St Albans City Youth Community Football Club

Managers Meeting 4th February 2018

Held at The Scout Hut, Riverside Road, St Albans

The full list of meeting attendees is included in the PDF version which can be downloaded here >>>

Secretaries Report

Treasurers Report

General Coaching and Community Update

Level 2 Coaching Course

Community Sports Leaders Course

CPD Sessions

Goalkeepers Coaching Update

PDC

Equipment

Ordering Kit

Safeguarding

Club Player Registration System Update

Holiday Coaching Camps

Proposals for new league

Teams and Mascots at St Albans City

Club Small Sided Tournaments

Young Saints Scheme

Playing Time

Coach Education Week

Press Secretaries Report

Team Reports

Any other business

Next Meeting

Secretaries Report – Ian Woods

• There is a form that all teams who play in the Watford Friendly League should have received, can you please return these to Ian.
• All trophies should have now been returned, if not then hand to Ian.
• There are still a few issues with cars reversing onto the field at Highfield Park. Due to this, over the next few weeks a respect barrier will be put up around the side of Pitch 5 to prevent cars going onto it.
• Norman Appleby is now allocating referees for the girl’s league with positive results so far. Reminder that teams must prioritise allocated referees over their own.
• February is the last month to register players for the rest of the season. 

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Treasurer’s Report – Lesley Wray

The amount available for our community projects has been boosted by a £9k grant from the National League Trust, which is the second payment in the second year of this project. The Grant period has come to an end. When the final paperwork has been agreed we should receive a further £1k.

Team sponsorship from WBS MEP Services and Thompson St Albans has been received.

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General, Coaching and Community – Mervyn Morgan

Level 2 Coaching Course

The booking site for a Level 2 in Coaching Football course is open to coaches from St Albans City Youth FC.

Before you book please ensure that you only have 1 active FAN as this can compromise the completion of the qualification.

Please also ensure that you are familiar with the requirements for the course along with Hertfordshire FA's Terms and conditions. These can be found by following the links below.

Course info and requirements: http://www.hertfordshirefa.com/…/fa-level-1-in-coaching-foo…

Hertfordshire FA T&C's: http://www.hertfordshirefa.com/…/co…/policies-and-procedures

Coaches are required to attend all dates associated to each course and cannot mix and match course dates.

Please ensure they have met the following pre-requisites.
Prior to registration for the qualification, learners are required to:
* be at least 16 years of age
* Have attended The FA Level 1 in Coaching Football course, and hold the
1st4sport Level 1 Award in Coaching Football qualification Prior to certification for the qualification, learners are required to:
* hold as a minimum a current FA Emergency Aid Certificate*
* hold a current completion certificate for The FA Workshop Safeguarding Children in Football* (Alternative arrangements are available for learners under the age of 18 years of age). *Please note these courses are NOT included in the Level 2 course

http://eventspace.thefa.com/hertfordshirefa/HFAL21704

The course commences in February 2018, full details and dates are available on the booking page.

The Venue is The Hemel Hempstead School, Heath Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP1 1TX

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Level 2 Qualification in Community Sports Leadership (CSL2)

Course is now fully subscribed

Objective: A CSL2 is a nationally recognised qualifications that enable successful learners to lead safe, purposeful and enjoyable sport/physical activity, under indirect supervision.

Key content : Leadership skills including organisation, planning, communication and teamwork through the medium of sport

Benefits for a student

A fun and practical course that focuses on leading rather than technical ability.

Potential stepping stone into employment, further education or training.

A good foundation to progress onto other Sports Leaders UK awards or qualifications, and/or a National Governing Body award.

Develops generic leadership skills that will be vital in other areas of life.

Allows those who are not sports superstars to take a full and active role in sport and physical activity.

Increased self-confidence that comes through taking responsibility for own and others learning and enjoyment.

Minimum age on course start 13

Pre-requisites None

Level of supervision during course Direct supervision

Level of supervision once qualified

Direct supervision when Sports Leaders are 13-15 years old

Indirect supervision when Sports Leaders are 16+/turn 16 years old

Total Qualification Time (TQT) 50 hours

Run over x4 days = Tutored time (GL) 24 hours

Demonstration of leadership 10 hours - required before qualification is certificated

The course will take place over x4 days (Monday to Thursday 12^th to 15^th February 2018)

We have a limited number of places (16 in total with 5 already reserved) To book please email chris.samways@cityyouthfc.com

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CPD – Continued Professional Development Session

We hosted a CPD event at Nicholas Breakspear during October, under the How We Coach section with the theme of Coach in Action on Match Day.

There are several other CPD Events coming up around the County:

Goalkeeper Coaching

The Goalkeeper sessions are back for the new year, led by Alex Gates and assisted by Tom Johnson. The take-up has

been fantastic.

PDC

The Boys Player Development Center is back for a new term, Mondays at Nicholas Breakspear School on the Astro, full details are on the website. The cost is £40 per term. Any questions please email pdc@cityyouthfc.com.

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Equipment

All equipment orders must come through Mervyn, they are then being managed by Minerva, when your orders are available you will be notified at which point you will need to collect from Minerva. Please collect them quickly as we do not want to clog up Minerva’s available space (they are doing us a favour).

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Playing and Training Kit

All Sponsored Kit orders are being handled by Louise Shepherd, Louise can be contacted via email on louise.shepherd@cityyouthfc.com

For ad-hoc kit orders such as training tops, sweatshirts etc these can be ordered and paid for direct from our new club web page on the Henry Tilly website, click on the Club Shop link on our website. However, if you have a sponsor for any kit (playing or training) please go via Louise.

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Safeguarding

You will recall that before Christmas the Herts FA carried out a verification visit to Nicholas Breakspear (one of our training nights) to check that all involved are (1) tagged to the team and (2) had an in date and valid DBS. The results, although in the context of the size of the club are not too bad, they were still embarrassing for the club as the audit found a couple of people helping teams that we did not have any records for (i.e. no DBS). Given that this is raised at every meeting and all the details are published it is a disappointment. The County FA have advised all clubs that they will be carrying out further verification audits in the coming weeks.

Safeguarding Courses, there face to face courses available, go to the Herts FA website for details. The FA have tweaked the Safeguarding process for recertification somewhat, the full details are on the website but providing your first Safeguarding qualification was the ‘Face to Face’ then you can renew via the online option as many times as your involvement in the game lasts. (or until the procedure is altered in the future)

Just another reminder please check that your Safeguarding certification is up to date, if not then please put it right. To check go to the Herts FA website and log into Members Services with your FAN Number.

Remember:

1. The individual stops any involvement as a coach until he has a valid DBS

2. If you have a parent who wishes to get more involved and wishes to help out then before the start they must have a DBS Check

For any of the above contact Ian or Mervyn to start the DBS process.

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Online Player Registration System

The new online system for Club Player Registration is going well, people who paid via the two instalment plans option will be seeing the second payments be taken during December and January. Please remember next season all registrations must be made using the online system (no exceptions).

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February Coaching Camp

The next Holiday Coaching camp will be taking place during the February Half Term at Nicholas Breakspear on the Astro. The booking system for the Feb Camp is now open. Please share with your parents. Full details are advertised on the website and Facebook.

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Proposals for a new Charter Standard League

This has now moved to the stage of proposals being sent to the County FA, who, will then send out to the existing leagues for comment.

The new league is for teams Under 7 to Under 11 based within a 12 mile radius of Welwyn Garden City and north of the M25.

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Teams and Mascots at St Albans City

One of the Under 8s was at Clarence Park at the Saints v Chelmsford City game, if any of the younger teams are interested please contact Phill Coates at Clarence Park using his email phill.coates@stalbanscityfc.com.

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Club Small Sided Tournaments

The Booking system is now live, and places are going fast.

The Girls Tournament will be held on Sunday 20^th May for teams aged Under 7 to 13, please share the details with all the teams in your leagues.

The Boys Tournament will be held on Saturday 2^nd June and Sunday 3^rd June for teams Under 7 to 12.

To book a place go to www.cityyouthfc.co.uk/book

Also, some teams have asked if they can enter a second team? As with last year we will wait to see how bookings go, however please remember each City Youth team can enter for free and if they book a second team they booking fee applies.

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Young Saints Membership Scheme.

The club is committed to working closely with our local schools and clubs, such as St Albans City F.C, hence the chance to be part of the saint’s supporters club. The Young Saints enables children to attend up to five league matches free of charge, with an accompanying adult paying half-price on each occasion, making local live football both affordable and hopefully enjoyable! Along with these significant discounts on entrance fee, the Young Saints members have opportunities to enter free draws for signed shirts, signed footballs and mascot packages. Children will also receive regular updates, posters and player profiles through e-mail, along with football competitions and other special events over the course of the year.

The partnership between St Albans City F.C., St Albans City Youth and our local primary schools is a key factor in supporting bids for grants at club level and we are fully committed to developing stronger links and working closely together within our local community. Both St Albans City and St Albans City Youth are working together with the EJA teams to ensure a player pathway for the youth of the district.

Membership costs just £5.00 per year per child and we’d like to think that this is great value for money. If you do decide to go along just once or twice in a season, the membership card would enable a parent to take their children along and all gain entry to the match for less than a tenner!

For any children wishing to sign up, you can join online by going to www.cityyouthfc.co.uk/book in addition paper forms will also be made available to your team managers. Once you sign up for a Young Saints Membership you will be sent your membership card for the season and we will send you all the player profiles that have already been distributed to current members. Best wishes for the rest of the season and it would be great to see as many young St Albans City Youth players possible coming along and enjoying a match or two at Clarence Park.

We are looking to issue these cards direct to all our players for next season.

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Playing Time

I have been receiving several calls from parents of younger teams (up to Under 11) about players not getting equal playing time.

Remember the FA Guidance: ‘All team members should receive equal playing time where possible, with a best practice recommendation of at least 50% per player for each game.’

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Coach Education Week

The club has donated £2,000 to the Herts Sports Partnership to support this years Coach Education Week (February Half Term) in memory of David Wray. The donation will fund a local bursary programme as well as enabling the organisers to offer a range of courses either free of charge or at concessionary rates. In doing so, it will ensure that the 2018 Coach Education Week programme is fully inclusive. For details of what courses are available go to www.sportinherts.org.uk.

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Press Secretaries Report

The only team not to have sent in their squad list is the Under 9 South.

City Youth teams have been getting great coverage so far, this season, well done to Terry for organising this.

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Team Reports

• U11: Pitches 7, 8 and 9 at Highfield Park are currently in a bad state due to the weather. Next season there will be discussion over a potential January break, the club have also block booked the Nicholas Breakspear Astro at a certain time on Sunday mornings in order for 9 a ‘side matches to be played throughout the season. The facilities at Greenwood Park have been excellent. 
• (Alison Curran suggests that the club should enquire about the pitches at Beaumont School)
• U13: North are competing well in their league and have recently beaten Berkhamsted who are top of the division.
• U14: Alison Curran has recently had an issue with locking up at Highfield. There was poor communication between the managers and she ended up having to clean the litter and take down the respect barriers and nets left behind by U14 East.
• U15: The EJA side are in the quarter final of the County Cup.
• U16: The EJA side have reached the semi-final of the County Cup after beating Chorleywood 7-4 in the last round.

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Any other business

• Geoff Watts: Beaumont is likely to be closed over half term, waiting to hear confirmation on this.
• Geoff Watts: If you are planning on not using your slot at Nicholas Breakspear over half term then please let the Lettings team know.
• Andy Lawrence: Laurence Wilson is currently putting together a database of young coaches which will help them to find more work opportunities.
• Doug McCullen: The goals at Nicholas Breakspear need to be fixed as it could be a potential hazard. 
• Birgir: The pitch dividing nets at Nicholas Breakspear haven't been up since the start of the season as the cables are faulty, SIS, who are responsible for the maintenance of the Astro have been informed several times, they attended the site for an inspection on 1^st February, we are waiting for the report.
• Ian Morgan: A group of teenagers were using the Nicholas Breakspear facilities without booking during his session. Reminder that all users must book before using any club facilities.

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Next Meeting

The next meeting will be on Sunday 4th March 2018

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