Our Aims
As an Association, we aim to help children in the squad to
- Improve individually as a player.
- Contribute to the performance of the team.
- Help other members of the squad.
- Develop positive attitudes towards winning and losing.
- Tackle new challenges in a positive manner.
- Make new friends and meet new people.
- Respect other people and appreciate all who give up time to help them – teachers, match officials, parents and opponents.
- Represent their School and District in an honourable manner.
The aim of the English Schools Football Association is:
“The mental, moral and physical development of school children through the medium of association football”
Safeguarding Policy
Every child or young person who plays or participates in sport should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from abuse of any kind. This is the responsibility of every adult involved in that sport.
Dacorum Primary Schools, in association with the English Schools FA and Football Association, recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying.
Attitudes
· Encourage and support all your team mates, whatever the situation.
· Be respectful, polite and well mannered to everyone.
· Be prepared to lose – and win – with good grace.
Codes of Conduct
For Players
1. Play for the fun of the game, not just to please the coach or parents.
2. Always play by the rules.
3. NEVER question the referees or assistant referees decision.
4. Always control your temper.
5. Work hard for the team and yourself.
6. Treat other players as you would want to be treated yourself.
For Parents
1. Remember that children are involved in sport for their enjoyment, not yours.
2. Always encourage your child to play by the rules.
3. Teach your child that losing must be accepted without undue disappointment.
4. Never ridicule children for making a mistake.
5. Never question the officials’ judgement or their honesty.
6. Do not coach either your child or other team members during the game.
7. Always ensure that your child is on time.
We are playing at this level together and the above Codes of Conduct are important to the efficient running of the squads
Overplay and its effects on the young sports person
We have to be careful about the amount of football that young people play. At Primary School age, it coincides with the most important physical development of a young person.
In the main, young footballers and athletes are “over played” when their bones are relatively soft and immature, between the ages of 11 and 17 years. More specifically, young footballers tend to play and train too much between the ages of 13 and 16 years.
Teachers, parents and coaches must try and take responsibility and make a decision not to “over play” and overuse their bodies and be aware of the signs:
· Niggling injuries.
· A falling off in the physical capacity of the child.
· A drop in the quality of performance of the player.
· A lack of enthusiasm.
· Apparent tiredness.
· Impatience with own lack of success or quality of performance.
Ultimately the health and welfare off all children is the responsibility of their parents. Three ways, therefore, in which parents can help protect their child are to ensure:
1. They do not play whilst injured – or return too quickly afterwards.
2. They do not play twice on the same day.
3. They do not play too much summer football. Letting them try other sports can be beneficial for their physical and mental development.
For this and other reasons we will not be holding weekly training sessions. You will be informed of all training sessions by text/email or at match days
