|
 |
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Half-way
through the
season, and
hopefully
the bad
weather is
behind us.
If
scientists
need any
evidence of
changing
climatic
conditions
they just
need to ask
any football
fixtures
secretary! |
|
In this
newsletter
we start
what is
hoped will
be a regular
series of “A
Saturday in
the life
off…”
articles
written by
members of
Kingston
Little
League
scene.
Though it is
a well-used
format I am
sure you
will find it
interesting,
humorous and
informative. |
Finally,
there is a
guide for
parents &
carers on
how to
support your
child in
football,
which I urge
you to read
and, if
possible,
view the
video from
the FA
mentioned in
the article.
|
|
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Chairman’s
Message |
|
First, may I
take this
opportunity
to thank
everyone for
their
support this
season so
far and wish
you and your
families a
happy and
prosperous
New Year. In
general
games have
gone well
and
incidents
that have
occurred
have been
minor. Some
teams were
in need of
strengthening
and
inevitably
this means
stronger
teams giving
up the odd
player to
those at the
bottom of
the three
leagues.
This is
never
welcomed by
all but is
the fairest
way of
ensuring
that where
possible we
make all
teams as
competitive
as possible
in
11-a-side.
Of course
there will
always be a
team that
finishes top
and one that
finishes in
the bottom
position.
Most teams
on paper
have 13 or
14 players -
with the
ideal being
14 - and
Coordinators
who have the
responsibility
of working
with
managers to
effect
changes will
ensure that
this remains
the
situation.
In Sevens we
have a small
waiting list
and need to
accommodate
the new
players this
will mean
two or
possibly
three moving
up to
Juniors. |
|
May I say a
big thank
you to the
members of
the
committee
who have
made
Kingston
Little
League work;
without them
we would not
get past the
starting
post. In
addition I
would like
to thank
those who
referee,
particularly
Mike
England,
Pete
Mitchell,
Joe
Sallis-Chandler,
James
Khajenouri,
Charlie
Chapman,
Mike
Arnaouti,
Mike Snow,
Bill
Thistleton,
Tom
Harrison,
Daniel
Galvin, all
the
Intermediate
Managers
(who have a
pretty good
system in
place) and
others who
have stepped
up to the
mark and
took on
which at
times is a
thankless
task. More
of our
youngsters
will attend
a referee
course in
the New Year
and I hope
in the
fullness of
time we will
not have to
have
managers
running the
line. We
will also be
putting more
people on
the Level 1
Coaching
course. |
Finally a
thank you to
Gill Arbane
who almost
single
handed runs
the canteen
assisted by
our two
"chefs" Tom
and Luke and
to Bill
Thistleton
for his
coaching of
Sevens on
Saturday
mornings.
|
Regards,
Kevin |
|
|
Treasurer’s
Report |
|
This year
the annual
voluntary
subscriptions
remained the
same as last
year (£70
plus £10 for
each
additional
sibling)
which
provides
excellent
value for
money.
Kingston
Little
League is
run by a
team of
hardworking
volunteers,
and parents
can help
enormously
by paying
promptly. It
is also
essential
that parents
have
completed
and signed
the contract
otherwise
players will
not be
covered by
Kingston
Little
League
insurance. |
|
When taking
on the
Treasurer
role back in
October
2009, the
surprising
aspect for
me was the
cost of
pitches.
Pitch Fees
for
Latchmere
Rec, Dinton
Field and
Tiffin
Girls’
Astroturf
amount to
£12k for the
season.
Substantial
amounts are
also spent
annually on
kit,
equipment
and
trophies.
This year we
have
invested
more money
on coaching,
refereeing
and
development
for managers
which will
benefit the
players. It
is important
that we
maintain a
healthy bank
balance to
accommodate
any
unexpected
large
expenditures
- for
example we
had to
replace the
goal sockets
for the
Intermediate
and Senior
pitches. |
|
Despite the
huge costs
involved in
running
Kingston
Little
League, we
were able to
keep subs
down by
enlisting
the help of
many
volunteers
and by
attracting
local
sponsors.
Thanks to
the
fantastic
efforts of
Lucy Jones,
additional
sponsorship
funds of
approx £6k
(with a few
more
hopefuls)
have been
secured this
season from
a number of
local
businesses
whose logos
will be
proudly
displayed on
players'
kits. We are
always on
the lookout
for new
sponsorship
which helps
keep the
subscriptions
low, so
please do
let us know
if you own
or know of a
local
business who
would like
to support
us. |
|
Regards,
Richard |
|
|
|
A Guide for
Parents &
Carers |
• Remember
Bantams and
little
league
football is
for the
children,
not the
adults.
•
It’s not a
professional
game.
•
It’s meant
to be fun.
The
following
are edited
highlights
from The FA
Respect
programme.
Full details
can be found
at the
following
link:
www.thefa.com\respectguide
When
in the FA
Respect web
site:
•
Use the
“Tips” link
in top right
navigator to
show or
download the
full tips
guide.
•
Follow the
“Launch
Guide”
arrows to
play a video
which
Kingston
Little
League
recommend
all parents
view |
|
|
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How to
support your
child in
football |
|
Our children
are strongly
influenced
by our own
attitudes
and
behaviour. |
• Children’s
football is
a time for
them to
develop
their
technical,
physical,
tactical and
social
skills.
Focus on
this, rather
than
exclusively
on winning
matches.
• Don’t take
it too
seriously.
Even if your
child is
talented, at
this stage
their
enjoyment is
still the
main goal.
• Children
need
positive
feedback to
feel that
they can
improve
their game.
It doesn’t
help to tell
them what
they are
doing wrong.
• Help them
analyse
their own
game after
the match is
over. Ask
them how
they felt
about it,
about other
players, and
ask them
what went
well to
reinforce
their
strengths
• Help
children
learn from
their own
mistakes by
encouraging
them to
think about
what they
could have
done
instead.
Remind them
of their
strengths.
• Help
children to
feel
confident,
enjoy
themselves
and feel
like they
‘belong’ by
supporting a
positive
atmosphere
at a game.
• Football
is a
passionate
game but
don’t let
disappointment
at a
misplaced
pass or a
poor touch
get in the
way.
Encourage
players to
‘move on’.
• Respect
the
officials –
children
copy their
parents and
other
adults’
behaviour!
• Kingston
Little
League
Bantams has
adopted a
‘Code of
Conduct’.
Talk to your
child about
these to
confirm
their
understanding.
|
|
What
experts say
about
children and
competition |
|
Experts in
child
development
tell us
that: |
• Children
should feel
confident
that they’ll
be
supported,
whether they
win or lose.
• Too much
pressure to
win can have
a negative
effect and
put children
off the game
altogether.
• Dreaming
of success
is fine, but
make sure
they’re your
child’s
dreams, not
yours.
•
It helps to
manage your
child’s
expectations,
so they
regard
losing as
learning,
not as
failure.
• Research
has shown
that
children are
more
interested
in playing
the game
than getting
a result.
• Winning is
great but at
this stage
it’s not
everything.
• If we see
competition
as a way to
improve a
team’s game,
losing can
be as
valuable as
winning. |
|
|
Get
the most
from
watching
your child
play
football
Be a good
spectator |
• Cheer good
effort.
•
Be positive
and
supportive
of all the
players.
• Allow the
coach to do
their job
without
interference.
• Respect
the
referee’s
decisions,
even if you
disagree.
• Don’t
criticise or
dwell on
mistakes or
weaknesses –
this
undermines
confidence.
• Appreciate
the opposing
team’s
efforts too. |
All parents
should view
the FA
Respect
video at
www.thefa.com/respectguide
©
The Football
Association |
|
|
|
A
Saturday in
the life off
a Football
manager
|
|
By Paul,
manager of
Junior
Whites |
|
Waking up on
Saturday
morning,
raining
outside, but
I am still
thoroughly
looking
forward to
the
impending
day and the
beautiful
game… |
|
For the 9am
kick-off,
the day
starts with
the Krypton
Factor goal
assembly
challenge.
Gordon Burns
– where are
you? But it
is Gordan
Banks that
we silently
send prayers
to as the
goal posts
rise up in
the mist and
to Gordon
Bennet when
we realise
there is
another goal
to put up. |
|
Goals up and
my terrific
team arrive.
They are all
raring to go
after a week
studying
behind their
school
desks. It is
fantastic to
see how well
the team has
bonded and
gelled to
become a
true 11
position
football
team. On the
first day of
the season
my team
consisted of
twelve very
willing,
capable, up
and coming
strikers and
one right
back who
wanted to be
a striker
but faced
the wrong
way. Having
found
positions
for all the
children
across the
pitch, then
given them a
little
responsibility,
I try to
keep the
same players
in the same
position
throughout
the season. |
|
Goals up,
players
arrived and
ready - all
the referee
needs now is
a linesman.
He asks me
to find one.
I look
around and
everyone has
disappeared.
I do not
blame them –
who wants to
be a
linesman! I
manage to
drag one
willing
volunteer
away from
the bacon
sarnie
queue. |
|
Time for
kick-off. I
am a
complete bag
of nerves,
calling out
encouragement
and pacing
up and down
the
touchline.
There is an
amazing
atmosphere
at Latchmere
on Saturday
mornings. So
many parents
involved in
the game. It
is very
sociable and
friendly and
whether your
team wins or
loses or
draws, it
does not
matter. It
is about
team spirit
and having
fun
together. |
 |
|
Paul
gives an
inspirational
half-time
team talk |
|
|
|
The 2nd half
brings more
nervous
pacing,
chats with
spectators
and more
great fun. |
|
Final
whistle –
Relief! A
team talk
and a
genuine
pride in my
team,
whatever the
score. They
always do
their best.
Then the
rest of
Saturday can
be spent
discussing
and
deciphering
every aspect
of the game
with my son,
his friends,
Talk Sport,
5 Live, 6 at
6, Match of
the Day…
anyone who
understands
the anguish
of a Little
League
Manager. |
|
|
Help
If
you need any
help, advice
or want to
make a
comment
regarding
Kingston
Little
League,
contact Gill
Arbane at
secretary@kingstonlittleleague.com
If
you want to
discuss or
report any
child
welfare
issues, such
as
inappropriate
standards,
contact Mark
Lorenzet or
Chris Galvin
Kingston
Little
League web
site is at
www.kingstonlittleleague.com
where you
can download
copies of
the Parents
& Carers
guide and
Kingston
Little
League’s
policy on
taking
photos.
The FA
Respect web
site for
parents and
carers:
www.thefa.com/respectguide
Weekly
training is
at Tiffin’s
girls school
between
6-7pm every
Friday and
is available
for players
from all
Kingston
Little
League
leagues. The
cost is £1
per player.
The training
is also
available
for those on
the Bantams
& Little
League
waiting
lists |
|
|
|
Dates |
|
2011
|
|
|
|
Little
League |
|
Bantams |
26th
February:
½
Term
break
(spare*)
26th
March:
Cup
Final
Day
Inters/Juniors
2nd
April:
Cup
Final
Seniors/Sevens
4th
June:
National
U10
Tournament |
|
23rd
April:
Easter
break
14th
May:
Bantams
Tournament
|
|
|
* Spare
days may be
used as
playing days
should bad
weather
affect the
fixtures. |
|
|
|
In
the next
issue of the
Kingston
Little
League
Newsletter… |
|
•
|
An
update
on
the
Latchmere
pavilion
construction |
|
•
|
Kingston
Little
League
Gala
day |
|
•
|
A
Day
in
the
life
of… |
|
|
|
|
Thanks to
our
sponsors,
old and new |
|
Space, Safer
Neighbourhood,
O'Neil's
Design &
Build,
Number Works
'n Words,
Norfolk
Plaza Hotel,
Nando's,
Maypole
Motors,
Kingston
University,
Kingston
Physiotherapy,
Kingston
Feet, John
Rose Eye
Care,
Gourmet
Burger
Kitchen,
Gibson Lane,
DAB, Crown
Cars, The
Cricketers,
Convergent
Consulting ,
Carrington's
, The
Canbury Arms |
|
|
|
Stop
Press |
|
On Saturday
29th
January,
2011,
Kingston
Little
League won
the National
Little
League Quiz
title
for
the second
year in a
row – next
year we have
the honour
(?) of being
the quiz
master.
Congratulations
to the
winning quiz
team of
Chris
Lockhart,
Richard
Jones,
Quentin
Holt, Paul
Coping and
Chris
Galvin. If
anyone is
interested
in setting
questions
for next
year’s quiz,
see Chris
Lockhart. |
