http://full-time.thefa.com/ProcessPublicSelect.do?psSelectedSeason=945421299&psSelectedDivision=273625364&psSelectedLeague=1697069

Saltdean United FC U10’s

20^th April 2012, Spanish Lady, Saltdean 8.00pm

Present:           Damon Crane, Kane Funnell, Paul Gibbs, Nicky & Drew Edwards,

Richard Marchant, Angie & Frank Parker, Claire Marsden,

Tracey Cooper, Hannah & Steve Weston, Jackie & Andy Ludkin,

Tijjani Shehu

Unable to

Attend:                        Amy Nela, Gary Redding, Vicky Kharbouch, Bashir Mahgiub

Damon opened the meeting and confirmed his intention to stand down as Head Coach.  He has spoken to the club regarding his intentions and the purpose of this meeting was to decide on a way forward for the team, to see what options were available and if any parents were interested in taking on the role of Head Coach.

Frank asked if Damon would still be involved with the team.  Damon confirmed that Alfie would continue to play and he would be available to help from time to time and to oversee a transition period once a new coach was appointed.

Parents agreed that they were keen to see the team continue next season moving up to 11-a-side.

The options available were discussed; Ryan who has offered his services and attended the last match of the season at East Brighton Park, was seen as a possible option and seemed very keen.

Kane put himself forward as coach.  This was greeted with a very positive reaction from parents due to his knowledge and enthusiasm for the game and his previous experience coaching his older son’s team including 11-a-side.

Kane advised that he is available every Sunday and 2 in 4 Saturdays, so would require Assistant Coaches to help, he also mentioned the possibility of mid-week training sessions.  Steve Weston put himself forward as an Assistant Coach. Damon will speak to Ryan with regards to him helping as an Assistant Coach, and will also start the process with the club with regards to CBR checks, Coaching and First Aid training.

UPDATE: I HAVE INITIATED THIS PROCESS WITH KANE & STEVE W. RYAN HAS WITHDRAWN FROM CONSIDERATION BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE ‘HEAD’ COACH!

Kane also asked if Andy Marsden and Matt Cooper might be able to help out from time-to-time, but they were not present at the meeting.  Drew Edwards said that he would help in any way if needed.

Damon said that someone needed to attend monthly club meetings and said he would continue to do this if needed.

There was discussion regarding goal keeper training and Frank suggested we might ask Owen, who Michael has trained with before, to see if he could do a session with Michael and Chris. Damon said he will find out about this.

It was suggested that the boys desperately need a new training kit for next season, and Kane said he would like training kit to include a track suit.  Damon indicated that there would be some money left in the kitty after the end of season awards for the players had been purchased, which he will be doing.

Nicky Edwards put herself forward and will be responsible for sourcing and ordering the new kit.

Damon suggested that we try and find a sponsor for any new match kit.  Jackie & Andy Ludkin said they may possibly have some one who may be interested in sponsoring, but other options also need to be looked at.

Kane asked Jackie to carry on with collection of subs (which has been agreed will remain at £4 per weekend for the moment) and to oversee the finance.

He will also speak to Amy Nela regarding first aid.

Other Matters:

Registration

All players will need to register again for the new season.  It was agreed that there will be a training session before the summer holidays where parents can bring along their photos and payment. Drew Edwards will oversee the registration process – date of training session and further details to be confirmed.

Referee and Linesmen

The team have to supply the referee for each home match and the referees are taken from a pool and will oversee the match at a cost of £20 per game.  2 Dads, one from each team will be required to run the line for each home match (free of charge).  Damon will find out how and when the Referee is paid so Jackie can arrange the payment.

Saturday 19^th May

The Club have a fun day on 19^th May which the teams are requested to attend and support.  Our team will be running a Football Quiz which Damon will take charge of.

Prior to that we will have a kids v parents fun match at the Oval and also player awards to be given.  Times and the format for the day to be confirmed.

Pre-Season Training

It is anticipated that pre-season training will start around mid August onwards.  Training times etc need to be agreed by the Club and will be confirmed nearer the time.  U11 matches will take place at the club.

Further Meetings

It was agreed that parent meetings should take place on a more regular basis.

The new coaching structure for the team subject to all the relevant coaching and clearance processes will be as follows:

Kane Funnell               –                       Head Coach

Steve Weston              –                       Assistant Coach

Ryan                           –                       Assistant Coach – to be confirmed.

Team Administration & Finance:

Drew Edwards                        –                       Registration

Nicky Edwards           –                       Kit Management

Jackie Ludkin              –                       Treasurer

No other matters – meeting closed.

 As you know, I would like to stand down from duties in an official capacity, preferably after the Fun Day and awards on May 19th.

 Any new coach(es) would need to be approved not just by parents themselves but also by the club itself – Secretary Iain Fielding and Chairman Bob Thomas. I’m sure this is a formality, however as an FA Standard Chartered Club (a status that SUFC is very proud of) there is of course a process to follow…

Minimum coaching requirements

The club requires that every team must have a ‘head coach’ (even if in name only). The first three requirements listed below are compulsory for any head coach – although the club will foot the bill for these activities.

Whilst assistant coaches don’t technically need to meet these requirements, the club recommends that anyone involved with the children regularly should be CRB checked.

1. FA coaching badge level 1 (3 days include a weekend): Often has a waiting list but is local (I did mine at Falmer school).
2. Advanced CRB (child protection) clearance: This can take 10 weeks to come through.
3. Emergency first aid certificate: 4 hours
4. Whatever else parents wish.

In my view there are certain intangibles that will also be essential for our success next season and beyond: Namely, an experienced and energetic head coach who can help our boys realise their potential through great motivation, but also through example, and of course an excellent grasp of 11-a-side strategy and tactics.

 Options for next season

 Our options for 2012/2013 season as I see them are as follows…

1. Continue, with parents running the team
2. Continue with new blood/coach(es) possibly paid from subs.
3. Mixture of both.
4. Don’t continue.
5. Some other option I haven’t considered.

 Non-parental volunteers

• We have Ryan who of course has recently volunteered. Nothing has been agreed here and we need to find out a little more about him. However, he is young and keen and could make some form of contribution to coaching the team

• My friend and neighbour Alex, who has helped out with coaching this season on a very sporadic basis. He would be willing to continue helping out next season with Saturday training every 2-3 weeks – and has the advantage of already being CRB cleared in his capacity as a steward at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Parental volunteers

TBD on Friday at our meeting…

Subs

As you know we have had a subs a holiday for a few weeks now. Even after paying for new kit, footballs etc, we had around £430 collected, with £130 approx set aside to be spent on trophies, etc, for the end of season party – which leaves £300 approx in the kitty.

This can be spent any way the new coach(es) wish. My suggestion is that I write out a cheque for cash, which can be held by either the coach or treasurer.

11-a-side next season

The step-up to 11-a-side is of course a big one next season.

• It means a much bigger pitch and full-size goals.
• We will train and play at the club, NOT in the oval.
• This means sharing one pitch with 6 junior teams (ages 11-16 incl), which in turn means, having ‘last pick’ of times, that midweek training may be a better option.
• On the plus side we can store all our equipment in the lock-up at the club and of course there’s no more need to construct our own goals each week.
• Kids need to learn offside rule/backpass rules/foul throws, etc.
• Each week there is only ONE game of 60 mins with a maximum of three subs allowed.
• We stay in a local league in the first year but at u12 level it’s organised on ability – which means teams in a given league can come from all over East Sussex.
• Games will be competitive and the scores recorded on the Sussex FA web site.
• Scores from home games will need to be sent to the FA fixtures secretary after every home game.
• On the plus side we will have an SUFC fixtures secretary (probably Bob Thomas) who at the beginning of each week will advise on our fixture details for the following Sunday.
• Referees and linesmen will need to be organised for every game (the club can help).

Other coaching duties to consider

• Attending regular monthly club committee meeting (first Monday of every month) – one representative from each team must attend.
• Attending one random Sussex FA event per year (a requirement for each age group and essential for the club to keep its FA chartered status).
• Deciding when summer training will re-start and at what time.
• Organising with the club (Bob Thomas again) where and when training will be held.
• Because of the shift to 11-a-side it’s highly advisable to organise friendlies this coming season before competitive games start in early September.
• Decide on kit and equipment requirements. We need new poles, for example.
• Register players for the coming season: This usually takes place in July and can be quite a task.
• Organise a Training Programme for 11-a-side football. Chris Hindle and Dean Lightwood have both volunteered to help us in this respect.
• Continue to inform parents of training, games and anything else in a timely way.
• Collect subs (currently Jackie). All other age groups at the club are now at £3 per session (£6 a week), perhaps this should be considered for ourselves.
• The club does ask coaches to help with certain additional activities: The Club Fun Day is one. The Christmas Raffle is another (we have to supply prizes for both). Of course this also includes organising end-of-season parties and awards, etc.

Summary

It’s been a great four years but one thing is for sure: With every passing year it has become harder and harder to win football games. And as the playing field levels out ability-wise, it’s inevitable that the best-coached and drilled teams will emerge as the most successful.

We saw this very clearly throughout this past season with too many naïve and undisciplined performances from both of our teams, especially in the last few games. Teams that recently beat us handily like Patcham and Coldean have been training twice a week, with several FA standard coaches – and it showed. And rest assured, for these teams it will continue…

In our first full season (U8s) I would describe us as an elite team. In our second season, we were a very good team; and this past season…being honest we were average  (notwithstanding one or two outstanding performances). This takes nothing away from the boys and their achievements. It merely emphasises what a difference high-quality coaching makes, and will continue to make.

Whilst as parents we don’t want our lives dominated by weekend football, on the other hand I can’t imagine that anyone enjoys seeing their son getting beaten on a regular basis either – particularly bearing in mind the outstanding talent within our squad.

In my view the challenge next season therefore is to find a way of translating this potential into performances  – without losing the ‘fun’ element of course!

DC

– After coming through the Cullfall tunnel into Lewes take a right and continue along the A26 (Malling Street) as it climbs the hill. Take a left onto Church Lane and the school should be right there (for those with Sat Nav it’s BN7 2HS).

It’s a 1030 kickoff, so please get there for 10am.

Thanks,

D

The post code is BN42 4WA.

Directions are as follows:

– Follow Old Shoreham Road quite a way west, take a right onto Downsway Road, the  first road on the right after Mile Oak road.

– If you see Topps Tiles you’ve come too far(!)

– Park where you can on the road

– Follow signs for the Mile Oak Wanderers pitches.

That is it.

D

http://www.lewesbridgeview.co.uk/directions.html

Good luck. D

http://full-time.thefa.com/ListPublicFixture.do?divisionseason=8751906&league=1697069

– Our fixture list is therefore much busier with 24 scheduled games, starting with back-to-back home matches against local rivals (Rottingean on 11 Sep and Peacehaven on 18 Sep).

See you all for training on 3 Sep at 930, bottom pitch.

Rgds,
D