Under 7's Irony

[Teilo]

Regardless of whether you think there should be league tables for Under 7 and 8's football, I find this article slightly ironic. If you are promoting fair play and sportsmanship rather than and results, then why is the article focused around who was the best team???

My personal experience is that kids of this age are naturally competitive in every game, but once the game is over they move on to the next thing e.g PS3, Trampoline etc... League tables are more for the parents and the coaches who want to talk about how good their team is...

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/juniorfootball/Wisbech-St-Mary-so-successful.4961669.jp

Published Date: 10 February 2009

Junior-football: WISBECH St Mary were the most successful side in the latest round of matches in the Peterborough Specsavers Mini-Soccer Conference Under 7 League at the Embankment.
Joshua Gear, Brandan Ramoharry and Harrison Burrows were regular goalscorers for Wisbech St Mary and they were ably supported by team-mates William Pentelon, Ethan Lawrence and Polly Norman.

Joe Evision scored all but two of the goals managed by Deeping Claret and he received good support from Oscar Benson and Toby Clegg.

Nine teams took part in a competition which promotes sportsmanship and fair-play rather than resuts. The next round of matches is scheduled for this Saturday, February 14. Further information is available from Julie Morton


The full article contains 125 words and appears in Peterborough ET newspaper.

[Teilo]

That said, I think friendly matches involving lots of teams over a morning at a young age is an excellent idea, and I would love to invlove my Under 8's. It's just the focus of the report I find bizarre.

[RWT]

Regarding the above, the FA in their strange wisdom have decreed that results cannot be compiled and tables not kept. I see some wisdom, however this has a knock on effect. The league is now into in its 10th season teams used to turn up and win a cup take it home and bring it back the next session to be played for again it was amazing how many teams were sucessful .The league used to get on occasions a whole page of photos and write ups, great for the sponsors who heavily subsidise the leagues running. Now due to restrictions that the FA have introduced this includes you can describe how a goal is scored but not who scored it. As long as a good balence to all defenders etc and careful reporting not to down heart any strugglers a good write up is possible. Shame is now that less publicity means possibly no sponsorship next season and no league so who wins then.

[Teilo]

I run an Under 8's team, who I also ran last season. Last season we 'won' the league, but it was largely not a great experience to be honest. This season, friendly matches, still competitive, a positive move.

In July last year, I put in a letter in the local paper in response to a parent, who complained that their child would not be winning trophies. It is great to read about your team winning 26-0, but what about if your team loses 26-0?

There is still a web link to my letter suprisingly enough.

http://www.fenlandcitizen.co.uk/letters/Disappointment-not-shared-by-all.4269902.jp

Granted the new format has inconsistencies, but I feel it is a step in the right direction.

If companies and press don't want to give kids at this age playing football support because of a league table, then that is a sad state of affairs. If you are struggling for sponsorship, then perhaps you would be kind enough to pass on some info, and I would be happy to try and help. With regards to trophies, why not issue them for fair play and sportsmanship? A league table could be kept for that (published or not), with points issues by coaches or refs...