Finding the right club - Things to look for

There are literally thousands of clubs throughout the UK; The majority will be run very well by adults who really care about the kids and put them first, however a poorly run club, or team, could have a detrimental impact on your child's enjoyment of their football.

Mini footballers

For the youngest players, the question of 'which club?' will probably be fairly straightforward and is likely to be influenced by your child wanting to play with their friends. Consequently you will find that;

Junior/Youth Footballers

As the age range increases it is likely that your child will need to join an existing team rather than being part of a start-up side. Most teams these days tend to start life at under 8/under 9 and then grow up together.

Facilities

This is a slightly tricky one as no-one will want to do a full health and safety audit on their child's club! Having said that, if you do get the opportunity to see the club facilities a quick look around may well tell you quite a lot about how the club is run.

Making Sure An Existing Club Is Suitable

There are literally thousands of clubs throughout the UK; some (probably the majority) will be run very well by adults who really care about the kids and put them first. There will also be a few who are poorly organised or, perhaps, run by a manager who is in it for himself rather than the kids.

How The Manager Runs The Team

Do talk to the manager about how he runs the team and the standard they play at. There can be wide discrepancies in kids' football abilities and you'll want to ensure that your child is playing at the level where he/she will most enjoy it.

How much does it cost?

The cost of playing for a particular team can vary. Some teams will aim to provide football at the lowest possible cost, others may well charge more but provide more as well. This might mean that your child gets a tracksuit or rain jacket as part of the 'deal'. Other clubs might include the cost of indoor winter training facilities; there will be many different permutations.

When/where do they train? When do they play matches? Are they in a league?

All the practicalities! It is important that your child can play a full role in the sport they love so do make sure you know when everything happens and you can get them there.

What Kit Is Supplied?

It is common practice for the club to supply the basic kit (shirt/shorts/socks). Your child will probably be given their own particular items that they'll keep for the season - all you need to do in that situation is wash them every week! However check that this is the case; there is the possibility that you might end up having to buy all or part of what your child needs to be part of the team.