Slow grassroots progress
Posted on | October 1, 2009 | No Comments
On Monday I dragged myself away from the keyboard to do a bit of football coaching at my local primary school.
‘Coaching’ being a flexible phrase here – I was only helping out and am only qualified by virtue of the fact I’ve played football more than most eight-year-olds.
Nearly ten years ago I had a regular slot at another primary school when I was about 17. Therefore it’s now basically a decade since I got a close look at how children are taught football at school in England.
Not much has changed – but what is different is imporant
Two things stood out;
1. More of the kids can now control the ball with both feet
2. There are girls, well, there were three of them I think
Back in 1999-ish girls’ football was well and truly still a niche interest, second firmly to netball, but they are now very much a proper part of the school game, and at primary school age are fine to join in with the lads.
They were decent too – they could pass, move and had some spacial awareness, showing they are not just involved because the school thinks they should be. One girl broke all the stereotypes by getting tonked on the head by the ball at close range, then got hit in the stomach, and still carried on.
I was also pleased to see there are one or two players very comfortable running with the ball now – only one or two, but it was better than the re-shape, hit long pass, re-shape, hit long pass rhythm of the kids who had a decent touch 10 years ago.
I’ll be helping out for another four weeks only, but I’m glad to see there are some subtle changes to the way very young children are encouraged to approach football in England.
Chris Breese
Tags: childrens' soccer > football coaching > school football > youth football development
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