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Grassroots football

28 replies

Turkeysausagepie · 08/12/2025 09:23

My DD has been playing for a local village team since last year. Last year they said they were full but she could train with them and then this year she was told she was on the team. She isn’t very good but always turns up, tries hard and has perfect behaviour. Now they have said they are inclusive BUT after Xmas they are going to ask children to leave as the number of children is making it difficult and they want to be more competitive. This is obviously meaning her and possibly a couple of others as they hardly ever give them any game time.

I feel like this is really shitty of them to announce on WhatsApp and leave the parents to tell the kids they’ve been dumped. Is this kind of behaviour acceptable?! Can you get your subs back if you get chucked off a team?

They aren’t a top level team and the training etc is very laid back so I doubt them losing a couple of the weaker players would really make much difference. The top player rarely shows up anyway 🤷‍♀️

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Justcallmedaffodil · 08/12/2025 17:38

That’s such a shame. DH is a coach for a similar local U7s team and this type of thing definitely wouldn’t happen there. They did actually end up with quite a lot of players at one point and ended up dividing them into a first and second team so they’d all get more game time (which is equal, not decided on ability).

Do you have any other local teams she could join instead?

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Turkeysausagepie · 08/12/2025 18:02

Justcallmedaffodil · 08/12/2025 17:38

That’s such a shame. DH is a coach for a similar local U7s team and this type of thing definitely wouldn’t happen there. They did actually end up with quite a lot of players at one point and ended up dividing them into a first and second team so they’d all get more game time (which is equal, not decided on ability).

Do you have any other local teams she could join instead?

Edited

I don’t think there are quite enough of them for 2 teams. Last match she stood outside for the full game in the rain and got 5 mins game time at the end.

i just wondered if they are allowed to dump you after paying annual subs.

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Turkeysausagepie · 08/12/2025 18:03

There are usually 10/11 of them wanting to play but you do need a few spares to cover illness / parties etc.

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SparkleSpriteDust · 08/12/2025 18:09

This is horrible!

I don’t think grassroots football should be about being competitive. And dumping a few players from the team is totally out of order. It’s not in the spirit of it at all.

This wouldn’t have happened at the local club my boys played at (they also had a few girls on the team).

I would get together with order parents and ask how this can be avoided and volunteer as a helper or coach if that will help.

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Turkeysausagepie · 08/12/2025 19:53

SparkleSpriteDust · 08/12/2025 18:09

This is horrible!

I don’t think grassroots football should be about being competitive. And dumping a few players from the team is totally out of order. It’s not in the spirit of it at all.

This wouldn’t have happened at the local club my boys played at (they also had a few girls on the team).

I would get together with order parents and ask how this can be avoided and volunteer as a helper or coach if that will help.

I don’t think I’d be much good at coaching to be honest I’ve never played football. I don’t even know the rules 🤣

I also think it’s horrible, I haven’t told her yet as wasn’t sure what to say to be honest.

I think the other parents won’t care as apparently they have been complaining that their kids aren’t getting a full match (even though DD got 5 mins!)

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Jeska7 · 08/12/2025 21:07

This is not what grassroots football is all about. It’s a real shame for your daughter. Hopefully she can find another team where all of them get an equal share of the match. Is there a local Grassroots Facebook group where you can post that your daughter is looking for another team? You’ll need to say what school year she is in. Not sure about the financial subs. I guess she’s received a kit for part of the money but will be returning that kit anyway if no longer playing. Maybe try to find another club, check if all get match time and then tell your daughter and try out a training session?

Mumofteenandtween · 08/12/2025 21:37

How old is your dd? I think it is wrong anyway but I guess it is more acceptable for a 17 year old than a 7 year old.

Football is a funny sport. It is such a lovely instinctively joyous sport and yet grass roots football somehow seems to be so sodding miserable.

I am very involved in an endurance sport. We get huge numbers of “football spit outs” including some who were on the books of pro clubs. Each and every one of them are shocked at just how nice the atmosphere with us is and regularly say how they wish they had come to us years before. And this is a sport that Team GB wins Olympic medals at and we are a club that has kids on the Team GB pathway. (Ie it isn’t just nice because it isn’t serious.)

moneyadviceplease · 08/12/2025 21:37

How old is she? The problem is that although in theory it’s meant to be a bit of fun and not competitive, it does become more competitive because the teams don’t want to be thrashed against stronger teams and the stronger players will move on. If your DD is older than 9 or 10 I would suggest looking around for a club with more than one team in an age group so she can play with other girls at her level. Equally it’s not fair on her and her confidence to never get much game time and to feel a lesser player

i Have been around girls football, and boys actually, for a long time, and it’s a tough environment regardless of their age.

somanychristmaslights · 08/12/2025 21:42

My DS plays for an under 8 team. His club are completely inclusive, doesn’t matter if you’re brilliant or shit, you get the same amount of game time. However that type of club seems exceptionally rare. When I see other teams play against them, they’re all about the winning. The good kids play the whole match, others get about 10 mins. The way some of the male coaches get so aggressive is laughable, it’s an under 8 match!!!! 🤦🏻‍♀️

somanychristmaslights · 08/12/2025 21:43

Lots of girl teams are popping up, see if another club has space if she does want to play.

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Turkeysausagepie · 08/12/2025 22:47

She’s 8 and it was a mixed team. Still haven’t worked out what to tell her! Seems harsh to tell her she’s not good enough. I will have a look for other teams but it’s not the best time half way through the season as most teams are full.

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Turkeysausagepie · 08/12/2025 22:48

Mumofteenandtween · 08/12/2025 21:37

How old is your dd? I think it is wrong anyway but I guess it is more acceptable for a 17 year old than a 7 year old.

Football is a funny sport. It is such a lovely instinctively joyous sport and yet grass roots football somehow seems to be so sodding miserable.

I am very involved in an endurance sport. We get huge numbers of “football spit outs” including some who were on the books of pro clubs. Each and every one of them are shocked at just how nice the atmosphere with us is and regularly say how they wish they had come to us years before. And this is a sport that Team GB wins Olympic medals at and we are a club that has kids on the Team GB pathway. (Ie it isn’t just nice because it isn’t serious.)

What sport is it??🤣 looking for ideas.

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Turkeysausagepie · 08/12/2025 22:50

Jeska7 · 08/12/2025 21:07

This is not what grassroots football is all about. It’s a real shame for your daughter. Hopefully she can find another team where all of them get an equal share of the match. Is there a local Grassroots Facebook group where you can post that your daughter is looking for another team? You’ll need to say what school year she is in. Not sure about the financial subs. I guess she’s received a kit for part of the money but will be returning that kit anyway if no longer playing. Maybe try to find another club, check if all get match time and then tell your daughter and try out a training session?

I don’t think we have a Facebook group with all the teams on. It’s just tricky as with work and younger sibling then we need to work out if we can even do another team.

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Turkeysausagepie · 08/12/2025 22:51

somanychristmaslights · 08/12/2025 21:42

My DS plays for an under 8 team. His club are completely inclusive, doesn’t matter if you’re brilliant or shit, you get the same amount of game time. However that type of club seems exceptionally rare. When I see other teams play against them, they’re all about the winning. The good kids play the whole match, others get about 10 mins. The way some of the male coaches get so aggressive is laughable, it’s an under 8 match!!!! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Yes this is it. The coaches are actually quite ‘nice’ and not aggressive but I personally couldn’t leave a 8 year old kid stood in the rain in December for 55 mins watching and then let them have 5 mins on the pitch.

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RightOnTheEdge · 08/12/2025 22:59

That's really awful OP especially as they've done it in the middle of the season and not even waited until the end.

That wouldn't have happened at my kid's club especially so young. At 8 it should be about enjoying the game and developing.

There was a game last season when my son hardly played, it was an away match as well so it was extra annoying to have travelled away on a Sunday morning to watch him on the sidelines.

His coach came over afterwards and apologised though and said he'd make it up to him and he played a full game the week after. This was under 12s and with a competitive coach but he still always tries to be fair and give equal playing time.

Your daughters coach is really out of order.

stupididiot12345 · 08/12/2025 23:00

moneyadviceplease · 08/12/2025 21:37

How old is she? The problem is that although in theory it’s meant to be a bit of fun and not competitive, it does become more competitive because the teams don’t want to be thrashed against stronger teams and the stronger players will move on. If your DD is older than 9 or 10 I would suggest looking around for a club with more than one team in an age group so she can play with other girls at her level. Equally it’s not fair on her and her confidence to never get much game time and to feel a lesser player

i Have been around girls football, and boys actually, for a long time, and it’s a tough environment regardless of their age.

Edited

This. Have 3 boys who all play football at a fairly decent level so have been around the block when it comes to grassroots. Find a club with a team that is better matched to her ability

Jeska7 · 08/12/2025 23:00

Turkeysausagepie · 08/12/2025 22:50

I don’t think we have a Facebook group with all the teams on. It’s just tricky as with work and younger sibling then we need to work out if we can even do another team.

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This is a FB group for coaches advertising tournaments, players and parents looking for new teams, and coaches asking for new players. I don’t know if it’s universal but it’s worth asking some other football parents, googling the local district or searching on FB. It looks as though there’s a FB Grassroots Football UK page so maybe even ask on there if there’s a local FB for you?

notaclue · 08/12/2025 23:09

That's unacceptable at 8 years old OP, definitely not what grass roots football should be about. Completely different if she was 12/13 and they were in a competitive league.

My DD9 plays every week in a team mostly made up of boys and no she is not the strongest player but gets the same game time as everyone else. So much more enjoyable for everyone, the coaches are great.

If you have paid subs for the year your DD should be able to play for the whole year. If they have a lot of players on the team they could do a rotation system where 2 players each miss one game so its fair on everyone.

Do you have any girls football teams where you live? Unfortunately there are still some coaches that dont quite get that girls can play football with the boys too! Might be an option if you cant find another team x

Bungle2168 · 08/12/2025 23:11

Youth sports have been competitive since time immemorial; things only even out after you’ve passed your prime and qualify for the pub team.

Coaches just CBA with kids with no sporting chops.

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Turkeysausagepie · 08/12/2025 23:14

notaclue · 08/12/2025 23:09

That's unacceptable at 8 years old OP, definitely not what grass roots football should be about. Completely different if she was 12/13 and they were in a competitive league.

My DD9 plays every week in a team mostly made up of boys and no she is not the strongest player but gets the same game time as everyone else. So much more enjoyable for everyone, the coaches are great.

If you have paid subs for the year your DD should be able to play for the whole year. If they have a lot of players on the team they could do a rotation system where 2 players each miss one game so its fair on everyone.

Do you have any girls football teams where you live? Unfortunately there are still some coaches that dont quite get that girls can play football with the boys too! Might be an option if you cant find another team x

Yes there are ways they could make it fair but they aren’t interested and they have made that clear. They said if you disagree find a new club. I just wondered if it was actually allowed to do that after charging fees etc. they’ve also not had the balls to mention anything to her face just saying ‘well played etc’ then sending a message saying that’s it after Xmas!

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Turkeysausagepie · 08/12/2025 23:15

Bungle2168 · 08/12/2025 23:11

Youth sports have been competitive since time immemorial; things only even out after you’ve passed your prime and qualify for the pub team.

Coaches just CBA with kids with no sporting chops.

I get that but they agreed to her joining after she had been doing the training sessions with them for months. They knew what her ability was when they took the subs and gave her the expectation that she was there to stay. It’s just a village team not a city competitive squad or anything.

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whoosit · 08/12/2025 23:18

That's really harsh and not in the spirit of grass roots football. I'd also be concerned because in my area once you're 'signed' for a team you can't join another team in the same area before the end of the season. Which is mad to me considering they are children. But I'd ask if that is the case in your area because if it is it stops your child being able to play for another team until July.

texarkana · 08/12/2025 23:18

If they’ve taken subs you should ask them for a refund. Might make them think twice about removing players if they have to find the money to part repay parents ?

notaclue · 08/12/2025 23:22

Might be worth getting in touch with the English FA (or FAW if in Wales) and finding out if they are allowed to ask you to leave if you have paid subs? I hope your DD gets to carry on playing football

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Turkeysausagepie · 08/12/2025 23:38

whoosit · 08/12/2025 23:18

That's really harsh and not in the spirit of grass roots football. I'd also be concerned because in my area once you're 'signed' for a team you can't join another team in the same area before the end of the season. Which is mad to me considering they are children. But I'd ask if that is the case in your area because if it is it stops your child being able to play for another team until July.

Oh dear 🥴 I mean I hate football and always have and this petty man behaviour confirms it for me. What a dickhead. I hope she will be allowed to continue on another team if we find one. July is a long time. Honestly never imagined I’d have to tell my 8 year old they aren’t deemed good enough for weekend football.

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