Balls, cones and kids

the footy4kids soccer coaching newsletter

Issue 22 - November 2006

Give Us Back Our Game is the name of a campaign run by Paul Cooper in the UK to 'give the game back to the kids'. Support for for Paul's campaign from all sections of the soccer community is growing by the day and an international soccer Fun Day is being planned for June 2007.

footy4kids is pleased to offer it's support to Give Us Back Our Game.

You can support the campaign too. Visit the Give Us Back Our Game site, send Paul an e-mail and remember....soccer is The Children's Game - not yours! 

The Children's Game

* Fun & development before winning

* The game is the best teacher

* Plenty of free play

* No coaching or shouting from the sidelines

* Let children find their own solutions

* Encourage expression & creativity

* Play in different positions

* Freedom to fail

give us back our game!

by Paul Cooper

As coaches we should be concerned that 'the beautiful game' is in decline.

Football for children is now very different from earlier generations when the only adult involvement was a call from your mum that your tea was ready. Football is no longer beautiful for our kids anymore: it's ugly. 

(note: in this article, football = soccer)

In a world where children can no longer play outside without supervision, parents and coaches have taken over. And the competitive drive adults bring to the game means youngsters no longer have time to fall in love with football, to play for fun and thus truly to develop their skills.

Today's children learn from the grown-ups. Without the freedom of the streets and playing fields, their early experiences of football are organised, supervised and coached. They have no real say in what happens, and they don't have time to develop, learn and fall in love with the beautiful game.

We at Give Us Back Our Game feel that the problem areas are:                                   

• Football (soccer) is no longer the children’s game - it is controlled by adults; 

• Often, the same children are on the sidelines as subs or omitted every game;

• Coaches and parents can too often be seen screaming from the touchlines;

• Winning is prioritised before fun and development;

• There is not enough free play where children can solve their own problems;

We need a game that is both child and player centred where children can be children, have fun and express themselves.

We are holding a Give Us Back Our Game 4v4 Fun Day on 17^th June 2007. Please support this campaign, whether it is getting involved on the day or including your name and club on our support page.

For further information about the ethos and philosophy of the Give Us Back Our Game campaign go to:

http://www.giveusbackourgame.co.uk

Give Us Back Our Game 4v4 Fun Day publicity material

"I fully support the 'Give us back our game' campaign. It is about letting children be children and having fun. We have started to play 4v4 games at the under 9s age group in the Academy, and not only has it improved their skills and insight but the children, coaches and parents love it. During a break between games one of the teams said 'We want to swap positions'. We say, 'You decide for yourselves, it is your game'. They love having the responsibility to make their own decisions both on and off the pitch. It makes them better all round footballers and  develops their communication and social skills." David Godley - Watford FC Academy

Links

Hyped-up soccer parents taking fun out of the game

"Most coaches agree that packs of parents hanging around on the sidelines puts too much pressure on young players"

In Youth Soccer, Smaller is Better!

"It simply doesn't make sense to ask young players to play the adult version of soccer"

The fun is gone, now kids must learn to play games

"Sports used to be a healthy pursuit for children, but have we turned it into a harmful obsession?"

meeting young people's needs through football

"Playing games is as vital for children as sleep: necessary for the health of their body and their mind. As children learn by playing, the central part of each training session is the practise and understanding of a simplified game."

motivation is more than a question of winning or losing

"The child at [U9] understands that winning is important, loves to compete, but does not understand winning and losing in any systematic sense. Because of this, they will not feel sad until a parent or coach informs them that they lost..."

Parents & Motivation: What's your role?

"Your children's motivation to participate and excel in a sport is something that should come from within them, not you."

a soccer coaching philosophy

"Football is just that - a game. It’s not about how many wins and losses are accumulated. And, it is surely not about how many trophies are collected."

Too Much Organization for Young Players; Let’s Allow Them to Learn With “Free Play”

"...why is it that soccer players in Latin America are so good? [is it because] they have little to no adult supervision when they are young soccer players playing in the street or park?"

why children want to play soccer

street soccer or P.E lesson?

86 ways to say "very good!"

4v4 games

how to use small sided games in youth soccer coaching 
 

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