CIRENCESTER TOWN FC JUNIORS - AN OVERVIEW

On relocation to the Corinium Stadium, Cirencester Town FC was heralded as one of the first clubs of its kind, providing faclities for players of all ages all based on one site. Within 2 years the development was recognised when The Football Association awarded the club the first ‘Charter Standard Community Club’ designation in the country.

The award demonstrated to all members, parents, and volunteers that the club is

• safe and well organized
• promoting a clear commitment to grass roots football
• applying firm principles covering codes of conduct, child protection and equity
• ensuring comprehensive CRB vetting for all adults involved
• ensuring the minimum of an FA coaching qualification for every manager and coach involved.

Working alongside the FA to structure development and with thriving mini soccer and youth soccer sections, that standing was further confirmed with the achievement of the award ‘Gloucestershire Charter Standard Community Club 2006’.

Throughout 04-05 and 05-06 phenomenal growth occurred in all parts of the junior section. Age groups from U5s to U8s each produced a number of Mini-Soccer teams. Under 9s and U10s were playing small sided leagues, with several teams in both age groups. From U11 upwards, full side teams were also being fielded all the way up to U18s.

A large number more attending Saturday morning and Sunday fun football sessions and regular week long coaching courses took us very near capacity on the six Juniors pitches and use of the indoor Arena.

The growth in membership, reputation, re investment, and the sound commitment of volunteers working alongside co-ordination from the club, has ensured the continued investment into facilities, juniors kit and equipment and a Club Welfare Officer.

The philosophy –‘Football For All’
These facilities are a major attraction for junior footballers in the community. At The Corinium, the philosophy developed by the club has equally set it apart from what has gone before. The key elements of Cirencester Town FC’s mini Soccer Philosophy are :

• Lots of fun for the children
• Lots of touches of the ball
• Rotate the various games every 15 minutes for variety
• Education and development over winning
• Let the children explore, use their imagination and learn for themselves and the other children rather than being told what to do by an adult all the time
• Make it the children’s game
• Experience of playing in different positions for all round football knowledge (U8s/9s/10s teams)

These integral elements have become clearly embedded within the core of the junior section, from coaches' attitudes to training plans, and have grown from the mini soccer played from age 5 upwards into the older Juniors teams. Tthis has borne fruit as the club continues to evolve and achieve successful results coupled with outstanding sportsmanship.

Celtic manager Gordan Strachan provides an excellent example of this thinking;
"People say kids are getting too much football. That’s not right. They’re getting too little football, but what they are getting is too much pressurized football."

"They play with their schools and clubs and have adults screaming at them from the sidelines. They only play in front of coaches and parents."

"They don’t play on their own with their mates where they can learn from their own mistakes. If you’re dribbling and get kicked on the shins you say to yourself it’s about time I passed now, or your team-mates will say, “Oi, greedy guts, give us a pass.”

"That’s the way to learn how to enjoy and to play football."’

The Future
Cirencester Town FC has clearly defined development plans to enrich but not overstretch the junior section. Plans include a commitment to ‘Girls Football’ to complement and feed the successful Ladies section of the club, the Girl's U16 team starting in 2007.

Equally as important are plans to include, from 2007, coaching and games for those with disabilities, reinforcing the nature of a community centered club with excellent facilities and a safe environment.

Emphasis on inclusion and development means the youth section are encouraged to feed the adult section of the club, both in terms of players, but also by supporting and becoming involved in the membership, direction, and the future of Cirencester Town FC.