Find the right football fit for your Euro 2020 inspired child

21 Jun Find the right football fit for your Euro 2020 inspired child

England manager Gareth Southgate’s bold decision to name the youngest squad in Euro 2020 looks set to inspire many children to take up the beautiful game.

Fired up by the dazzling talent of Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden, youngsters will be keen to emulate their heroes despite many parents being wary of the notoriously competitive nature of junior football in which winning can take priority over learning the game and building confidence.

Leading grass roots football organisation Brazilian Soccer Schools (BSS) is encouraging parents to check out clubs and initiatives which encourage kids to focus on technical skills rather than winning.

Will Partington, global head coach at BSS and the world’s first pre-school, play based activity programme SOCATOTS, said: “With England, Scotland and Wales caught up in the buzz around Euro 2020 and many world class players showing off their skills at Copa America, it’s only natural that kids will want to copy their heroes.

“After all, England’s exciting young players such as Marcus Rashford, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have reached the highest level through their passion for practice.

“It’s important for parents not to rush into letting their child join a club without seeing if it is the right fit for them. The wrong choice can put children in an environment they don’t like and lead them to falling out of love with football before they’ve really started.

“I’d urge parents to explore the options available locally. Good junior clubs and schemes should have qualified coaches with relevant youth football coaching experience who focus on development rather than overt competition and are able to encourage youngsters to enjoy the game for what it truly is – the opportunity to build skills for life and to make friends.”

Mr Partington, a UEFA and FA qualified coach with 20 years’ experience, advises parents not to give in to ‘pester power’ and sign their child up for the first club or coaching centre they find online.

“Ask clubs and coaches about their methods. Children have many other pressures to deal with and should look forward to weekly sessions rather than worry about being asked to do too much too soon,” he added.

SOCATOTS coaches Mark Hodgson and Eddie Ray were interviewed about this topic on BBC Radio Tees and BBC Radio Stoke respectively.