Malc's new team "Valencia"

[Malc]

A couple of days ago I was asked to coach an under 10s side.
The director of coaching told me the only alternative (in the absence of anyone more qualified) would be to have two mothers take on the responsibility.

The training night suits me, and I can coach on Saturdays, so I said yes. As a result, I am now the coach of Under 10s "Valencia".

I managed to fit in one nights training before our game today, which we lost at least 15-0. It was more than that, but both the ref and I lost count.

To clarify: Under 10 football is part of what we call our Rooball programme. Rooball is played on a half-sized pitch with small goals, a bit like indoor football, only with nine-a-side.

One of my new players, Chloe, is scared to death of the ball, and I wonder why her mum bothered to sign her up to football at all, but the sport is going through a surge in popularity here in Oz at the moment, and mums see it as the new black.
Chloe played today in a full set of dangly earrings, and didn't move from the spot I gave her at the start. Not one inch.

It's going to be a long season.

[Mince]

Tell Chloe that the ball will explode if it does not spend a lot of time in the opponent's goal.

[Malc]

I think Chloe has learning difficulties

[Roger Kettle]

Chloe's style of play is very similar to that of former Scotland international, Kevin Kyle.

[The Peepmaster]

Chloe's style of play is very similar to that of former Scotland international, Kevin Kyle.

Is that comment designed to wake me up, Roger? Here, have a 'Mince': :

[Roger Kettle]

Oops. I'd genuinely forgotten Kyle was plying his trade with Wolves these days. I knew he was knocking around the lower leagues SOMEWHERE.  :

[The Peepmaster]

Oops. I'd genuinely forgotten Kyle was plying his trade with Wolves these days. I knew he was knocking around the lower leagues SOMEWHERE.  :

Hmm.. Just let me check those Scottish football results...

[peter]

Malc with your expertises i am sure that with a little tweak you will turn it around.

[The Peepmaster]

Malc with your expertises i am sure that with a little tweak you will turn it around.

Talking of 'little tweaks', where is Mince?

[Malc]

That's a lovely thought, Peter, but my "Valencia" are beyond tweaking.

What I do have is about four kids who are capable of taking the game further, they have some talent and will play on into their adult years. I'm putting in place a development program for the better players (or in fact any kid who wants to be part of it) in my team plus the other U10 and U9 teams which will take place outwith their normal team activities.

In other words, once a week there will be an extra night's training for the better or "serious" players and they will form a development squad.

[Mince]

That's a good idea: one group who are scared of footballs and one group that aren't.

[Diane CBPFC]

I am a mother and a pudgie one at that and yet I can coach - I even got my first level coaching certificate. I think the drills are a lot of fun. The most fun job of all is using the machine to paint the lines but I only got to do that one year.

I only do it on years when there is nobody else as I prefer to sit on the grass and have a chat while the soccer games are on. But I have coached a U10 team three out of the last ten years and have been a sub.

Please tell me what "the new black" remark you made means Malc?

[Malc]

It's a fashion term, Diane. It always seemed that black was touted as the "in" colour this year, (i.e. every year from the little black Coco Chanel dress onward) until one season someone announced that aubergine or turquoise was "the new black".

The term has become a crossover to other spheres, so that even a revolutionary change to the exchange rate mechanism might be touted as "the new black".

[Diane CBPFC]

I guess you know a lot more about fashion than I do Malc.

[Malc]

You mean this pant suit? Oh, just some thing I flung on.