Coaches welcome rules (From Barry And District News)

Coaches welcome rules

BARRY'S mini football clubs teaching youngsters the value of 'team-playing' have welcomed new rules.

The Vale of Glamorgan Association Football League (AFL) sent out letters pointing out it is against AFL and South Wales Football Association regulations to put reports of scores and scorers in newspapers.

But far from discouraging players under the age of 12, coaches are pleased with this. Chairman of Cadoxton Imps in Barry, Martin Purcall, said: "This is wonderful. We understand reports should not go in, but it's hard to explain to enthusiastic parents. Some children play for fun, others for confidence. If they see reports saying they 'hammered' or 'smashed' by another team, it demoralises them."

Martin knows mini footballers love to see their names in the paper, especially if they have done well.

But he added: "It's one thing to praise your team for a good effort and a fair game. But when you start injecting competition into the little ones, it puts too much pressure on them."

Cadoxton is a big, well established club with many teams. Martin himself plays for the seniors and knows the importance a healthy sense of competition. He added: "If this rule was imposed on anything other than mini football, we would object. I think 12-year-olds playing 11-a-side games start wanting to win, but are perfectly capable of dealing with defeat.

"When you're talking about children as young as seven - and there is no league in mini football - they should not have to worry."

Coach of the Imps under-9s Nigel Cottle said: "We're a young team, only just started. It's good when they win and if bad reports don't go in they won't get embarrassed if they lose. We had two people missing this game - Abbey Cottle and Jordan Williams, who was injured. Mike Winton was man of the match."