Regular readers of this blog will know that I'm passionate about grassroots football. I think it's a brilliant vehicle for teaching youngsters about being better citizens, learning to respect elders and peers; learning about individual responsibility and being part of a team as well as how to win and more importantly how to lose. If the odd player goes onto bigger and better things then great but first and foremost it should be about fun and enjoyment.
My club, Whelley Alexandra, is lucky to be part of the Bolton, Bury and District Football League. The league promotes a respect, fun and enjoyment culture across countless playing fields every Saturday morning, and bar the odd numpty, most clubs and teams "get it". They understand that results aren't that important and that it is simply kids football, not the last 4 of the Champions League, but simply a group of kids having fun, playing football with their mates.
I like many others, fell into grassroots football as a dad that started helping out. That 7 year old that I first started taking to Saturday morning football is now a 16 year old, still playing for Whelley Alexandra I might add. I don't coach him anymore but his younger brothers, now under 11s. I am also secretary of the club and very proud of, and full of admiration for, the volunteers that facilitate 165 youngsters playing football each Saturday morning across our 10 teams.
Did I say 10 teams?
Oh I'm sorry its only 9 teams now!
Unfortunately, and with very heavy hearts, Alan Blazys (Chairman) and I took the decision to fold one of our u16s teams this week. The manager informed us that "he felt he had taken the team as far as he could" and that several of the players were not up to "the standard". Several of the players have lost interest and have discovered things that most 16 year old lads discover, I know I did, and don't want to continue. As a result there are simply not enough players to field a team, we would struggle to field a 5-a-side squad, and so the decision had to be taken to fold the team and withdraw it from the league.
The team has played in the highest division of the BBDFL for years and recently saw Tinashe Chakwana sign a 2 year scholarship with Burnley FC. So the players that have played for the team for a while are decent players. Surely up to "the Standard"
So what exactly is "the standard"? I've looked through the BBDFL handbook and there doesn't appear to be a definition. I've also searched the FA regulations, nothing there either. So I have asked a few trusted coaching friends who have enlightened me. The standard is a phrase that coaches and managers use when they think a player isn't good enough. Ahhh now we have it. So if the players in your charge aren't up to the standard surely that reflects on your abilities as a coach?
If the players enjoyed Saturdays mornings instead of worrying about results then surely "the standard" becomes irrelevant. It would have been interesting to see if the manager would have quit had the team won their Lancashire Cup 1/4 final at Elton Vale on Sunday instead of losing 6-0?
The abiding memory many of the players from that team will have of Whelley Alexandra is not the years of fun and enjoyment they have had; nor the many friends they have made; the trips and parties we have had but it will be one of losing a 1/4 final and the manager walking away with 4 or 5 players which resulted in the team folding. That is the sad part.
In terms of "the standard" I think the only person that wasn't up to "the standard" was the manager we chose to run that team. The fault therefore lies with the Chairman and I. We must make sure our future managers / coaches are the right people and fully understand what we as a club are all about.
Saturday mornings, football and fun.
Our other under 16s team by the way plays in the bottom division, has 18 players signed on and a waiting list for players wanting to join. They're not the best team, but they don't half enjoy their Saturday mornings together. Credit for that must go down to the manager/coach and the players of course who don't take themselves too seriously.
If you were to ask them what "the Standard" was I bet half of them would describe a pub near to where Bolton County play!!!!
