Fife Soccer Sevens - A positive youth football environment
01/05/2009
An average Scottish Saturday morning: most green patches around the country are occupied by youngsters playing sport. PositiveCoachingScotland.com recently went along to Pitreavie in Fife to investigate one particular patch of grass, which is used by hundreds of young boys and girls every Saturday morning and is proving to be an example for youth football in Scotland.
Fife Soccer Sevens Development Association was founded in 1997, to support the development of young footballers in the area. Twelve years on, the organization is continuing to expand and provide a positive environment for young boys and girls to play football in.
Currently run by two volunteers, Andi Campbell and Davie Barbour, the Association plays host to almost 800 youngsters every Saturday. “This is probably one of the top 20 most attended football events in Scotland”, says Campbell, with a smile which highlights the pride he has in the coaching ethos he has helped create.
From 9am until 2pm every Saturday morning, ten 7-a-side pitches at the Academy are filled with young boys and girls aged 8 – 12. Campbell explains the ethos of the organization, to create a positive sporting environment. “Its pure development, there are no referees, no cups, competitions, leagues or points. The kids turn up, they play the game and win or lose, they’re back next week. That’s the good thing about it.”
“It’s when they come out with their wee strips on thinking ‘I’m a Rooney or McFadden’, its tremendous for them and they go away home thinking ‘well, we got beat today but it was good fun’ and that’s what we’re out there to achieve.”
Hundreds of boys and girls playing sport are naturally accompanied by hundreds of spectators to watch their youngsters in action. However, as Campbell explains, a strict procedure has been put in place to cut out a negative sideline atmosphere before it has the chance to start.
At the beginning of this season, in a partnership between Positive Coaching Scotland, the Scottish FA and Fife Council, pitch tapes were implemented at the sidelines of the pitches to ensure the adults let the players play the game.
To minimise all conflict, coaches stand on one touchline while all spectators are located on the opposite side of the pitch. The PCS pitch tapes ensure that all spectators are standing further than a meter away from the sideline.
“The pitch tapes work fantastically, because what we used to have is the parents standing on the touchline, shouting the instructions and crossing over onto the pitch itself. Now the pitch tapes are in place, it stops everybody encroaching onto the pitch. You stand far enough back and you leave all the decisions up to the coaches, it works perfectly and it’s brand new.”
Martin Kennedy, a parent and coach of Bayside 2001’s, also highlights the positive impact the pitch tapes have had on the youngsters playing the game. “Last season the parents were really on the touchline and now they’re about a meter back. The kids now have much more room and they’re not scared to go to that side of the park so it’s good, I think it’s something that should be implemented at all kids football games all around the country.”
Kennedy, who has attended one of the Positive Coaching Scotland workshops in Fife, is seeing evidence of the principles of PCS rubbing off on the youngsters he is coaching.
“My team got beat today and they’re now playing fun fours because they had so much fun and they don’t want to go away – it’s this fantastic attitude that they have.
He continued: “Were not interested in them winning. It doesn’t matter if they win, lose or draw, as long as they go home happy and they come to training on Monday happy, then we’re doing something right.”
Lee Black, whose two young boys play every Saturday morning, has been in situations where negativity has been spluttered from the sidelines of youth football matches, “It really brings the kids down,” he said. “Whereas when it’s a positive environment you do see that they start to enjoy the game and play better, they’re not thinking about making mistakes or letting you down, it’s a case of getting out there and enjoying it.”
Walking around the grounds of the Dunfermline Academy of Sport, you gain an insight into the true value of sport to these youngsters. Whether they score three or concede five, these young boys and girls enjoy playing football, and they’ll be back next week. You also hear sounds of encouragement as opposed to the negative retorts from the sidelines which have become synonymous with youth football in this country.
Maybe this isn’t an average Scottish Saturday morning youth football scenario, but it should be.