I swear something must be done to curb the gobby parents ruining kids football
ONE of the biggest threats to football is the behaviour of gobby parents – and it’s time to shame them with yellow and red cards.
As the father of two boys, who have played junior football at grass-roots level from the age of six, I have been a parent and, more recently, a manager.
Regrettably, I have seen some appalling conduct on the sidelines – and I fear the problem is getting worse.
So in the week Jeremy Corbyn delivered his speech to the Labour Party conference, please bear with another bearded chap taking to his lectern and spelling out his radical vision for the future.
When I floated the idea of parents being shamed with red cards for abusive, intimidating or insulting language on the Radio 5 Live podcast Flintoff, Savage and The Ping Pong Guy this week, the response on social media was massive.
It’s a sad indictment of where we are that I should even have to come up with my football revolution for kids below secondary school age.
I must stress that 95 per cent of mums and dads, who turn out in all weathers to cheer on their kids, are supportive and well-mannered. It’s the five per cent who spoil the experience with aggression, swearing and unpleasantness we need to root out.
Here’s my 10-point plan for kids who play grass-roots football for fun – but who sometimes go home feeling unfulfilled or, worse, ashamed of their own parents...
YELLOW AND RED CARDS FOR FOUL AND ABUSIVE PARENTS
Part-funded by the FA, part-funded by councils and part-funded by an extra 50p or £1-a-week in playing subs, let’s have a welfare or safeguarding officer at EVERY youth level game.
They will have the power to show parents whose verbals are excessive – in a negative way – yellow cards as a warning to curb their aggression.
After a caution, those parents have a choice: to pipe down and wind their necks in, or risk being shamed in public.
If their poor behaviour persists, they will be shown the red card – AND their sons or daughters will be forced to leave the pitch.
That might sound unfair, but it would mean abusive parents will be answerable to their own children if their conduct is unacceptable.
SEGREGATE PARENTS
As a coach or manager, what is the world coming to when you can’t mix with other mums and dads on the touchline of a Sunday morning? But, sadly, I would have parents supporting their teams on one side of the pitch and all coaches, managers and their substitutes on the other.
That would limit the scope for arguments.
SINBINS FOR KIDS
From under-12 level upwards – in other words, for players of secondary school age – I would introduce 10-minute sinbins like they have in rugby. When kids are growing up, they need to learn discipline and the consequences of misbehaviour. How about sinbins to cool off for bad tackles, offensive gestures, answering back to referees and dissent?
GAME TIME FOR ALL
It’s imperative that every child picked to play for his or her team on a Sunday morning has a fair chance to contribute.
I would like to see each player on the teamsheet given at least 25 minutes of playing time, either from the start or as a substitute.
There is nothing worse for parents than standing around in the wet or cold, wondering if their child is going to get a run-out, and being disillusioned if he or she barely gets a kick.
There is a responsibility on coaches to put out teams where kids can find their own level and play against opponents of a comparable standard.
Youngsters cannot be expected to enjoy games if their team loses 18-0 every week.
PITCH SIZES & HEIGHT
It makes me angry when I see kids of 10 or 11 trying to play on full-size pitches – how can goalkeepers of that age possibly keep a clean sheet in a goal made for 6ft 2in adults?
The FA have recommended small-sided pitches and nine-a-side for all age groups up to under-13s, but I would go even further.
In games of 20 minutes each way, I’d like to see the first half played with no balls allowed over head height, except from corners or free-kicks. That would stop games becoming a contest to see who can kick it furthest.
FUTSAL TRAINING
Futsal (right) is a form of five-a-side, usually on a hard surface indoors, with a smaller but slightly-heavier ball and rolling substitutions.
It encourages technique, passing in tight spaces, and is a great way to learn the game and improve skills. An hour of futsal training every week would lift technical standards and kids would surely enjoy the variety.
GOALKEEPERS NOT ALLOWED TO KICK BALL FROM THEIR HANDS
Until they play 11-a-side on full-size pitches, I would argue this places more emphasis on playing the ball out from the back, and defenders would become more comfortable on the ball.
CUT THE GRASS!
Some of the pitches I’ve watched my boys play on have been nothing short of a disgrace. You can’t expect talent to flourish where the grass is far too long, or there are clumps of grass clippings and litter on the surface.
Let’s give our children something decent to play on.
LET THE KIDS PLAY
Up to the age of 12, children who are affiliated to professional clubs’ academies should be allowed to play for local grass-roots teams as well.
It didn’t stop the Class of ’92 at Manchester United from fulfilling their potential. I signed schoolboy forms for United at 14 and still played for Llay United, FC Bradley and Brickfield Rangers. And it didn’t do me any harm – I went on to play 631 games, nearly all of them in the Premier League and Championship.
Too many kids go through academies too young – I fear they miss out on learning the game and playing with their mates. Wayne Rooney learned to play in the street with his pals, and it didn’t prevent him from developing a winning mentality.
I also fear youngsters locked into the academy system miss out on opportunities in real life, which limits them massively. They do not experience all different types of football beyond the “perfect” circumstances they are provided with at academies.
Spontaneity is an important part of the game, so let young boys and girls express themselves.
BUT DON’T FORGET: IT’S AN EMOTIONAL GAME!
No blueprint, no revolution, no radical idea should supersede one basic premise: football is an emotive game and supporting a team can arouse passion in the most mild-mannered people. I am not trying to suppress any emotions – football is not about money, it’s about enjoyment. Wherever you go to watch football this weekend – whether at a Premier League ground or a soggy touchline at grass-roots level – enjoy the game!