9.00am, the 18th February 2013. 4 Experienced young leaders and Eve Bailey (Shropshire FA FDO) assembled at Shrewsbury Sports Village to run through the last preparations and plans for the day. Ice breakers at the ready, the event was very close to beginning.
10am and the Camp attendees started arriving, with little knowledge of the day they were quiet and seemed unenthusiastic. Taking the initiative I rounded up the young leaders and got them playing the 'tap-tap game' which involved over lapping your hands on a table with the person next to you and then hitting your hands on the table in a circuit, failing to do this and you must take a hand away. What's thought would liven up the young leaders didn't work, but it lead into the start of the event.
A few more ice breakers to get going in the sports hall, involving dancing, creating silly sentences and attempting to stand up whilst linked up to other leaders' backs. Activities to get people talking and mingling with other young leaders attending the camp.
The first session of the day was delivered by Shropshire's Referee Development Officer, Sean Dipple. The topic being refereeing and respect, including a small part on futsal. To start with, what skills do you think a referee should have? A teasing question to open the session which stumped a few of our young leaders. Another way to put it, if you were playing a game of football, what would you expect of the referee?
Ideas about communication, discipline, confidence and decision making. Key skills in a number of situation not just when refereeing. Another question for the young leaders, pick your top 3 skills which would be vital in an outside environment such as applying for a job.
Continuing on the refereeing front, how difficult is it to be a referee at the top level of football? Remember they only get 1 view or an incident, not the 6/7 views we get at home. A series of videos were played to the young leaders and they had to decide what decision they would give if they were the referee. Clips including a Dirk Kuyt tackle, Cristiano Ronaldo penalty decision and Ashley Young handball were shown. At full speed they were all tough decisions to call. My view is that if you can justify your decision then it cannot be questioned.
A couple of questions which came up during the session to think about prior to taking a referee's course; do you really want to referee? Should you only take the course if you want to take things further and pursue a career in refereeing?
Onto Respect. A huge problem within our game today. There is a lack for respect for referees, players and everyone else involved, especially at grassroots level. As a latest part of the Respect Campaign, cards have been given out with requests from players for spectators behaviour. 8 requests including positive support, allow the players to learn the game, allowing coaches to coach and being a good role model. At the end of the day kids play football for a love of the game, well at least we hope so.
In football kids face a number of problems, pressure from parents being a huge one. Are they appropriate role models? Are elite performers decent role models? Actions of elite players filters down into grassroots and allows young minds to be filled with inappropriate behaviours. Diving, spitting, abuse, swearing, assaulting. If it's on the main stage then it will surely be a feature of a grassroots game as well. I myself have seen players copying the Luis Suarez dive celebration at the age of 6. At that age they wont understand the connotations of that celebration, but you can see it's wrong.
A final part of the morning session looked at opening up futsal. Looking at the key differences between futsal and football..pitch size, heavier ball, unlimited subs, 5-a-side, 2 referees to name a few.
Session 2, Disability in Football led by Paul Reynolds. To begin with a brief over view of the talent pathway which an impaired or disabled player must take to reach the top standard. Starting with Mars Just Play sessions, then university football [BUCS Leagues], moving up to FA England Talent days, and the impairment specific squads.
Talent is a funny thing, something which I don't believe in. You work hard, you're not born with a gift. You can do anything you want if you work at it and put in the time.
The young leaders were asked, what factors may influence talent? [In any situation]
-Determination
-Role Models
-Ability
-Time and money
-Environment
These are barriers which can be broken down and which everyone faces, some are overcome easier than others, but that's life. You have to choose which battle are worth trying to win. If you want it enough then you will get there.
Looking at talent, think about perceptions, how can you judge what you cant see? The more visible/obvious the disability, the more the focus is taken away from the potential and person. We should be looking people as players, not the disability.
What are the barriers to identifying talent? Probably the big one is knowing the disability or impairment.
A quote to come off one of the videos, 'Can you be a part of helping someone realise their dream?' Quite a powerful thought, what we do at grassroots level lasts more than the conversation.
A practical session followed, where blindfolds were introduced. A simple task to begin, in pairs, 1 blindfolded, guide them around the hall. Find places and feel around for different places. It felt weird, but you can start to appreciate the difficulty of a vision impairment or total blindness. After this is 3s, direct the person blindfolded from one position to another. Following sounds and starting to understand distances. This exercise shows how important hearing and our ears are when other senses are restricted. A final part with the blindfolds, blind penalties. Having the ability to imagine the goals after they've been tapped out, where the ball in and where you are on the pitch. For us we could see where the goal is before taking the shot. We're the lucky ones who are able to lift up the blindfolds once we're finished.
The final part to the disability session, how can we adapt sessions/practises to facilitate impairments and increase inclusivity? A great thing which Paul said, put them in the 'mayhem'. Typically we stick players on the outside of drills if we don't feel they are good enough, or put them in goal. We should be looking at making session inclusive not exclusive. As coaches we need to have the ability to change the task, or tailor sessions around the individuals within it. Back up plans help with this, plan for the worst not just the best.
The final session for the day, Futsal coaching. A chance to practise the skills used in futsal and play the game. Skills including, using the sole of you foot to control and manoeuvre the ball, taking a kick in, passing the ball with the toe and a lofted pass/scoop. This is something which I looked at quite a lot in the FA National Camp blog. These skills take time to get used to, but they could so easily be transferred into football. Trapping a ball is the best way to shield a ball and move it around. A toe poke save time and you aren't hitting the ball hard, just pushing it to a team mate.
Futsal is a very fast pace game, to defend you just need to sit behind the ball and force an error. By using touch tight marking you will tire quickly and get picked off. This leading to gaps in the pitch and the spaces to exploit.
Back in for the close down of the day and a brief reflection phase. Overall comments were very positive. The referee session was classroom based from start to finish, which the young leaders didn't enjoy as much.
From a personal point of view it was nice to see a County Camp from a different point of view, not just a young leader. It's something which I would have liked to have had more of an involvement with, but I am still learning and can't jump the gun. I hope that the young leaders who attended the Camp stay within football and put the hours in cause they really do pay off.
My video from the day can be found at:
http://vimeo.com/60168320
Saturday, 23 February 2013
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Honestly, I'm not lucky.
So I've left it a while since the last blog, this isn't to say I haven't been busy. A lot of things have occurred, which when put together create a big difference. But this post isn't about these events and opportunities I have created and had.
I've had some really top news over the last week. I have a date to have the key hole surgery on my knee, 28th March - let's be honest that's not too far away. I've had a week to think about things and sort out my diary and really reflect upon the last 2 1/2 years. I touched on it at the end of the last blog, I have already climbed a couple of mountains and I am on one heck of a journey. But in 5 or so months time when I am fully fit again, what am I going to do? To be fair, I don't know if I want to play again - just because I am enjoying coaching and everything I am doing volunteer wise. I love football, every time I knock a ball around at training a little spark lights up, 'like the old times.' But it's like starting again. This a dilemma which I really don't want. Sure it would be easy to say just find a team and play again. But games would be when I coach. I could stop coaching, but I enjoy it far too much and I won't be giving up on anyone. If I could find a compromise of playing Sunday mornings and training on a Thursday, I would have 1 free night a week to do uni work. Such a hard decision to try and piece together.
In a recent conversation, someone said they try not to mention things they've done cause they think it might annoy me, if it's something which I would have liked to have done. This got me thinking. If I hadn't stopped playing, I wouldn't have even reached base camp, I would have 0 experience, 0 qualifications and not a lot to show for myself. When I hear the term 'you're lucky' I get quite frustrated. I am not lucky. I have worked incredibly hard, decided to stay in football when playing wasn't an option, put in hours when the weather has put players off training. I've shown a bit of reliability which has led to a lot of my opportunities. I've shown desire to push myself as a person, not just a coach. And at the end of the day a whole lot of passion, 'cause without that football is just a sport. A passion to develop people, not just players. Sure I get really frustrated about football, but that's because I care.
I am currently trying to improve my self confidence, the guide I am using is helping and the first step is to name my 10 best achievements. 9/10 have only been possible since becoming a volunteer in football and being a part of the Football Futures Programme.
1. Retaining a place on the National Coach Scholarship Programme
2. Returning to the Youth Sport Trust’s, National Young Coaches Academy as a Young Coach Mentor after winning an award as a Young Coach in 2012.
3. Getting full marks at college in my BTEC National Diploma, D*D*D*
4. Landing a voluntary role with ISFA, enabling me to travel around the country setting up and running football tournaments
5. Playing and coaching for Wrekin Juniors.
6. Moving to university.
7. Completing over 750 voluntary hours within football over the last 3 seasons
8. Creating and hitting a goal set to improve eye contact when in 1-1 and group conversations.
9. Identifying my weaknesses as a person and coach and having a want to improve them.
It puts a smile on my face looking back over these opportunities, the only thing not on that list which would be '11.' is attenting the FA Football Futures National Camp. I wasn't lucky to go to these events, I didn't get full marks on my college course because the tutors felt like being nice that day. There are so many opportunities I have missed, or not quite been good enough for.. But I know I've got to work harder if I want to be offered these other opportunities. Not wanting to sound 'big headed' I have been to so many events and worked with some amazing people, but that doesn't mean I cant ask more of myself and have a want to go further.
'The harder I work, the luckier I get.' <---Epitomises the last few years.
Next week I am working with Shropshire and Lancashire FA with their Young Leadership/Football Futures days. Is that luck that 2 counties want me to help them? no. Is it luck that I get to lead young leaders as a young leader? no. I want to be the best that I can be, I want to inspire as many people as I can, I want show that if you put in the effort you will be rewarded - without fail. Sure I am 1 of a smalll minority who gets these experiences, but after a lot of thinking I feel confident enough to say it's because I deserve them.
There will be a blog covering the 2 county days, 18th & 22nd February.
I've had some really top news over the last week. I have a date to have the key hole surgery on my knee, 28th March - let's be honest that's not too far away. I've had a week to think about things and sort out my diary and really reflect upon the last 2 1/2 years. I touched on it at the end of the last blog, I have already climbed a couple of mountains and I am on one heck of a journey. But in 5 or so months time when I am fully fit again, what am I going to do? To be fair, I don't know if I want to play again - just because I am enjoying coaching and everything I am doing volunteer wise. I love football, every time I knock a ball around at training a little spark lights up, 'like the old times.' But it's like starting again. This a dilemma which I really don't want. Sure it would be easy to say just find a team and play again. But games would be when I coach. I could stop coaching, but I enjoy it far too much and I won't be giving up on anyone. If I could find a compromise of playing Sunday mornings and training on a Thursday, I would have 1 free night a week to do uni work. Such a hard decision to try and piece together.
In a recent conversation, someone said they try not to mention things they've done cause they think it might annoy me, if it's something which I would have liked to have done. This got me thinking. If I hadn't stopped playing, I wouldn't have even reached base camp, I would have 0 experience, 0 qualifications and not a lot to show for myself. When I hear the term 'you're lucky' I get quite frustrated. I am not lucky. I have worked incredibly hard, decided to stay in football when playing wasn't an option, put in hours when the weather has put players off training. I've shown a bit of reliability which has led to a lot of my opportunities. I've shown desire to push myself as a person, not just a coach. And at the end of the day a whole lot of passion, 'cause without that football is just a sport. A passion to develop people, not just players. Sure I get really frustrated about football, but that's because I care.
I am currently trying to improve my self confidence, the guide I am using is helping and the first step is to name my 10 best achievements. 9/10 have only been possible since becoming a volunteer in football and being a part of the Football Futures Programme.
1. Retaining a place on the National Coach Scholarship Programme
2. Returning to the Youth Sport Trust’s, National Young Coaches Academy as a Young Coach Mentor after winning an award as a Young Coach in 2012.
3. Getting full marks at college in my BTEC National Diploma, D*D*D*
4. Landing a voluntary role with ISFA, enabling me to travel around the country setting up and running football tournaments
5. Playing and coaching for Wrekin Juniors.
6. Moving to university.
7. Completing over 750 voluntary hours within football over the last 3 seasons
8. Creating and hitting a goal set to improve eye contact when in 1-1 and group conversations.
9. Identifying my weaknesses as a person and coach and having a want to improve them.
It puts a smile on my face looking back over these opportunities, the only thing not on that list which would be '11.' is attenting the FA Football Futures National Camp. I wasn't lucky to go to these events, I didn't get full marks on my college course because the tutors felt like being nice that day. There are so many opportunities I have missed, or not quite been good enough for.. But I know I've got to work harder if I want to be offered these other opportunities. Not wanting to sound 'big headed' I have been to so many events and worked with some amazing people, but that doesn't mean I cant ask more of myself and have a want to go further.
'The harder I work, the luckier I get.' <---Epitomises the last few years.
Next week I am working with Shropshire and Lancashire FA with their Young Leadership/Football Futures days. Is that luck that 2 counties want me to help them? no. Is it luck that I get to lead young leaders as a young leader? no. I want to be the best that I can be, I want to inspire as many people as I can, I want show that if you put in the effort you will be rewarded - without fail. Sure I am 1 of a smalll minority who gets these experiences, but after a lot of thinking I feel confident enough to say it's because I deserve them.
There will be a blog covering the 2 county days, 18th & 22nd February.
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