Junior FootballThe Junior section covers the age range from children in primary school from P1 to P7. SFA guidlines state that when playing games all players must be born on or after 1st January of that year. We try to make sure all children are in their correct age group otherwise this leads to complications when registering teams to play games at at age 8. Coaching sessions mostly held on a Friday evening and during the school term, though some coaches do run sessions over the holidays. From September to the October break we train outside at Whitestone and Kerfield Parks. Where each squad trains can be seen from in the picture below although it may vary from time to time depending on the weather or other factors.
Fees
Annual subscriptions for Junior players (primary school age) for season 2017-18 will be £80 for all Junior age groups. We would ask that parent/carers ensure that fees are paid promptly. The fees help cover the cost of equipment, and changing room fees, hire of facilities as well as training/first aid etc for coaches. Payment of Fees Fees can be paid by Direct Debit. over the year usually in 10 monthly installments though that may vary depending in when DD is set up. Direct Debit forms will be provided. |
Spring and Summer - Training Times
Winter Training Times - TBC
Coaches
Each age group usually relies on several coaches to take the training and we are always looking for volunteers to help out. No obvious skill or knowledge of football required (as often demonstrated by many of our coaches), as the Club will pay for you to go on coaching courses with the SFA. You will also be asked to get an enhanced disclosure certificate and if required a first aid certificate (you may already have a certificate through your work). You will also be expected to adhere to the Club's Code of Conduct. Child Protection The Club has a child protection policy. A hard copy can be made available if requested. The Club has also appointed a Child Protection Officer. Details of other Club officials can be found on the Club Policy page. Registration with the Club Each child must be registered with the club. All new starts will be provided with a Registration form which must be completed as quickly as possible and returned to the lead coach in your age group. The Registration Forms provide coaches with vital information and contact details, and in the unlikely event of a serious incident, the necessary authority to ensure your child is given the correct care and attention. Without these forms the Club, and the coaches in your age group, are not insured to take your child on coaching sessions or to matches. Age Groups Under SFA rulings age groups are defined from birth year not primary year. This means any child born between 1st January up to 31st December has to play with the relevant year of birth. We discourage children training outside their birth year as this can cause problems with team registrations in future years, and may mean a child having trained with class friends for several years having to move to a different squad to be able to play games which can be unsettling for them. We would advocate children moving to their birth year group as soon as possible. Competitive Matches When the children get to 8s (usually P3) then the coaches can register a team. Currently we have teams registered with the Borders league and Edinburgh League. The 8s games are played on a pitch 20*30 yards, 4-a-side with no goalkeepers in three 10 minute games. The emphasis is on fun and development of all the players and the scores are not kept. As the children get older they move to 7-a-side with goalkeepers and a bigger pitch and goals. Scores are still not recorded as the focus is on developing players not winning at any cost. They play for longer. As the children enter 12s they will move to 11-a-side usually after the summer holiday when the enter high school. At this point scores will be recorded and league titles and cups up for grabs. |