Mini Soccer In Haslingfield
In January 2013 Haslingfield Village saw the return of Mini Soccer for children between the ages of 5 and 7. As part of the already well established Haslingfield Colts FC that had been running for over 8 years, and under the guidance of FA Qualified Head Coach Chris Coleridge, training started on Saturdays mornings for an hour each week with a small group of 7 year olds.
It wasn’t long before more 7 year olds joined in the fun and interest was being expressed by parents for other age groups. Within a month of starting, the club expanded and three more coaches became FA Qualified which enabled the Colts to provide training for 5, 6 and 7 year olds specifically geared towards their own development needs.
Over the next few months the Under 7’s participated in some friendly matches in addition to the ongoing training sessions. They also had the opportunity to play in a number of Football Festivals, including a memorable day in the Sunshine in May at Cambridge United where two teams from Haslingfield Colts played at the Abbey Stadium alongside the likes of Arsenal and West Ham Schoolboys.
The club continued to grow and in September of 2013 alongside the existing Under 14s team, two Under 8 teams were entered into the Cambs Mini Soccer League, a non-competitive friendly league. The Under 7’s and Under 6’s continued to train and had friendly matches whilst the Under 5’s trained with a focus on ‘fun games’ which have been enjoyed by all.
During the first year the club was fortunate to have a number of parents volunteer to get involved and they have also gone on to become FA Qualified Coaches. Haslingfield Colts now has Seven FA Qualified, DBS checked, coaches working across all the age groups and are supported by a number of committed DBS checked parent / coaches.
In the space of 18 months the club has expanded from the existing Under 14’s team and grown from a small group of Under 7’s to over 50 children between the age of 5 and 8 who come along every Saturday to have fun, develop their skills and make new friends in a safe and friendly environment. All under the guidance of a group of coaches who believe that everyone, no matter their level of development, can enjoy the beautiful game.
If you would like more information about Mini Soccer as part of Haslingfield Colts please email MattQueen@btinternet.com