Small Sided Games - Becoming pap in Canberra?

I'm serious about football, technical skill, education, kid development and abusing clerics in the Catholic Church...but hey that's another story!

When Capital Football the Peak Body in Canberra announce that u12 boys and girls will now play competitively, ie with results and league tables produced each week, I'm wondering on what criteria this could be considered beneficial to the development of players.

Educationally - no
Player development - no
Reducing parent sideline rage - no
Improving player morale and enjoyment - no

All Aussie teams, kids and parents want to win. Every week, no matter how many points are up for grabs.

We've already seen SSG's slipback in the U11s in recent years, and while experts argue Futsal is great for your skills only one club I know has bucked the FFA trend and gone against 7 v7 at u8 and 9 in Canberra - they play 5 v 5, the pressure seems to be on to move back to where we came from.

Think Leckie not Messi, Emerton not Sneider, Insaghi not Cahill - and that's at the top end! God help us in the u12s!

Of course well-meaning folk will say by 12 players want competition, but from my sideline stance, kids and parents are well aware of who has won the most in their non-competitive comp, so do we really need the publishing of tables to lift the spirits and enjoyment of the game.

Hope your team aren't bottom and thumped each week for all to see.

SSG's philosophy slips a little each year.

And when can we see the National Curriculum - no not the broad document they call the National Curriculum - the details. As a former teacher everyone curriculum I saw had meat and bones on the docu, what to teach each week in some detail.

FFA need to go to stage two.

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God bless the English 2010!

Club development has seen a huge boom in the last 2 years with new teams and new sections developing all the time. Competitive football opportunities are now available at 7-a-side and 11-a-side for any player aged 8 yrs and upwards!
Below is a current list of all girl’s football clubs in Birmingham:

On yer Brum. This is talking about the girls but geez louise...11-a-side for Under 8's.

What do the boys play? Two games a day at 8?

You'll never win the World Cup, again. Men or women!

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Was this you at the kids football this weekend?

"Get rid of it", "kick it out", "don't do that", "tackle him" and "pass it"

Craig Foster says, "all of these messages restrictive, telling a youngster what not to do and often telling them to take the most basic and, in fact, incorrect option."


Craig Foster highlights how Parents/Coaches can hinder our children's development on the football field. As a teacher of 17 years I could not agree more.

So Kurangai football club in Sydney had a day where no-one bar players and refs were allowed to talk, shout etc. If you did dosh was donated to charity.

Fantastic idea.

Here's a part of Craig's article. Certainly food for thought.

"Get rid of it", "kick it out", "don't do that", "tackle him" and "pass it" are the usual fare we can hear on any suburban pitch every Saturday, all of these messages restrictive, telling a youngster what not to do and often telling them to take the most basic and, in fact, incorrect option.

Many of these messages are actually setting the youngster up for failure in adult football, since to play at elite level requires the ability to deal with risk, to make and deal with mistakes, and to be able to play comfortably on the ball in all situations.

The truth is that our kids would be far better off if they could play by themselves with parental supervision, not involvement, and would more quickly find their way within the game on what does and does not work.

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Nearpost Radio: Small Sided Games:

Fitsum and I will discuss Small Sided Games tonight on Nearpost Radio from 6:30pm and you can also find it here on the poddie tomorrow. We'll be giving feedback from Clubs, our kids experiences and the benefits/negatives of SSG's.

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Weekend wrap:

European Champions League tickets, Women's National League, SSG's, FIFA World Club, to OZ?, Grassroots report 2, Futsalroos win, Scott McDonald

European Champions League tickets: Man United end $1700, Chelsea end $800 but ticket prices our falling as matchday nears. Getting to and from Moscow is proving hard, and Accommodation starts at $400 a night!

Women's National League winners to play in Asian Champions League. See earlier post

Small Sided Games. FFA CEO Ben Buckley said on SBS this afternoon "it is not a trial. We expect it to be completed in three years."
Which given how far we are ahead in Canberra, why are some clubs so reluctant to go the whole way. Get on with it Canberra, and finish the job.

Grassroots report 2
And overheard on the weekend.

"Go on son push up" His son was in defence alongside another boy. His side could be seen way down the pitch all players surrounding the opposing goal.

"I can't Dad, I'm told I can't go past halfway!" And there he stood.

Carl Valeri his side had a 3-0 on the weekend. Must be safe from relegation now. Well done Grosseto Captain Carl Valeri in his and the clubs first season in Serie B. Where will Carl be next year?

FIFA World Club Champs to Australia in 2009 and 2010? FFA are expecting a decision before the FIFA Congress in Sydney. I'm registered, but at this point, not going, just in case you were wondering:)

Futsalroos started with a 3-1 win in their AFC tournament in Bangkok. Trent Flanigan got game time, Angelo Konstantinou did not. Top four sides qualify for October World Cup in Rio. Next game 3pm AEST today.

Scott McDonald scored for Celtic to keep the Hoops hopes of a title on track. Celtic are 4 pts ahead with one game left. Rangers have a UEFA CUP and Scottish Cup Final plus three league games to play.

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