Would you sign your DC up to football under these circumstances?

[Ricepops]

7 year old, not previously interested in football whatsoever, suddenly develops and interest and wants to join a team and play matches. After contacting the local football team, find out that they have two teams - one with more established players who have been playing since age 4 or 5 and some of whom also are in the development programme at city club nearby. Second team has boys who have been playing for a year or so and some more novice players.

Team 1 has spaces, team 2 does not (or at least they do, but refuse to take anymore as team 1 has more spaces). Go along to team 1's training to try it out. DS has a good time, but is clearly a very weak player - not surprising to be as he has never had v good gross motor skills, is on the small side for his age and also August born. As an example, he wasn't able to kick the ball as far as the goalkeeper in the penalty drills they were doing.

WWYD? Encourage him to join or not?

It seems odd that they would take him in Team 1 rather than promote some of the stronger players from Team 2 if they have spaces, assuming that there are some players in Team 2 who are better than your DS. Has he been offered a place in Team 1? If he has and he's happy to be one of the weaker ones, then I'd probably let him.

I don't know their policy, but it doesn't seem to me that they move players between teams, at least not in this age group. It is open that he could join Team 1. However, coach 1 said (after I said that it might be too advanced a team for him) that the training drills would get harder/more complicated and he wouldn't want DS to be put off. I think he thought Team 2 would be a better fit.

The coach was definitely trying to put you off there I think OP.

You know your child...how would he cope being the weakest in a team? Do you feel he has the emotional stamina, as well as the physical stamina?

I think it may put him off completely. Sounds like a crazy way of organising the teams. If they want one team to be of a better standard why let your son in? Is there nothing else available? Where I live the local council run sports centre does a football skills course. I don't think they play matches but learn ball skills. It might be a good way to start.

Rather than joining an actual team, could you just find training sessions for him. My Ds is in an actual team but prior to that, in his primary years, he just used to attend training camps.

It doesn't sound like an ideal set up for him. How old are they? Is there any possibility of them re-organising the teams at the end of the season? If that's what's going to happen, it might be worth getting him started now with a view to being in position for a more suitable fit in a few months time.
Otherwise, I think I'd be at least looking at other options locally.

Sorry I've just seen that you said how old he is! At that age, around here, you would still be able to find alternatives - it gets really difficult to find space in football clubs once they are 10/11.

Have you gone back to Team 2 and said that Team 1 is not appropriate for you DS? They might take him given he's tried the other team first.

If that is how they are organising their teams, and the coach is trying to put you off, then this is not the team for your son.

Find another club where they are willing to include players of all capabilities, with a club and coach that supports development and progression.

It sounds crap.

Ask if he can just be a training player (so no matches)?

Then once he improves he can play in the actual team.

Find another football training company.
There are likely to be several local to you. Don't focus on matches. That will come - and every training session DS goes to ends with a 10-15 mini match.

My husband manages our local football team so I may be of some help here. The club can't just move players between teams, it has to go via the FA as a transfer which is why they don't just promote players from one team to another. I would suggest you ask if he can train with team 1 but not play matches (this should also mean you don't have to pay as much money) and if a space opens up on team 2 or if he gets more confident he can then join Team 1 whichever is preferable. Also ask around for other local teams, where I live there are a lot of teams within the town, each village has one! There is no catchment area so you don't have to stay to your closest team. You will find in the next couple of years there will be a lot of changes within football teams, some of the best players might go to Academys and that leaves spaces for others to join. If you can please go to Grass roots teams, they need the money. I would avoid the business's that are running football teams, you end up paying ridiculous amounts that is not necessary.

Our local footie sides are all grass roots. There are lots if one is willing to drive 5-9 miles even though it's a very rural area. Worth asking around for other options.

ps: at least one England player has an August birthday... We see her on TV regularly.

Find another club. That team will be all super driven and possibly have very competitive parents on the sidelines your son will be put off completely. I have extended family who would all be very involved at that level and the children are constantly doing trials etc so that wouldn't be a good fit for your son. Also by the way that does not mean that your boy will not be every bit as good if not better than these boys after a while but it might not be the best environment to start with . Do any of the boys in school play for other clubs ?

Some sort of ball skills might be better. If he's not good enough for the team he will get bullied by the other boys and the parents will moan too if they don't win a match because he misses a sitter or something. Football brings out the worst in kids, parents and coaches in my experience.

It's also a big investment in time with matches every week and sometimes cup games on top of training.

If you can please go to Grass roots teams, they need the money. I would avoid the business's that are running football teams, you end up paying ridiculous amounts that is not necessary

maybe but they are usually more inclusive

@JuergenSchwarzwald

If you can please go to Grass roots teams, they need the money. I would avoid the business's that are running football teams, you end up paying ridiculous amounts that is not necessary

maybe but they are usually more inclusive

This is not true, a good grassroots football club has to be inclusive. Yes they may have elite teams but they should also provide teams that are for children who are not as skilled at football. Unfortunately not all clubs are run like this, I know of some that refuse to let girls play with the boys which is just wrong. If a club is not being inclusive they should be reported to the local FA. As said up thread it is a bit commitment if he signs for a team. We have 2 training sessions a week plus a match on a Sunday. The grassroots football seasons run differently to the professional, there are multiple throughout the year so you don't get many weeks off. Then when there isn't a league match you will probably have friendlies, then summer weekends tend to have tournaments if the team choose to enter. Saying that I wouldn't have it any other way, my son loves playing for a team and they are not an elite team by any stretch of the imagination, this is only their second season of not losing every single match!