Note to the coach

This team is an Under 12 team, 12 not 21, so I don't expect to hear comments like this:

"If we lose this game because you backs aren't doing your job the forwards and midfielders can suck back a stubbie at training on Friday while you backs do the grunt work"

at half time.

These are Unders 12's so firstly, stubbies (small bottles of beer for the uninitiated) don't even enter the equation, WTF are you doing talking to my 11 year old about drinking beer at footie training?!?

Secondly, a football game is won or lost by a team, not by three or four children. If the ball makes it as far as the backs, then the midfielders and forwards have some explaining to do too because they haven't done their job properly either.

Thirdly, if the forwards had kicked goals (worth 6 points) rather than behinds (worth 1 point) we would have come out thirty points ahead at the final whistle. So it might be a good idea to work on accuracy in kicking with the boys at training, but don't yell at them for not being accurate, just help them learn to be more accurate and encourage them for the fact that even a behind is better than no points at all.

At this stage in their sports careers the idea is to encourage, to look at the game and point out better strategies for situations that have occurred. If you have any desire to have an any way decent first grade seniors team you have to make playing football fun for those who are really keen when they are 11, if its not, they wont hang around, and that would be a huge tragedy for the club long term.

As the coach, if this team loses, it is your responsibility, because you are telling them how to play, and positioning them on the field. If you play your best back as a full forward when he has never played there before, of course he will struggle for a bit.

And lastly - rotations. I have three children, every Saturday morning I get them all out of bed early so that we can make it to the playing field half an hour before the game starts - usually on the other side of town so half an hour or more drive has to be taken into account. My whole family sacrifices other things to be at the games each Saturday, if you aren't going to give my kid fair playing time, tell me beforehand, and we wont bother making the effort to be there. Please let me know if my kid is only going to get five minutes on the field. There are a whole sixty minutes in a game, my kid deserves at least one full quarter. Five minutes is an insult given that he has never missed a training session or a game, he is always on time, and he is always willing to listen and do as you instruct.

So yes, I did talk to the club management, and yes it will impact on you. But these kids deserve better than what you gave them last week. I hope this is a wake up call for you. I admire the fact that you are willing to put the time into coaching this team, yes it is a big commitment, but it is also your responsibility to put these kids above your needs - the greatest rewards will come not in holding up a trophy at the end of the season, but from the respect, admiration and friendship you will get from these kids for having lead them respectfully through the season, for encouraging them and for believing in them.


OK end of rant, thanks for listening.