Not going to make an Arsenal player are they? But
there are plenty of good sides that won't spoil
players by the press...Bury, Scarbrough, etc?

--- valmcb@... wrote:
> Three weeks ago I volunteered to coach and manage
> U13 boys football team.
> Last year they had very sporadic coaching which
> involved 1 ball and the coach
> saying "go and have a kick about".
>
> The school I work at is in the inner city of London
> and our playing fields
> consist of one indoor hall and one 4 a side outdoor
> pitch. Between my squad
> of twenty players only three own a football. All of
> them live in flats
> without gardens or yards to kick a football about in
> even if they had one.
>
> Last season, they lost every game. I don't want it
> to be the same this year.
>
> At present, we train twice a week. One morning
> before school on an Astroturf
> pitch which has goalposts, and one session after
> school in a local park that
> has the markings for a pitch but no posts.
>
> The equipment I have is a dozen balls, sixteen small
> cones, and some bibs.
> Although some of the players already posses ball
> skills, their level of
> fitness, team play awareness and self discipline is
> almost non-existent.
>
> So far, I've worked hard to build respect between
> myself and them, to try and
> maintain focus and motivation in training sessions.
> This is starting to reap
> its rewards as the players arrive ready to work.
>
> But how do I build team spirit? What can I get them
> to do regarding football
> skills without a football? What fitness training
> would be suitable for boys
> of this age?
>
> If anything you know might help our team, please
> reply.
>
> I've coached different sports before mostly Field
> and Ice-Hockey, but
> football was my first love as a child, so I can play
> a bit myself. I've read
> and filed all the coaching tips that are on the
> board today.
>
> Many thanks.
>


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