MISSION STATEMENT

To provide opportunities for all children to improve their soccer skills, whilst simultaneously nurturing the talented, all within a stimulating, safe and caring environment.

OUR CLUB

Chilcompton Sports Youth FC (registered with the Somerset County FA) was established in 1998. We offer structured training sessions and participation in League football (age appropriate) for over 200 boys and girls in the school age groups from Year 2 until Year 11 (U7-U16).  We also run a Soccer Tots programme for those in Year 1 and below as a fun and structured introduction into football.

Chilcompton Sports Youth FC is an FA Charter Standard Club.  All coaches commit to gaining, as a minimum, the FA’s Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Football and are encouraged to further their development with Continued Professional Development (CPD). All coaches are CRC checked, First Aid qualified and have the FA Safeguarding qualifications. No coaching staff without the full complement of qualifications are allowed to take sessions.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Within our philosophy it is important to remember the following:

  • To meet the challenge of every player may mean that not everyone will play or participate the same amount in every game.  Selection is dependant on the level of the opposition and the stage of development of the individual.  Our policy is to be honest and we will communicate with the boys and girls about their development as a player and as a member of our team.
  • Winning is not at the expense of player development and certainly not at the expense of fair play. We tolerate only the highest standards of behaviour from everyone involved in Chilcompton Sports Youth FC.
  • Our aim throughout the season is to develop as a squad of players, having also reached individual targets on and off the field.
  • All our decisions are made with the above in mind, and although we may occasionally make mistakes, we ask for honesty, patience and understanding from players and their parents.
  • We openly encourage participation in other sports and feel that this is vitally important for members continuing development as athletes.

OUR WAYS

PSYCHOLOGICAL
Our Definition:

  • The individuals personality & behaviour
  • How they learn the game
  • How they learn to perform
  • How they learn to compete as individuals and a team
  • How they learn to cope with individual and team situations
 How We Achieve:

  • Focus on self expression and enjoyment
  • Encourage peer mentoring
  • Identify individual needs throughout group sessions
  • Help players understand psychological factors which contribute to performance eg motivation, concentration, anxiety
  • Highlight to players the importance of discipline and resilience in terms of training and match habits
PHYSICAL
Our Definition:

  • The generic development of Agility, Balance and Co-ordination useful for all sports and best developed early in life
  • The development of football specific functional movements with or without the ball
  • The development of fitness elements- strength, speed & endurance
  • The understanding of Nutrition and Maintenance in terms Hydration, Diet, Rest and Recovery which fuel and regenerate the body
 How we achieve:

  • Introduction of Ball Mastery, Ball Juggling and the Coerver range of skills
  • Ensure that our boys and girls understand how to prepare their bodies for activity
  • Highlight to players the importance of discipline and resilience in terms of leading a healthy lifestyle
  • Make allowances in their performance due to varying rates of growth amongst players
TECHNICAL & TACTICAL
Our Definition:

  • Sports specific and includes all elements of the game linked to techniques, skills and understanding and the formats in which they are coached and learned
 How we achieve:

  • Provide for skills acquisition
  • Provide un-opposed technique practice
  • Provide un-even sides skills practice
  • Provide for progression needed for entry into small sided game, for transition from small sided game to 11-a-side and from the youth system into the adult environment
  • Offer the opportunity for talented players to train together in a more challenging environment
  • Provide the challenge of playing competition at a local level
  • Provide opportunities for players to take the FA refereeing course (14 yr old and above)
  • Provide opportunities for payers to take the FA coaches course (16 yr old and above)
SOCIAL
Our Definition:

  • The external influence on an individual
  • The impact of others’ behaviour both positively and negatively
  • The social and learning environment that others create for the individual
  • How the individual reacts and responds to the social and learning environment
 How we achieve:

  • Provide good coaching in good facilities
  • Provide many social opportunities to interact with their peers
  • Teach the value of good sportsmanship & team spirit
  • Provide opportunities for all to extend their circle of friends with players from other backgrounds and schools
  • Expect players to behave in a sociably acceptable manner and are encouraged to do so in all aspects of training and match days
  • Provide opportunities for players to experience other cultures and backgrounds via club and specific age group tours

OUR CULTURE

We expect players:

  • To be responsible for punctuality and attendance or the timely notification of non availability
  • To be properly dressed at all times
  • To be prepared for the activity;  good preparation will be monitored.
  • To think about their football development;  good players are intelligent players.
  • To have respect  for each other;  bad language will not be tolerated.
  • To respect officials; control of emotions is key to maintaining a high level of performance.
  • To respect coaches; good manners and integrity will be expected at all times.
  • To train at a high tempo whenever possible/appropriate.
  • To show good sportsmanship at all times; this includes acknowledgment of opposition staff and players
  • To be responsible for each other and for the equipment we use;  everyone helps to prepare for a match and everyone helps to pack away.

Our culture is reinforced by the club’s Policies and Code of Conduct, which can be found on this website using the appropriate menu option.

We have also agreed that players should adhere to the following guidelines in order to get the most out of a season.

  • No one makes mistakes on purpose.
  • Encouragement will help my team mate do it right next time.
  • Listening is important.  When the coach is speaking or when my team mate is speaking, I will not interrupt but listen and wait my turn.
  • I will not argue with my coach or team mates during training or a match.  Problems can be discussed at the right time and with reflection, rather than in the heat of the moment.
  • We will give 100% at all times and never give up trying.  We value resilience.
  • Winning is important, but our development is even more important.
  • I will ask questions if I do not understand.

TRAINING

“Relentlessly strive for better technique…it is not playing games of football that makes you a better player. Practice makes the player.  The game is proof that you are a player.”

Alex Ferguson

 Part of the players development and learning process is to encourage problem solving and decision making.  Learning is a lifelong process where decisions, mistakes and consequences are vital for true player development.

Whatever the ability level of the player, it is up to the coach to challenge each player in such a way that they feel confident  and encouraged to strive for that point which is just beyond their comfort zone. This is where real learning takes place.

Our programme is centred around training and we view the fixtures as a ‘bolt on’ addition to this programme.  Age group coaches are strongly encouraged to organise further sessions.

Our main targets are to be:

PLAYER CENTRED

PLAYER DRIVEN

PLAYER FIRST / WINNING SECOND

TRAINING PROGRAMME

SOCCER TOTS

This is an introductory programme for Year 1 children and below.  It concentrates on agility, balance and co-ordination (the ABCs) and is an introduction into Ball Mastery and the Coerver range of skills.  It runs from the 1st Saturday in September until the last Saturday of April.

SATURDAY MORNING

All age groups train on a Saturday morning from the 1st Saturday in September until the last Saturday of April.  It builds on the foundation of the Soccer Tots programme, continues with the development of the individual player and introduces the concepts of team play.  The session is the cornerstone for promoting a ‘one club’ philosophy for players, coaches and parents.

MIDWEEK

All age groups, above U7s, also train during the midweek at one of the 4g facilities in the area.  This builds on our philosophy of the importance of training.  Age group coaches are strongly encouraged to organise further sessions at no further cost to the players, but this depends on the coaching resource in each age group.

FIXTURES

Fixtures are seen as an addition to the main focus of training.  Players are selected for fixtures depending on stage of their development and numbers in an age group.  It is important to clarify from the onset that membership of the Club or registration by a league, does not mean that each player is guaranteed a regular place in the team for fixtures.  Indeed, we have listed the following to make it clear:

  • League rules determine that only a certain number of players can be registered.  The players registered can be altered during the season depending on player development.
  • Every player registered will get the opportunity to play in a fixture this season, but we do not guarantee a certain number of games a year.
  • The number of players selected for a fixture is the decision of the age group manager.

If not selected keep trying, keep training.

DISTRACTIONS

It is always tempting to provide additional coaching opportunities to children beyond their sessions with Chilcompton Sports but we firmly believe that this can, and very often does, have significant detrimental consequences to a child’s football development. It can introduce conflict of ideas and ideals when differing training techniques are used, producing confusion and loyalty issues for the children. It can also eat into training or match time with Chilcompton Sports, resulting in the child not receiving consistent and regular training with the club and subsequently not being chosen for matchplay. If you still feel that additional coaching is necessary, please discuss the issue with the football club chairman, Tim Curtis.

HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT – FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE?

  • Give me the time and opportunity to make my own decisions on and off the field – I need to learn the consequences of getting it right or wrong.
  • Try not to tell me off or shout at me from the sideline, when I get things wrong.
  • Try not to tell me what to do – it confuses me when the coach has asked me to do something different.
  • Give me the time to relax and play – I need the mistakes to help me learn
  • Try not to keep offering me advice going to games or coming home again.  Let me unwind and reflect – it helps me learn.
  • Remember I am a young person not a small adult – sometimes I do not see things like you do or understand what you are saying.
  • Come and enjoy the game – I will always try my best.