Football for 5 year olds

[goodfella]

Does anyone know anywhere locally where there is a 5 - 6 year age group of football coaching on a saturday mornning?

We currently go to one which is between 5 and 7 and this I find is too old as some of the 7 year olds are nearer 8. So are much bigger and skilful than my 5 year old.

Can anyone help?

[TheDee51]

Used to take mine to Roe Lane in Newcastle mate, saturday mornings.
Used to be quite good, until he moved up a level to the 6/7's then it seemed to be like what you are experiencing now, bigger lads nearly 8 playing, running with the ball straight to the goal and scoring, no passing, no development etc.

But for 5 year old's it seemed okay.

He now goes to the Hrdman Development Centre in Milton and absolutely loves it. Don't know if they do a 5 year old group though.

Worth trying. Try:
www.hardmanfootball.com

Good luck

[ontheedge]

My lads down the Hardman center too and loves it. There's a soccer school at 10 on Saturday morning. Not sure what the age limit is. The first league is age 6/8. Worth getting his name down for next year if Milton is local. Highly recommend it to anyone.

TheDEE51, what leagues your lad in

[TheDee51]

He plays for the under 8's mate, so no league as yet.
Longton Bulls is his team.

He was also at the training on saturday at 10am.

[ontheedge]

Small world mate. So does mine. Milton Santos. I see the big match is on the 26th of October. Must have played you last year? I hope it wasn't the time nearly our whole team went off crying. Mind you it was bloody cold.

I see your the featured match on the website How'd you get on against Galaxy?

[TheDee51]

lol - lost 2-0 in the first match and lost 1-0 in the second.
Our goalie saved a cracking penalty in the second match aswell.

Yeh, I think I remember Milton Santos last month - was that the 12-1 match??
If it was, fair play to your manager, who was always saying 'doesnt matter lads, keep fighting, its okay' etc etc. as they were very disheartened.
I think it was also the match that the ref had a go at a Woman for slating one of our kids for 'over celebrating' his goal celebration!!!
Competitive or what !!! ;D

[ontheedge]

lol. According to my fixture list we haven't played yet. We trained with the Galaxy through the summer. I think it was important for their development getting hammered week in week

Honour's even against the Potters on Sunday. 2-1 win and 2-0 loss, even after the ref ignored three blatant hand balls. Its about time we had a video ref when football's as important as this.

You'll have to wait until the 26th to see the awesome power of the Santos. Watch out for the John Terry like number 4 and the gobby tall git on the side lines repeatedly shooting "get goal-side" to himself ;D

Are you're lads going to Football tournament in Blackpool in March?

[stokietomo]

Powerleague on a saturday morning mate. Its about £2.50 and quite e few young un's get down there.

[TheDee51]

Ontheedge - Havnt heard of the tournament in Blackpool mate.

26th it is then - I think i'm going to bill it as the under 8's Champions League Final !! ;D

See you there

[Dazzlerscfc]

Vale Park.

[evans1863]

Do they not still play up staffs Uni on Saturday mornings?

I used to go from about 6-14 I think, always enjoyed it.

[bunnyscfc]

goodfella,

my lad is 5 and we're in the same boat.

He's very shy and doesn't really like football. I've had a look around and I'm sorry to say that many places are frequented by parents who need a good, long look at themselves and by coaches who have not got a clue about child development.

It's far too easy to get on the coaching ladder in all sports nowadays and it's been quite shocking to se just how some 'coaches' talk to 5/6 year olds at 'coaching' sessions.

One place I went to, which will remain nameless, had parents screaming the likes of,"get up his arse, son" to lads of a tender age, and coaches who quite simply haven't a clue how to talk to youngsters, never mind developing their skills. My lad visibly winced and went deathly silent when faced with that.

I personally will wait a few years before I put my lad into that type of situation. I'm sure there are good places to take youngsters, but I'm sorry, some of the ones I've seen are full of parents who find it amusing to shout inane drivel to primary aged kids from the sidelines, and coaches who basically qualified by turning up and being CRB checked.

And we wonder why our professionals struggle to keep the ball! Perhaps if some folk refrained from screaming "kill him", "snap him, son" etc at their offspring, then we'd stand a better chance?!

[TheDee51]

Thats disgraceful Bunny, totally unnacceptable.
I personally havn't heard any of the parents where my lad is shouting anything like that.
The only incident that did take place was when a parent thought our striker was aiming his 'shhh' celebration at her as we'd just gone 11-1 up. I think she said 'Ref, are you gonna have a word with him about that', to which the ref said 'Mrs, he's 7 years old, he's scored a goal and is celebrating the fact, if you don't like it, remove your child from the game and leave the premises'. She soon shut up.

But I certainly have not heard the likes of 'up his arse son, 'kill im' etc etc and if I had my lad would also be shielded from it and wouldn't darken their doors again.

Hope it gets better for you and the little un, i'm sure it will.

[bunnyscfc]

cheers Dee.

Schoolboy football is also dying a death at the moment. The amount of stupid tackles and gobbing off is reaching epidemic proportions. Are we turning our national game into Chavsville?

Something drastic needs to be done at junior level imho as many folk are simply shrugging their shoulders and getting out of it.

[Deleted]

My lad who is nearly five is doing football after school. On what I have seen the coach is excellent and keeps twenty odd kids in control (well nearly).
My lad loves it and is doing well. I think he is better then Kitson ;D

[TheDee51]

I totally agree Bunny.

I haven't got a clue what the solution is mind.

I think it all stems from there being too much football on tv (I didn't just say that did I???) and kids nowadays are seeing the likes of Rooney and Drogba mouthing off all the time at the referee's with such anger in their faces, rolling on the floor like they've been shot.

In my day footie was reserved to Saint and Greavsie and Football Focus and I can honestly say that I didn't see much of that part of the game, wether I was shielded from it I don't know, but my hero growing up was squeeky clean Gary Linekar!!

Until cameras at the matches don't focus on bad language, and players throwing strops, and lets face it, that ain't gonna happen very soon, then like you say, we are boarding the Chav Chav train going to Chavsville and stopping at Chavs Cross, Chav Street, and Chavs Hill.

[ontheedge]

bunnyscfc, I think I'd recommended the nameless center to you on another thread and I'm sorry you didn't find what you were looking for for your lad. My comment about my side line shouting was in guest, but I do get "involved" at times as do other parents and coaches but certainly not to the extent you witnessed as TheDee51 mentioned.

I can only speak from experience, and my lad has come on leaps and bounds, both in footballing terms and general confidence. As a team we've always been very single minded in making sure the football is purely about enjoyment. Teaching passing, movement and teamwork is the primary objective but also strength and not to be scared of going in for a tackle. I've witnessed respect and discipline but mostly smiles and the enjoyment of football. I've also been lucky to meet some great parents who I now call friends.

When they play well we praise them. When they pass the ball around but lose we praise them and when they don't play well they get told. I'm more than happy with the coaching my son is receiving and long my it continue, hopefully with the same group of lads and coach throughout his formative years. I applore anyone who is prepared to give up their time and teach what they know no matter what their perceived abilities are. Maybe a few more like minded individuals and support would improve things.

We know several lads who've had trails or train with Stoke, West Brom and Man U and from what I've heard the approach is far less holistic and enjoyable for the kids.

I regret your experience was not a happy one but please don't tar everyone with same brush. While I agree with some of your comments regarding Chavsville. This is surely a product of society and the obscene amounts of money floating about at the top level of the game not school boy/girl football.

[broadwayroundabout]

Football for 5 year olds .....thought it someone was trying to start an early learning 5-a-side team !

[bunnyscfc]

ontheedge,

it wasn't the centre you recommended mate, so dunna fret. Indeed, yours was a good one - the lad isn't quite ready yet - for some reason, he's totally into High School Musical rather than Ricardo Fuller!

[ontheedge]

bunnyscfc,

Appologies for getting on my high horse and jumping to conclusions. There's certainly more on offer when he's a bit older and I hope you find as much enjoyment as we have.

Dunner worry the high school musical phase passes quickly

[bunnyscfc]

Must admit, I, er, kinda enjoy it too!