Junior soccer teams pay for being too good at Seven Hills

Tim Vollmer From: The Daily Telegraph April 04, 2011

Players from the Seven Hills United Under 10 Soccer team which has been deemed to be too good to play in its own age group, so the team has been moved to a higher age group. Pic. Jeff Herbert Source: The Daily Telegraph

THIS soccer team has been told they're too good to play against children their own age.
After struggling to find enough parents to volunteer as coaches, the small Seven Hills United club last year hired a professional to train their junior teams.

Now the soccer association has ordered the teams - from under-8s to under-13s - to play older kids on bigger fields as punishment for the extra training. The parents decided to pay $1600 for three professional training

sessions each week. They are now fighting the Blacktown and District Soccer Football Association's decision to force their kids to play against children a year older, regardless of ability.

Parents say it has put their children at risk of injury, is bad for skills development and is taking the fun out of the game - with the under-10s team defeated 14-nil in last weekend's season opener.

An edict from BDFSA secretary and league co-ordinator Jack Taylor said: "All Seven Hills teams were placed in the next highest age group to that [for] which they were nominated."Mr Taylor yesterday stood by his decision, accusing Seven Hills United of "wrecking our league".

"What they are doing is just wrong, it is against our rules, they were told not to do it and they ignored it," he said, defending the traditional model of having parents give up their time to train teams.

But Monica Borg, whose son Jacob plays in the under-10s, said the kids were devastated at being caught in the middle of the dispute.

"They're being smashed by older teams, the kids are being teased, it's not right at all," she said.

The older teams had been insulting the young players because of how small they were, with massive score-lines reinforcing how unfair the decision was, she said.

Fellow mum Zeina Yaacoub said she was really concerned one of the kids would get seriously injured playing against children up to three years older.

At the heart of the dispute is ASR Pro Football, the privately run junior training organisation whose professional coaches were hired by Seven Hills United. "We're about getting the best out of the child, not about short-term results or winning competitions," ASR Pro Football coach Anthony Ucchino, who has 10 years experience in junior development, said.

Seven Hills United president Garry Mosbey said that in an area that is rugby league heartland, the move was doing a lot of harm to soccer.

"I don't think they should be punished for wanting to learn how to play football the right way."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/junior-soccer-teams-pay-for-being-too-good-at-seven-hills/story-e6freuy9-1226032888421

i dont see how this is state league related u tossers.

what a bunch of horse.......my son has played most of his career in an age group above his own,
@16 he was playing 20's and then at 18 was playing first grade.......better for the player if they cab hack it......

some of these boys are probably mummies boy's.......hence mum getting upset....no dad's getting piss off??????

It's totally different when they're in U10s and 11s. This isn't an academy team, it's just a group of kids whose club happens to have a bit of vision. I played up an age group and in mens when I was 16, but it's totally different when 12 year olds are playing 14 year olds who are developing both physically and in skills. If anything, it'll probably turn the younger kids off, when they are trying to get better as players and and up getting smashed every weekend. Watch these kids move to league - you heard it here first.

It's totally different when they're in U10s and 11s. This isn't an academy team, it's just a group of kids whose club happens to have a bit of vision. I played up an age group and in mens when I was 16, but it's totally different when 12 year olds are playing 14 year olds who are developing both physically and in skills. If anything, it'll probably turn the younger kids off, when they are trying to get better as players and and up getting smashed every weekend. Watch these kids move to league - you heard it here first.

I agree with batfink. I played all of my football a year above.

The point I'm making is that this is not about choice. It's a punishment for having initiative. What next? All Coerver kids are made to play a year group up because they pay to be cooached separately?

I agree with batfink. I played all of my football a year above.

And where did it get the both of you?:d

It should not be up to the Association to have kids playing up especially without proper consultation. There is a duty of care to consider.

Edited by Arthur: 7/4/2011 03:18:12 PM

Before reading the score line I didn't have an issue with the players playing up an age group however a whole team playing up I was a bit concerned.

In general if players are dominating there age group they should definitely be placed in higher age groups for the development of the player.

However a whole team being placed up and losing 14-0 is not good for anyone's development.

People who are saying they played age groups up there whole life etc are missing the point. This is a whole team being pushed up to a level they are clearly not at.

The solution should be the top couple of players play up (If they are at that level) while the rest drop down into there age group.

Whats better for a players development? Playing in a competitive league (be it a level up) or just randomly hammering teams?
But in saying that the bdsfa's divisional changes are normally pretty baffling

And where did it get the both of you?:d

It should not be up to the Association to have kids playing up especially without proper consultation. There is a duty of care to consider.

Edited by Arthur: 7/4/2011 03:18:12 PM

this is correct....when we played up...the coach came to me and said i think your son is capable and ready to progress to another level, and suggested he play above his age group.....this was done after playing in his own age group and backing up as a bench player for the next age group for a season, so it was done properly, by giving him 20 mins every week up an age group they were able to see if he could step up and handle it.....good coaching,makes good common sense.....i suppose we have been fortunate........

Before reading the score line I didn't have an issue with the players playing up an age group however a whole team playing up I was a bit concerned.

In general if players are dominating there age group they should definitely be placed in higher age groups for the development of the player.

However a whole team being placed up and losing 14-0 is not good for anyone's development.

People who are saying they played age groups up there whole life etc are missing the point. This is a whole team being pushed up to a level they are clearly not at.

The solution should be the top couple of players play up (If they are at that level) while the rest drop down into there age group.

I played up an age group too and where did it get me I ask you?

Playing Amatuer League Sunday mornings smoking, drinking, gambling and carousing with loose women.

Now that sounds like fun Arthur.

My son is in a state NTC, he is currently 14 turning 15 in very late December and will be playing against men ranging in age from between 19 to 25 during the coming season. Ill let you all know how that all pans out in a decade.;)

I played up an age group too and where did it get me I ask you?

Playing Amatuer League Sunday mornings smoking, drinking, gambling and carousing with loose women.

Yep clearly some people did not read the article properly. And if my kid got injured after being forced to play in an age group he wasnt ready for I would have a serious look at any legal recourse that was available to ensure ridiculous decisions made by associations get properly punished.

what a stupid comment........no one is FORCED, if you dont wanna do it dont....but leave the blame game behind.....are you american or something???? mr litigation?????get a grip....

Have you read the article or just the bits that fit your tough guy argument. The kids want to play for their club in the age group they are supposed to but the association is not letting them as punishment for the club hiring professional coaches. To any sane person that is a ridiculous decision and unsafe for most of the kids that arent physically up to competing against older ages groups.

I generally skim over the stuff you post because its all about my son this and my son that or I was this 'ard when I played and it gets pretty tiresome sometimes.

That was a huge edit batfink. Totally different to what you originally posted.