Picking a good football club for your child to take their next steps in the game is one of the most crucial decisions that parents have to make on a sporting front.
Sign them up for a team where the coaching is good and the environment is fun and they’ll love playing football in both matches and at training. Have them join a club which isn’t run properly and you could put them off playing the sport.
Thankfully, it’s quite easy to tell the good clubs from the not-so-good ones. Here are some of the signs of a good football club.
They have FA Charter Standard recognition
The FA Charter Standard programme was launched in 2001 and effectively recognizes the very best football clubs around the country. In order to achieve the title, a club has to be well-run and sustainable.
Every coach must be FA licensed and qualified in order to ensure the highest standards and safeguarding. These clubs are proud representatives of the sport in their local communities in grassroots football.
Clubs have to reapply and renew their accreditation every year, which means that standards are consistently maintained and that they continue to be a safe footballing environment for all involved.
In return for becoming FA Charter Standard, clubs receive a number of benefits with the best of those being additional funding from the FA for equipment, coaching qualifications or other opportunities to help them improve their environment and club.
By signing your child up with an FA Charter Standard club, you are receiving a guarantee from the FA themselves that they are going to receive the best possible coaching in a safe environment. There’s no higher recommendation than that.
All the coaches are FA qualified
It’s one of the requirements of becoming an FA Charter Standard club and really every coach being FA qualified should be commonplace across the board, especially when it comes to youth football.
If the club you are looking for your child to join doesn’t use FA qualified coaches, then think again. While the role of volunteers in grassroots football cannot be underestimated, the FA are now pushing for volunteers to also be qualified as they are working towards the England football DNA and want everyone on the same page.
Somebody you know and respect is involved with the club
If somebody you know and respect from the world of football is involved in a club, then chances are it’s going to be a good one for your child to join. They probably wouldn’t be involved if it wasn’t.
That could be a teacher from your child’s school, one of their coaches from the weekly football academy that they attend or even a parent that you know is well-qualified as a coach and has a good knowledge of the game.
If you feel confident in the abilities of the people who are involved with the running of the club, then you should feel confident about what it can offer your child too.
Lots of your child’s friends play for the club
Should a football club not be very good, then it won’t attract or maintain many players. Children won’t stay at a club where they don’t enjoy the coaching or the set up.
If your child is considering joining a team, then chances are they have already had some exposure to football, whether it be through school or at an academy. Lots of the friends they’ve made at these two institutions may play for the same team, which would suggest that it’s a decent club to get involved with.
Sometimes, you can’t beat the recommendations of those around you. Look at the most popular clubs and speak to other parents. If their children enjoy playing for a team, yours probably will as well.
Football is a huge part of our society in England, it helps to improve communities and develop individuals through sport. Joining a grassroots club can have a lasting impact on your child and create lifetime memories so we hope that you have found this article helpful in making your decision.
