The end of year message is available on the Surrey Youth League website here.

Topics include:

• The New SYL Website
• Development Football, including some additional thoughts on the ability for teams to move players between squads
• Child Historic Safeguarding
• The Respect Pilot, A surevey is coming
• Referee Appointment and Briefings

U8 At the QPR Tournament Dec 2016

A selection of U8 boys took part in a winter football festival organised by QPR on Saturday 10th December.

Matches were 6-a-side 15 minute matches and held on 4G pitches at their academy dome in Hounslow. The team did incredibly well to adapt to smaller pitches and the quicker pace of the game, coming back from losing the first two games by winning the final three games.

It was a great experience for the boys and they enjoyed playing against a different group of boys, getting a medal and meeting the QPR mascot!

With the current National Press coverage on the abuse of children within football it is appropriate that we remind people of the current processes in place to protect our children from these rare but terrible threats.

Firstly you may want to read the FA’s recent message on this and view the short new film they have released outlining the four key steps to safeguarding. England leaders explain 4 steps to safeguarding.

The FA suggest that you reassure yourself by asking your Club questions. We have added our answers to the key questions below.

For convenience links are included in this message, however, if you are reading the message some time after publication you may be better the look on SheenLions.com for the latest information.

Is my child’s coach Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked, FA trained and qualified?

Sheen Lions is an FA Charter Standard Club. We have processes in place, and we are monitored by the FA to ensure we follow them. These process ensure that ALL our Officers, Managers and the Coaches have an FA Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and are certified as having completed and keep current a Safeguarding Children Certification.

How can I get a copy of the clubs safeguarding policy and procedures?

All our policies, including our Child Protection Policy are available on SheenLions.com.

The FA Charter Standard Criteria are also available.

Who is the Club Welfare Officer (CWO) for my child’s team and how do I contact them?

Contact Details for our CWO are available here.

At the time of writing the Sheen Lions’ CWO officer is Sarah Street. The deputy is Gordon Campbell. A club the size of Sheen Lions requires two people in the role.

What is the role of the CWO?

Taking the lead in being informed and aware of the league or club’s responsibilities when running football activities for children and young people.

Helping league and club personnel understand what their ‘duty of care’ towards children and young people actually means and entails on a day-to-day basis.

The FA guide on this.

 If I have a concern about a child or someone’s behaviour towards a child what should I do?

You are concerned about the behaviour of someone involved in football towards a child/children then you will find this FA Flow Chart will help you decide on the action you MUST take.

Contact details for the support organisations are linked from our Child Protection page.

Following is a message from Graham Ekins, SYL Chairman

Hi everyone,

Over the last few weeks I have again been out across a number of Grounds from Mitcham Park, down through Abbey Rangers, and over to CB Hounslow and Whitton Wanderers. The overall impression is that the environments feel friendly and the Kids are enjoying themselves.

The Football

Whilst I can bang on about the Pilot, and a bit of that later, the Football that is played is the reason for all of this.

Since the season started we have held Festival events for U7’s and 2 for U8’s, one being today, the U9’s , U10’s and U11’s have all completed their first small comps, introducing the competitive element to the children gradually.

The older age groups are progressing steadily through cups and leagues, all in all good progress, few problems and everyone just getting on with having fun on a Sunday. A huge pat on the back for all the club’s and organisers who make this happen week in and week out.

Feedback

When I do travel out to the grounds I try to have a chat with the referees and how they feel about things, so far 100% of all the referees, particularly the younger ones have said, that because we have the visible Pitch Marshalls, that they do feel as though someone is their to help them if it starts to go a bit wrong, they all seem confident and perhaps will have good games more often than note.

My visit to Mitcham was also to meet up with Nick Robinson from the FA’s Sanction Pilot Committee, to have a look at how the Pilot was progressing. We spoke with Matt Westlake one of our Senior referees who conveyed to Nick how he felt that this was a real step forward in providing a supportive environment for referees to learn their skill. He just wished it had been there when he was younger.

To further support this, the following is an email received at the county from a parent of one of our young referees.

To: Tim Lawrence (Surrey FA Referee Manager)
Subject: RE: RE Oliver ******** CRC
Hi Tim

I just wanted to give some feedback re the SYL pilot scheme from my son Oliver who is 16 and has been reffing for 2 seasons now.

Oliver looks young for his age and when he started I think some people thought he was an easy target to put pressure on his decisions. We had got to a point in the first year where we had to stay with him in case of confrontation. He had to put in a complaint in one case. This had put him off reffing older age groups and knocked his confidence.

Oliver has now reffed with the new pilot scheme in place and could really see the difference it made to the whole game. There were a few “oh refs” but only as expected in any game. I think this is a great scheme and really hope it will role out to all leagues as soon as possible.

Kind regards

Claire

I can have as many reports and conversations as I like, maybe people tell me what I want to hear, but unsolicited email, such as above, do give me the confidence we are heading in the right direction.

Good Practice and Reminders

A few bits that we have come across that we need to fix:-

• Linesman acting as Pitch Marshalls – absolutely not, this is not permitted, if there is no Pitch Marshall for whatever lukewarm reason, then it falls to the manager. I cannot now see the reluctance for people to don the High Vis Vest, please encourage people
• The no standing behind oppo linesman seems to be in the main adhered to, but please keep reminding people.
• Referee reporting still not at a good enough level, I will be having a purge again on this – REFEREES please ensure you match report every game, this scheme is here for all to participate in, which includes yourselves.

Other News

Surrey Youth League Web Site – We are in the process of having a New Website, a few finishing touches and it will be live soon. I am keen to see if anyone would like to join the committee with the sole purpose of keeping the new site up to date and perhaps have a few idea’s on making the content even better. David Lomax and myself have lots to do, so another pair of committed hands would be great.

Summary

I think we have got off to a good start with the pilot, there will always be issues and we will have the odd bad game, but when we have asked every club to deal with a respect breach then you have done so, no questions, no excuses just been dealt with. This ownership is truly brilliant – Thank You.

Around Christmas time I will get a couple of surveys out for you all to ponder and let us know your thoughts on the first few months, keep your eyes peeled.

My job takes me to Europe and I speak with many of my colleagues about the “Madness” I find myself in, well just the other day I was sent a photograph of an “A” Board – In Hungarian, maybe the whole football community has got fed up with this nonsense and we are all joining together.

Lets have a great last month before Christmas, go out there on a Sunday and just enjoy yourselves, but above all make sure the children and those young referees enjoy themselves.
Regards

Graham Ekins
SYL Chairman