No football team for Year 9

[taleforthetimebeing]

What would you think if a large secondary school couldn’t offer a football team for year 9 but can for other year groups. Apparently not enough teachers to manage the team so they can’t enter the county cup or play any inter school football. I feel bad for my DS as because of covid year 7/8 football didn’t happen for him now this. He plays outside of school but would love to play for his school. I want to complain but feel what’s the point. Oh well just having a moan really.

I would explain to my son how overworked teachers are, especially currently, and encourage him to make the most of his out of school club.

You can complain but it won't magically make more staff appear unfortunately 🤷‍♀️

Thanks for the reply ok I am obviously being unreasonable but I also work at another secondary school which is offering lots of sports / extra curricular clubs. It is just a shame - I know sport is not the most important but it means a lot to him. I suppose it is the disappointment of missed things we all feel.

I was going to explain to you about teachers workloads but I’m actually shocked to see that you’re working at another school and asking this!
Surely you understand how overwhelmed some schools are with staff shortages at the moment? We don’t even have enough teachers to teach, let alone run clubs!

It obviously not fabulous for your soon - but if there’s no football club at school why can’t you take him somewhere else? Like evening and weekend clubs?
Or join another sport?

Yes I see what you are all saying and I won’t say anything. I can see from his School’s PE Twitter that all other year groups have teams that have already had fixtures both boys and girls - my younger child has one tomorrow. This is why he went to ask. It is just a shame for his year group. Oh well - it is what it is. Thanks for hearing my rant!

That does seem a shame. I know some schools have merged year groups, so year 7, year 8&9, year 10&11, to allow some opportunity for all school years.

Shame they aren't going to switch the year groups around after Christmas to open it up to those not offered this term, unless they just haven't communicated that.

Keeping children engaged in sport is really important and not everyone can take part outside of school (young carers for example).

He'll be in year 10 soon enough.

Can he ask if he can play a year up for the Year 10 team? My son plays football out of school a year up and in school for the year 10 and the year 11 side.

If he is keen can he join year 10 training or does the timetable restrict it? Is there after school matches?

Thank you - all good advice. I have told him to go and speak to Head of PE again and ask what opportunities there will be this year and could he not train/try for the year 10 team. I know it is not important and I am just getting myself worked up about it which is ridiculous. .

It's disappointing, for sure but really no drama. It's not ridiculous to feel fed up with it but if he's training outside of school, he'll be ready for Y10. And who knows, he might discover a different hobby exploring other clubs.

It may be that the teacher coaches move with the cohort, in which op ds year may never get a dedicated team. Any enthusiasm will be long gone among that cohort too.

What rrhuth said.
Then I'd think how fortunate I was that he had those opportunities outside of school.

As someone who works in a school, surely you understand that extracurricular offerings are A. Unpaid and B. Purely based on goodwill of staff. Goodwill is at an all time low...

It's a shame, and annoying, that y9 football is unavailable. But if you complained, I would be blacklisting you.

I think it's rather shit to miss one year group out.

But if they had to, wouldn't it be better to delay the start of fixtures for year 7? Who miss just one season of secondary fixtures. Rather that taking it from a year group who have already lost a season and a half.

No, I disagree with most other posters here. Why should you accept that there is underfunding and that's that? The school should be able to afford extra sport staff or for existing teachers to do this, like many other schools can around the country. I'd also be disappointed for my son if this was the case. Not the teachers fault and I wouldn't be complaining about them, I'd be asking how it could be achieved. Local football team with community support coaching? Parents with coaching qualifications?

I think it s unfair of the school to miss just one year group out. Your son is lucky he can play out of school but there will be lots of parents who can't afford to do this. Football can be fantastic for a child and gives them so much confidence. they need to come to a compromise.

It’s a massive shame. Things like sport & music & drama are what keep some kids motivated and not everyone is able to access these things outside school.

@Comefromaway

It’s a massive shame. Things like sport & music & drama are what keep some kids motivated and not everyone is able to access these things outside school.

Completely agree with this. A shame and very unfair.

@littlemisslozza not all schools get the same funding. Many school budgets are horrendous. Some schools may pay for extra football coaching but not offer other activities because they can’t afford both

@toomuchlaundry yes, I realise that. I taught in a very underfunded school for years. They still had a football team for every year group though. Some other local schools use a charity based football coaching service provided by the local biggest football club (only league 1 so not a rich club). They come in and do coaching at the very least for some of the more deprived schools.

All I'm saying is that sometimes there are other options out there and it needs someone to look for them. I wouldn't just sit back and accept it.

I think it’s a bit mean to do that to y9 if any year should miss out it’s y7 they have 4 more years to enjoy the opportunity.
My DD is y7, all of our children have missed out over the last few years ans teachers and schools are so stretched I think they have to do the best in a bad situation but I do think the year they have chosen is not the right one

as above I think it is unfair to miss out one year group, can't they rotate the teachers or year group so everyone has a bit or could try train together with another year group ?
it sounds really strange and unfair to those kids,
and I don't understand why the op is being bashed here for raising it.
it looks like the school is not managing their resources as well as they could (regardless of how overworked or under resourced they are !)
can you get together with other parents perhaps ? whilst keeping all discussions calm and friendly !

@RancidOldHag

I think it's rather shit to miss one year group out.

But if they had to, wouldn't it be better to delay the start of fixtures for year 7? Who miss just one season of secondary fixtures. Rather that taking it from a year group who have already lost a season and a half.

Exactly! so agree with this