With the U11s and U14s both playing away in Batley for their next round of league games, and it being Mother’s Day as well, we held just a single hour of coaching today. With a mix of age groups and players working together for the first time, it was always going to be interesting to see how it went.

We started with a simple passing exercise. Each player placed a disc anywhere on the court, and a single ball was passed and followed from one disc to another. Players could pass and move to any player on a disc. We then progressed to two and then three balls, focusing on the quality and speed of the pass.

To finish the exercise, we added spare discs and several balls with every player moving at the same time — pure chaos, but brilliant to watch!

We then moved into some 3v2 games alongside a bit of shooting practice, before finishing with a conditioned game where every kick had to be played forward. This encouraged teammates to find space and also take care of the ball. We then progressed it further so that once your team entered the opposition half, you couldn’t pass back into your own half. This really put the pressure on to find space, pass well, and play at pace.

With only a handful of players at training it can always be a challenge, but we saw a brilliant attitude from everyone and the futsal wasn’t half bad either!

Top job everyone 👏⚽

First Hour – Ivy A – By far the youngest player in the group this morning, but she didn’t let that stop her! She gave it absolutely everything, getting stuck in with the older players, making tackles and doing all she could to make things difficult for them. A fantastic attitude and such a joy to watch. You are a superstar, Ivy! 👏⚽

Grassroots sport simply wouldn’t exist without the support of parents. From early mornings and lifts to training, to standing on the sidelines in all kinds of weather, that commitment helps give young players the chance to learn, improve and, most importantly, enjoy the game.

Being part of a club is about more than just what happens on the court or pitch. It’s about families, friendships and creating an environment where young people feel supported to try, learn and grow.

On Mother’s Day especially, we want to say a big thank you to all the mums and mother figures who play such an important role in making grassroots sport possible. Your encouragement, time and dedication mean so much to the players and the club.

Happy Mother’s Day from everyone at the club 💐