Organisational details

St. Kevin’s Boys mini-leagues caters for players from the ages of five to eight years of age. The sessions are held at the clubhouse on Saturdays from 2.15 to 6.00 p.m. Each session lasts about one hour and consists of:

• about ten minutes of age-appropriate coaching

• a twenty minute match (normally seven a side)

• another ten minutes of coaching.
  

Players are required to wear runners (no boots, studs or blades please) and either a tracksuit or shorts (depending on the weather). We will provide them with a jersey.
The sessions take place outdoors on our plastic all-weather training area. If the weather is very bad we move indoors to the hall so that the mini-leagues are never cancelled.

Ethos

• The mini-leagues are designed to allow young players to try out playing soccer in a low key, caring and non-graded environment. The main idea is that they should enjoy the experience
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• We recognise that parents want their children to be active and to be involved in sport. However if the young person does not wish to participate we recommend that they are not forced to do so. Forcing them to play may put them off sport for life. It is better to back off and try again at a later date. Very often we find that the young person is ready to play when they are a little older.
  
• We ask parents to encourage the players but not to criticise them. An angry comment or phrase at such a young age could have a devastating effect on the player’s confidence and enjoyment.
  
• The mini-leagues are non competitive. Whilst the players are placed in teams we do not concentrate on winning or losing the matches. League tables are not kept. Each player gets the same reward at the end of the year.
  
• Initially the teams are formed at random. We try to monitor each team and ensure that they are all of more or less equal ability. If you have any observations in this regard you are asked to speak to the administrative staff (who check in the teams in the dressing rooms). At some stage during the year we may withdraw some of the players who are deemed to be suitable for a more advanced form of coaching.
  
• While there is a charge for participating please be aware that none of the staff are paid. They give freely of their time to look after young people and their only reward is the satisfaction of being involved and doing a good job.