 |
 |
| . | |
 Is it time for school football to take the lead? Today, The Pink opens up the debate on the most appropriate medium for developing our young football players. It is now 25 years since a Scottish club side won a European trophy and the man who lifted that cup started his football career playing for his school. Willie Miller played football for Dalmarnock and John Street school sides and was also capped at schoolboy level for Scotland. He is Scotland's most successful captain outside of the old firm. The past 2 decades have seen schoolboy football reduce in significance although there has been a resurgence in recent years at primary school level. Club football has taken prominence but various concerns have been raised by parents, school football representatives, SFA representatives and others with an interest in the future of football in Scotland. And these don't just relate to players playing at the upper echelons of club football. Initiative football has come in for criticism and I know of several players who have decided to step "down" from that "level" because of verbal abuse from "coaches" and a lack of enjoyment. In the lower divisions of youth football, where the football is more "recreational", concerns are regularly raised about players being ditched whilst others are signed. Notices being posted for new players to "strengthen" sides. And recently I was made aware of a 7 year old boy being aggressively shouted at by a "coach" of one of Edinburgh supposedly top club sides. Other issues involve players not being given equal pitch time and teams travelling 20 and more miles on a Sunday morning to play a 40 minutes game of football at the age of 9. And now, through Ian Mackay, we learn of youth clubs banning players from playing for their school side. Why is this happening?
If the focus is on development and for players of
all abilities to be the best they can be then why does this happen?
If trophies and titles don't really matter then why do boys get
signed up and others ditched? If promotion and relegation doesn't
matter then why do all players not get equal pitch time? Why do
clubs send notices into The Pink and the Evening News looking for
players to "strengthen the team"?
Is there an argument for school football
re-emerging as the principal football mode where boys and girls
develop their footballing abilities? Would this reduce the instances
where young kids are travelling 20 miles on a Sunday morning for a
40 minute football match? Would this in one fell swoop take away the
potential for players being signed up, poached and others ditched -
because the only criteria for playing would be if you attended the
school? Would there be less pressure and more enjoyment within a
school football structure than there is in club football? Would a
larger contingent of players play and therefore develop potential?
The Pink would like to hear your views on all of
this. It would be good to hear from club representatives and school
representatives. Also those responsible for the ongoing structure
and development of the children's and youth game in Scotland. And
people involved in boys' and girls' football. If you are a parent
with good or bad experiences then please get in touch. If you have
personally suffered as a player then please let us know.
All requests for anonymity and confidentiality will be absolutely respected. Send comments, views and thoughts to editor@thepink.org.uk |
|