Let the Children Play is a programme designed to help clubs starting new under 8s teams for the forthcoming season. The idea is to help teams develop an encouraging and supportive setting for the young children to begin playing the game. We want children to enjoy football, be given the chance to develop, and to love the game for life!
All Charter Standard clubs were invited to join the programme. Clubs planning to start new Under 8s teams signed up back in Autumn 2009.
The programme kicked off with a Grow the Game Funding Workshop in early February where clubs were encouraged to apply for funding from the Football Foundation to help fund these new teams.
Managers and coaches were offered a space on the free McDonalds Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Football and also on the Age Appropriate Introductory Module.
Two additional coaching workshops were also provided and delivered by Tessa Payne, The FA’s Coach Development Manager for the Eastern Region for 5-11 year olds.
Clubs encouraged as many parents as possible to complete the online Respect Parents guide. A £50 UMBRO voucher for kit and equipment and a Respect banner was awarded to Bar Hill Colts as the club who produced the most Respect Parent certificates at the festivals.
The programme finished with two festival days where teams played in groups. 15 teams took part in the festivals which saw blazing sun on the first Saturday and pouring rain on the second. The results were not recorded and the emphasis was on fun. Managers, coaches and parents encouraged the players without giving them too many instructions, letting them enjoy playing and learning the game.
FA Skills Coaches provided each team with a ten minute skills session and Young Leaders from the Cambridgeshire FA Young Leaders group ran a fun penalty shootout where children raised £161 for Clic Sargent, a charity which helps children with cancer.
All children left with a medal and certificate and a smile on their face from playing the games in a fun, pressure free environment.
Swavesey Spartans collected the ‘Let the Children Play Club of the Year’ trophy for their support of the programme and attendance at the workshops.
A big thanks to all the clubs, managers, coaches, players, parents, referees and young leaders for their participation and support of the programme. We wish all the clubs well as they enter the Cambridgeshire Mini Soccer League in the 2010-11 season and the future.
Clubs who took part are:
Bar Hill
Burwell Tigers (2 teams)
Caldecote
Cherry Hinton Lions (2 teams)
Dynamo Foxton
Ellesmere Eagles
Isleham
Littleport Rangers
Over
Swavesey Spartans
Whittlesford Warriors
Willingham Wolves
Witchford
For more information about the Let the Children Play programme please contact Football Development officer Jo Bull on 01223 209035 or email Joanne.Bull@CambridgeshireFA.com