host posted on November 06, 2011 09:38

The new Junior Section of the club will start on Monday 22nd November 2011, catering for boys and girls between the age of 7 and 11. Sessions will run each Monday evening from 6:00pm - 7:00pm on the brand new 3rd Generation Astro-turf at Marlwood School, Vattingston Lane, Alveston, Bristol. BS35 3LA.
Children born between September 1st 2000 and August 31st 2004 are invited to attend. This includes children in the new school Years 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Training sessions will run once a week, initially for one hour. As numbers increase, ages may be split and times changed. A training night will be revealed shortly.
Some matches will be organised against development squads later in the season. More permanent squads will then be formed. Players are welcome and encouraged to remain playing for their club sides.
The Junior age range is a crucial stage in children’s physiological and pedagogical development. Here learning can be accelerated, but also poor technique can become ingrained. For example, habits picked up at this age are difficult to change at a later date. However, good technique is much easier to learn and will become more permanent.
Sessions will be focused around a variety of fun activities, based upon technique development. Many activities will be in a competitive environment to allow the players to develop technique into skill, but by limiting the competition to be less comparative (so players aren’t afraid of losing). Players will be encouraged to experiment and learn their own style of play without a fear of failure.
Some small sided games and competitive scenarios will be included in sessions, but with a focus on developing decision making, rather than on a win/loss ratio. This will allow players to repeatedly improve their decision making capability. Personalised goals will be set to allow all players to be able to learn at their own level.
An F.A. Licensed Coach will run the sessions, supported by qualified coaches and some of the older Development Squad Players.
For more information or to enrol, please contact Mike Mawson on (07500) 802309.