The coaching staff and officials of Vale Wanderers Football Club understand that children participate in football to have fun. If children do not have fun playing football, they will soon pack it in.
We never forget that the game of football is just that – a game. It is not about how many wins and losses are accumulated. And, it is surely not about how many trophies are collected. It is not about how many goals we score or concede. It is about enjoying the game and, at the same time, learning and developing football and life skills. It is about making friends and promoting our community through football.
Proper football development requires that children play age appropriate activities so that they are able to experience, comprehend and execute the game as it relates to where they are at their own stage of physical and mental development.
It is about playing in different positions so that the player learns all the skills necessary to develop in the game.
It is about receiving equal playing time, at the non competitive developmental stage, so the players are all given equal opportunity to learn.
It is about learning the techniques of the game through a variety of fun games where players have as much contact with a ball as possible and learn at their own rate.