Junior Football League (not school) problems with Coach and not being picked.

[ksld]

DS plays for the local Sports Club in the Under 8s. There are 12 boys in the squad and they play 7 a side football. This has been an ongoing problem in previous years, but different coaches have made a big effort to include everyone and make sure they are all given a fair go.

New coach this year (season started Sept 2011) has picked what he has called his 'elite' team and these 7 boys play every match. DS and the others not in the 'elite' team turn up every training session and match and are only ever subbed on, and sometimes for just 1 or 2 minutes a game, often in a different position to the last time. Coach says he is getting ready for next season when scores are kept, he has been advised by other coaches to have an 'elite' team, the kids are keen on winning, and that it is his decision who he plays.

So the Club were invited to put forward a team for a tournament back in December. We only found out about it when one of the 'elite' team Mums mentioned it. On questioning the secrecy we were told that the names were picked out of a hat and DS wasn't picked. OK, but strangely the 7 names out of the hat were the 'elite' team.

Thanks to anyone who is still with this - trying not to drip feed! I am just feeling utterly fed up with the situation and don't know what to do. It is only going to get worse next year as we have effectively been told the team is picked and DS is not on the team. DS loves playing football with his mates and won't leave to find another club where he will get a fair go. The FA rules witter on about fair play and trying to keep everyone involved, but within the scope of competition.

So do I just have to suck it up - accept DS is not going to be picked and let him attend training sessions knowing he is not going to play matches and will probably lose confidence in himself? I know some of the other boys will not be able to resist teasing him about not being as good as them as that is already happening. Or do I have grounds to complain about the Coach to someone at the Club?

... and meanwhile you still pay money for membership to the club?

If I were you, I would talk to the other parents of the non-elite boys and talk to the club about a "mass withdrawal" of your boys as there is no point in paying for club membership to play football when in reality you dont get a chance.

I would not let my child have a say in this matter but simply say that you refuse to pay for football when he does not actually get to play.

I would look for another club. We have a A and B team but there was enough players to do that, they all play but in different leagues.

Really try and persuade him to go to another club where there is more emphasis on taking part. When DS was smaller he was in a club where there was an A and B team. He was usually in B team as A team players had to committ to two training sessions a week which he could't do due to school commitments, but from time to time he would be swapped in to A team for a change/holiday or illness cover.The A team coach was a real keeno(thought he was Alex Ferguson for 8 year olds), but parents in that group accepted it as their kids were all competitive etc. B team had wide range of abilities, laid back coach and DS had a lovely time. B team players mostly refused to be A teams subs for away games because coach would drag them 2 hours away only to let them play for 3 mins when an A team player's laces came undone!!

I manage an u7/8 team, first season , we have a wide range of abilities - when we play matches, it is imperative that we give everyone a role, we have 11 in the squad, 7 a side at matches, so if everyone turns up, we have four subs, we do rolling subsitutions, so each player has a good 10 - 15 mins on at each game. it is really hard trying to balance the game because of course we want to win but having to juggle that with playing each member of the team is tricky. I am having terrible probs at the mo with behaviour at training , players refusing to play in certain positions, sulking, storming off, i am drafting an email today to lay the law down to the parents. My advice to you is to look at other clubs, some clubs we play are like mini premiership sides, the way they are run, very competitive, other clubs are more laid back like mine . I do see the dilemma in that once you start in the older leagues, results are so important.

Also bear in mind parents views, i have a player who pays no attention, is not engaging at all, says he dad makes him come, he has little skill, i use him primarily as a sub because he doesnt display willingness to join in either at training or matches, his mum who nevers attends, came to me during a league match reading the riot act, her poor son why he is being subbed all the time, how must he feel etc, she was totally deluded and should be asking herself why the father makes him come - we have tried so much with him, one on one tuition etc but he has no desire to participate.

You could of course offer to help with the team in some way - try and get more involved with the running of the team. What annoys me is parents who had the opportunity to be inovlved, decided they couldnt then think they can run the team from sidelines - saying all this though i do love it - most of the time !!! Good luck !!