Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:43 pm Post subject: Why split the Greens?
"As a kid they teach you not to play to win, so much as to grow in ability as a player.”
Lionel Messi on the coaching culture at Barcelona
“Young players need freedom of expression to develop as creative players…they should be encouraged to try skills without fear of failure." Arsene Wenger
The spirit of the above two quotes, which feature on the front page of our club website, is one of the main reasons for being a member of Darent River FC for over 5 years with almost the same group of players and obviously parents in our team. I am somewhat shocked, disillusioned and disappointed with the apparrent news that we (the Greens) are to be forced to spilt and shared between the Whites and Blacks which I believe currently have the same if not fewer players in their squads.
With over 7 players and parents in our squad being loyal and supportive to the club for at least 5 years we must be equal with other squads and therefore I can only assume the reason for this decision is our performance on the pitch? Or is there a financial benefit to finishing top of a league compared to bottom? I have never seen our team looking sad and they always have a smile on their faces, enjoy the game and I must say show improvements all the time - in line with the apparent club ethos.
So in summary I am at a loss to the postion we seem to be in and would like to fully understand the facts so I, as a parent, can make the right decison.
Any feedback/comments would be greatly recieved
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footie dad
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Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 5:32 pm Post subject:
I fully agree with you on this, why should the Greens split?
This team may well be supporting the bottom of the league but there is team spirit and loyalty in abundance. The children of this team play for the team and the enjoyment of the game. All the players get a game which is the ethos of the club as a whole.
There has been no valid reason why the Greens have to split as opposed to the the other u10 teams.
Considering the player turnover, the longevity of some of the players, the relationship between the parents I feel that this treatment of the Greens is a disgrace. The only choice we as parents have been given is to join a new team on Tuesday or Saturday. First come first served.
Well my son will be looking for another club if this team is split.
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:47 pm Post subject: The problem - realistic solution??
Here is the reason the decision was taken
From previous experience of teams moving up to Under 11 we have done it twice now - it has been the experience of the current Under 12's and Under 11's that the minimum squad size to realistically run an 11 a-side kids team is 15 players... even then they have struggled to get a side out on occasions.
With this in mind all the current U10 teams have been trying to recruit players this season to increase squad size as each needs a further 5 players minimum... To date I believe only 2 new players have joined in the Under 10 age group since christmas... and one of those isn't qualified to play 11 a-side next season as he is actually an U9 this season... that leaves the club short of 14 children next season to enter 3 11 a-side teams - which we were trying to do.
Along with this there are at least 2 players that because of parental situations cannot be available every week lowering the numbers still further.
Along with that the club needs to make a firm commitment as to the number of 11 aside pitches we need as we are hoping to move all our 11 aside teams to Glaxo Wellcome club in Dartford, this was supposd to be made by the end of February - this deadline has passed as we were seeing if it was feasible to field 3 U11's next season and a decision must be taken soon or these pitches will go to someone else.
By Gary's own admission he struggles on a saturday morning after coming off night shifts so it seemed the sensible option to make one team a "saturday" training team and one to remain a "tuesday" training team (As their manager has work commitments on a saturday.
The club has since the beginning of the season made all attempts at player recruitment in the U10 age group in order to keep all 3 sides together for next season which has to date proven fruitless. Forming 2 teams from the 31 children available to date seemed the sensible option for all those who wished to remain with Darent River to play for Darent River.
It would have been a pointless task entering next season with bare 11's then maybe losing a player or two for the team to subsequently then fold thus depriving all the rest of football within the club.
To date the U10 Whites have actually turned down 1 player joining in the last week as i would rather fill spaces with existing Darent River players so they can stay within the club should they so wish...
If anyone has a better solution to the problem then please suggest it......
Mark Hutchins
Club: Bow: Sight: Accessories: Arrows:
footie dad
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:20 pm Post subject:
The Greens currently have more regular players than either the whites or blacks.
Why not merge those teams and those left over can join the greens. This also would reflect that the greens are a team more concerned with playing than winning.
A number of the parents, myself included, feel that the greens are being split because of results on the field. Well most of the parents were dismayed when we were not consulted over the decision to move up a league and we are paying for that decision on the field.
The fact is that we are more concerned about our kids playing and learning about teamwork and loyalty and having fun. Considering the amount of time this team has been together, what lessons will they learn from this episode?
If performance on the pitch is so important put together a winning side of whites and blacks who we know are the better teams and leave the greens to get on with it.
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:43 pm Post subject: not the appropriate place for this....
Whilst I am fully prepared to discuss this further - this forum is not the place to do it...
So let's all talk at training on Saturday, come and find me during my 11 aside game.
For the record the current registered players for each squad is
U10 Blacks - 11 (But one not qualified to play 11 aside next season)
U10 Greens - 11
U10 Whites - 11
One final point - when the greens were put in the B division by the league before the season began the greens coaches were offered the chance to appeal this decision (As are all teams by the league) and they said they were happy with this.
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