However once in a competitive league and playing 11-a-side, selection for the match squad will be based on a mixture of ability, fitness, availability and conduct.

GENERAL NOTES
All players who have paid their subscriptions must be given the opportunity by the Coaches during Training and any “Friendly” matches to justify a place in the match squad.

Competitive football can be said to start at under 10’s (even though the Bucks mini soccer conference aim to offer non-competitive football) in so much as the Division you are allocated at 11 a side is based on the teams performance at under 10. With this in mind the coaches may need to make substitutions that may mean that equal playing time is not followed. This does not alter the Conference policy of 2 equal ability squads.

All tournament football can offer the opportunity to be a little more competitive and coaches may decide whether to play an A & B team if entering 2 teams and will be supported if they do so.

Only where there are vacancies in age group squads can potential new players be approached to attend training sessions with a view to being asked to join the Club. There are to be no “Trials”.

No player should be asked to leave the club for reasons related to ability but players might be advised through their parents that when the teams are primarily picked on competitive basis they are likely to spend a fair amount of time either on the subs bench or they might not make the squad of 16 all that often. In this situation parents can be offered a “Training only” subscription which would be 50% of the normal sub but would not include provision of a kit.

TRANSITION FROM NON-COMPETITIVE TO COMPETITIVE
The management by the Club’s Coaches of the transition from the non-competitive to the more competitive policy is crucial to the success of the Club.
This will be facilitated in the future by the policy being known from the outset of joining the Club and by the Coaches in the Under 10’s year have the crucial role of gently explaining to player s and parents what the prospects are when moving up to 11-a- side.
In the second half of the season the under 10’s coach will have the discretion to be more competitive and make more tactical substitutions, within the format of 2 equal teams.
Towards the end of the Under 10’s season some games should be organised on an 11-a-side basis so players can prepare and be prepared for 11-a-side where the demands on stamina and fitness as well as skill and ability increase. This can be achieved through a few “Friendlies” and perhaps a few joint training sessions with the Under 11’s where the age groups are split up in a practice game – e.g. Under 11 forwards and Under 10 defence versus Under 11 defence and Under 10 forwards.

CONCLUSIONS
When this policy is managed sensitively and fairly we will have discharged and balanced our FA Charter responsibilities and our founding premise to provide all our members with an equal opportunity to develop (i.e. over 5 years from U6’s to Under 10’s) with our obligations and ambitions to run a successful club in a competitive environment (Under 11’s to Under 18’s)
We realise there are late developers – and those who want to hang in there and hope that this will happen are to be commended – they will be given every encouragement in training so to do (see commitment in policy notes above) – but equally all should know the reality of where they stand and at least have the opportunity of joining a lower league side where they might be happier getting more game time
So the dialogue between coaches, parents and players during the Under 10 year is crucial and the relationships developed over the whole time from joining the club onwards should mean that there are no surprises for anyone.

Tony Davidson
Chairman
14/1/2008