Topic ID 1756
Years ago, in the late 80s, a group of my parent's friends started a football club called Hertford Youth FC which folded in the mid 90s. My Dad is a tad too old to get involved with it now, but I would like to get the club going again and pass on what I learnt, but as usual, I will need help from both mums and dads to help me make it work. Those parents that are interested please let me know here.
Reply ID 21601
Great idea, my son is way to young yet(11mths old!!) but my partner is a semi-pro himself and also coaches in primary schools around Hillingdon. He has his coaching badges and we were only dicussing the other day about football in the area... Good luck with it!
Reply ID 21609
I'll help (even though my boys are 9 months old). I want them to play for Hertford!
Reply ID 21613
quote:They'd get in the Hertford first XI now wouldn't they?![;)][}:)]
Originally posted by Dude
I'll help (even though my boys are 9 months old). I want them to play for Hertford!
Reply ID 21629
quote:Or you could help with one of the other clubs. I'm sure they would be glad of the offer.
Originally posted by James007
Years ago, in the late 80s, a group of my parent's friends started a football club called Hertford Youth FC which folded in the mid 90s. My Dad is a tad too old to get involved with it now, but I would like to get the club going again and pass on what I learnt, but as usual, I will need help from both mums and dads to help me make it work. Those parents that are interested please let me know here.
Reply ID 21673
There's a lot of competition for youth football clubs in the area already. Bengeo Tigers have become absolutely massive in this arena over the last few years, but there's also Hertford Town Youth (affiliated to Hertford Town FC), Bury Rangers, and Hertford Heath Juniors. Just across the meads in Ware there is Ware Youth FC, Ware Lions, and Wodson Park Youth. What tends to happen lately is that the bigger clubs, by definition, have a larger selection of players to choose from and obviously not all kids can play. So, whether they intend to or not, these clubs end up being run as an elitist meritocracy and the lesser-abled or out-of-favour kids leave and move to one of the other clubs. It would probably be a struggle to start a club up from scratch now, I think, as the nature of parents is to see their kids on a winning team as much as possible, and these parents take their kids to the bigger clubs. It's lovely when a club is run purely for the spirit of playing the game each week, but be warned, it can be very demoralising for the kids who lose 15-0 each week, are first to be knocked out of the local tournaments and are seen as "an easy three points" and by contrast see their other schoolmates' teams winning leagues and cups. Rather than nurturing the ethos of good sportsmanship, an eight-year old will often just get fed up and want to pack it in completely.
Reply ID 21686
quote:With regard to your above post there would seem to be an opening for a less mercenary football club. Children are still active & interacting with other people of different ages/backgrounds while having their enthusiasm nurtured and learning respect for themselves and others. Not every child will be good enough to be picked for a team - regrettable but true. It is better to encourage them to continue playing than let them feel like failures or have their enjoyment knocked out of them by over-competativity on the part of the adults. I'd rather have my (future) children out there and playing - whatever the level - than sitting at home watching TV and playing computer games[:)].
Originally posted by Pez
There's a lot of competition for youth football clubs in the area already. Bengeo Tigers have become absolutely massive in this arena over the last few years, but there's also Hertford Town Youth (affiliated to Hertford Town FC), Bury Rangers, and Hertford Heath Juniors. Just across the meads in Ware there is Ware Youth FC, Ware Lions, and Wodson Park Youth. What tends to happen lately is that the bigger clubs, by definition, have a larger selection of players to choose from and obviously not all kids can play. So, whether they intend to or not, these clubs end up being run as an elitist meritocracy and the lesser-abled or out-of-favour kids leave and move to one of the other clubs. It would probably be a struggle to start a club up from scratch now, I think, as the nature of parents is to see their kids on a winning team as much as possible, and these parents take their kids to the bigger clubs. It's lovely when a club is run purely for the spirit of playing the game each week, but be warned, it can be very demoralising for the kids who lose 15-0 each week, are first to be knocked out of the local tournaments and are seen as "an easy three points" and by contrast see their other schoolmates' teams winning leagues and cups. Rather than nurturing the ethos of good sportsmanship, an eight-year old will often just get fed up and want to pack it in completely.
Reply ID 21698
quote:Hertford or Datchworth RFC minis will give your (future) children all of the above and more.
Children are still active & interacting with other people of different ages/backgrounds while having their enthusiasm nurtured and learning respect for themselves and others. Not every child will be good enough to be picked for a team - regrettable but true. It is better to encourage them to continue playing than let them feel like failures or have their enjoyment knocked out of them by over-competativity on the part of the adults. I'd rather have my (future) children out there and playing - whatever the level - than sitting at home watching TV and playing computer games[:)].
Reply ID 21700
quote:Well said Mr P. As a kid I used to be encouraged to enjoy playing which in-turn would bring rise to wins. With the correct coaching and motivation, this shouldn't be a million miles away even if there are a lot of clubs in the town. Saying that, some of Pez's points are valid but I am a firm believer that encouragement away from Soccer Manager version 48 and onto the swathes of open grassland are the way forward, regardless of whether it is football or not. The Aussies can't be wrong with their approach and now it is paying off.
Originally posted by Mr Pquote:With regard to your above post there would seem to be an opening for a less mercenary football club. Children are still active & interacting with other people of different ages/backgrounds while having their enthusiasm nurtured and learning respect for themselves and others. Not every child will be good enough to be picked for a team - regrettable but true. It is better to encourage them to continue playing than let them feel like failures or have their enjoyment knocked out of them by over-competativity on the part of the adults. I'd rather have my (future) children out there and playing - whatever the level - than sitting at home watching TV and playing computer games[:)].
Originally posted by Pez
There's a lot of competition for youth football clubs in the area already. Bengeo Tigers have become absolutely massive in this arena over the last few years, but there's also Hertford Town Youth (affiliated to Hertford Town FC), Bury Rangers, and Hertford Heath Juniors. Just across the meads in Ware there is Ware Youth FC, Ware Lions, and Wodson Park Youth. What tends to happen lately is that the bigger clubs, by definition, have a larger selection of players to choose from and obviously not all kids can play. So, whether they intend to or not, these clubs end up being run as an elitist meritocracy and the lesser-abled or out-of-favour kids leave and move to one of the other clubs. It would probably be a struggle to start a club up from scratch now, I think, as the nature of parents is to see their kids on a winning team as much as possible, and these parents take their kids to the bigger clubs. It's lovely when a club is run purely for the spirit of playing the game each week, but be warned, it can be very demoralising for the kids who lose 15-0 each week, are first to be knocked out of the local tournaments and are seen as "an easy three points" and by contrast see their other schoolmates' teams winning leagues and cups. Rather than nurturing the ethos of good sportsmanship, an eight-year old will often just get fed up and want to pack it in completely.