Advise Needed please

Potbellypig

atlantis187 wrote: »

I needs urgent advise please u kind and knowledgeable people.

My sons both started playing in a Junior football team from last sept in the U9's and U11's team. for this I had to pay £50 in July during the trials, £50 in Sept and another £40 in Jan (now) so total £140 for the season.

In October my younger son in the U9's started getting bullied by another player so I raised this with the coach he was quite slow to deal with it but did get it sorted eventually.
During the past 4 months upto the xmas break my son in the U11's has hardly been given any game time and always been used as sub etc. by the coach. even though he has been totally dedicated and always turning up to training and matches.

Last week they started asking for the last installement (£40) so I text the welfare officer/chairman at the club and asked him if he could please give me some clarity on the situation with my son in the U11's going forward before I pay any subs as if he is not in the coaches plans I may aswell take him out as its disheartening for him and myself if he is not even playing much.

2 days later he text me back saying after having spoken to the trust and coaches it has been decided to deregister both my sons and removed from the club and the reason given as "I am always complaining".

I phoned him immediately and he said because I complained last time about the bullying and now because of this they come to this decision and it will not be changed.

He wants to come and collect their kits I have send him a text saying as he is being unreasonable and not giving me a valid reason for the removal of my kids from the club then I expect all the monies paid so far (£200) to be refunded back to before he can have the kits back.

My question is is this a reasonable request can I do this?

Slightly different advice from some of the above. I run an U10's team myself and understand your issues about game time, but believe me, it's not an easy balance to get right. The best solution for this is to move your children to a club which is at their level, as it would seem that they are trying to play at a better level than they can.

Always report bullying to the clubs welfare officer if you feel the coach hasn't acted sufficiently enough.

If you're not happy with the club, the next step is to contact the County FA in which they are registered. However, your request to ask for money back is laughable. £200 for 6 months for 2 kids!? You'll struggle to ever find it that cheap. But maybe you've paid for what you get, if you know what I mean.

One final thing, remember that all the people you deal with in the club, are all volunteers. They put hours in every week from sorting out games, the training, the matchday, and always the worst bit... dealing with the parents.

I hope that advice was useful.

hollydays

.
The kids need simply to enjoy it, and be praised for taking part and being part of a team.
Hopefully the next club will be better for them

heartbreak_star

Potbellypig, as a fellow kids' sports coach I wish I could thank your post twice! Very well put.

HBS x

atlantis187

Potbellypig wrote: »

Slightly different advice from some of the above. I run an U10's team myself and understand your issues about game time, but believe me, it's not an easy balance to get right. The best solution for this is to move your children to a club which is at their level, as it would seem that they are trying to play at a better level than they can.

Always report bullying to the clubs welfare officer if you feel the coach hasn't acted sufficiently enough.

If you're not happy with the club, the next step is to contact the County FA in which they are registered. However, your request to ask for money back is laughable. £200 for 6 months for 2 kids!? You'll struggle to ever find it that cheap. But maybe you've paid for what you get, if you know what I mean.

One final thing, remember that all the people you deal with in the club, are all volunteers. They put hours in every week from sorting out games, the training, the matchday, and always the worst bit... dealing with the parents.

I hope that advice was useful.

Thanks for your reply, sorry I have to disagree with you a little I play football myself and have done for many years even coached a little. I don't think anyone of the players at the club are any higher playing level than my son in the U11's team just that he wasn't even given a fair chance to prove himself as he wasn't allowed on the pitch long enough to show what he can do.

I raised the issue about my other son in the U9's with the bullying straight away to the coach and welfare officer who is also the secretary who also has various other job titles at the club (jack of trades).
This was sorted out back in oct last year and since then he has been a regular starter and playing every match and hardly ever taken off. What was the reason for removing him he was settled and enjoying it
So if u are saying my older son in U11's is maybe not good enough for the team then fair enough the chairman or coach should of had the balls to come and tell me and I would have took him out of the club myself. Not give me a pathetic lame excuse because I have complained twice since the start about the bullying and now the amount of game they are to be removed.

I do agree with your other point though maybe I did pay peanuts and got what I deserved with these monkeys who run this shambles operation.

CardinalWolsey

A sign of how well the club is run is whether or not they are an FA Charter Club. But regardless, it sounds as if the club is struggling for volunteers - there should be absolutely no need for committee members to wear so many hats; unfortunately many clubs are now struggling in this area because the next generation of parents believe everything should just be provided for them, and "simply don't have time to offer any help". They also struggle with the concept that clubs are run by volunteers, and many treat local football clubs as babysitting services more than anything else.

That's one extreme of parent. The other extreme of parent is typically male, played football when they were younger, through no fault of their own and despite their extraordinary skill never got the opportunity to play professionally, or perhaps played a couple of games for Morecambe Under 14 Academy team. Had to stop playing for the Dog and Duck sunday team when the knees couldn't take it any more. And wow, there's little Johnny, he's going to be the next Ronaldo - he's an amazing player, they've been bought all the kit - those flash boots with the built-in ankle socks, the black leggings, the compression undershirt, the pro-outfield gloves etc, but he's not getting enough game time.

Which end of the spectrum does the OP believe they sit?

atlantis187 wrote: »

sorry I have to disagree with you a little I play football myself and have done for many years even coached a little.

Your younger lad, bullying addressed, and at that age group playing mini-soccer it should be all about inclusivity - each player should get the same amount of match time, and roll-on roll-off subs used effectively.

Your older lad is now in youth football. 9 a side but otherwise full laws of the game. Games are now "officially" competitive, and that does mean if your son is not as good a player as the others is likely to get significantly less game time. I presume that the club is not big enough to run more than one team at that age group, so doesn't have a development squad he could drop in to. In which case, rather than complaining, you need to support your lad. Politely speaking with the coach about what can you do to help your son get more game time - what part of his game does he need to concentrate on, is it his fitness, is he simply not bothered? Going in all guns blazing simply wears the coach down even further, on top of running training, and on top of managing fixtures, club returns, league returns after matches, the potential of misconduct paperwork (e.g. for cautions/sending offs), they now have a parent that is challenging - not supporting - him.

So to the OP - consider your approach, consider whether at your next club - "as you used to do a bit of coaching" can you volunteer as a parent helper, or (if you haven't already got it) take your FA Level 1 Coaching Certificate. Inspire, don't expect. Excite, don't demand. Oh, and never, ever even consider abusing the ref at youth football (not saying you do, but remember "RESPECT")!

To address your actual questions, politely hand back the kit and walk away. It's clearly a decision made at the club committee level, involving the chairman. The County FA will not be interested.

mksysb

CardinalWolsey wrote: »

Your older lad is now in youth football. 9 a side but otherwise full laws of the game. Games are now "officially" competitive, and that does mean if your son is not as good a player as the others is likely to get significantly less game time.

That's not true, U11 and U12 are still children. Please see the FA youth development booklet http://www.thefa.com/-/media/cfa/northamptonshirefa/files/youth/u11-and-u12-youth-development-review-booklet.ashx

Page 27 -
"Please remember:
From season 2015/16 Under
11s are not permitted to
play in leagues where results
are collected or published
or winner trophies are
presented. This is deemed
to be detrimental to the
development of the player
and the game and will not
be sanctioned. "

and rule 3 on page 29
"All team members should receive equal
playing time where possible, with a best
practice recommendation of at least 50% per
player for each game."

Page 27 "These Laws are mandatory
unless special permission is
granted by The FA."

Potbellypig

atlantis187 wrote: »

Thanks for your reply, sorry I have to disagree with you a little I play football myself and have done for many years even coached a little. I don't think anyone of the players at the club are any higher playing level than my son in the U11's team just that he wasn't even given a fair chance to prove himself as he wasn't allowed on the pitch long enough to show what he can do.

I raised the issue about my other son in the U9's with the bullying straight away to the coach and welfare officer who is also the secretary who also has various other job titles at the club (jack of trades).
This was sorted out back in oct last year and since then he has been a regular starter and playing every match and hardly ever taken off. What was the reason for removing him he was settled and enjoying it
So if u are saying my older son in U11's is maybe not good enough for the team then fair enough the chairman or coach should of had the balls to come and tell me and I would have took him out of the club myself. Not give me a pathetic lame excuse because I have complained twice since the start about the bullying and now the amount of game they are to be removed.

I do agree with your other point though maybe I did pay peanuts and got what I deserved with these monkeys who run this shambles operation.

2 things - If the welfare officer is also the secretary and has various other jobs at the club, wouldn't it have been nice of you to volunteer your own time to help. Maybe the club wouldn't be so poorly ran (in your opinion) if they had some parents alongside them that could help. On your other point - so your Son wasn't getting much game time and you wanted a fair chance, but now he's playing every match and is hardly ever taken off. Surely that can't be fair on the other poor child who's now not getting fair game time.

But anyway, you've got your answer on your consumer rights. I just hope the next club you go to, maybe you'll volunteer some of your own time to help it succeed.

heartbreak_star

I'm interested - how did things pan out in the end, OP?

HBS x