitve football for that age especially considering the size of the goals for U11 up, how is a 10 year old supposed to save anything in a full size goal all were doing is ruining there confidence

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Originally Posted by Mark Breen

Sirhamish & RR, While i agree with you in part, I would also like to inform you of the changes in underage coaching, I am currently doing my FAI Coaching badges, I passed my FAI Kick-start badge yesterday (its not very hard) .............could not force them to change but are going to keep trying.

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Yeah, Mark, agree that there are brilliant young coaches who bring out the best in their kids. TBH have seen some terrific kids in ADSL games where skill shines through.

Hate to see them having to cope with bad conditions though.

Best of luck in your coaching career too. With lads like you footie here is in good hands.:)

Would totally agree that its stupid having kids playing competitively too young. At mons we have mini leagues for 6-10 year olds on sunday mornings and at the moment have 2 teams at u11, u12, u13, u14 and one u16. Next year we are probably gonna scrap the u11s and keep them in mini leagues for another year to try and sustain an interest for longer and not lose them to gah and also to give them a better skills based training b4 they have to be put to the test.

The FAI said they dont want under 11's playing competitively yet there is U11's in the national cup....doesnt make sense. We refuse to enter our u11's in national cup, they only compete in the Dundalk Schoolboy league.