Quote Originally Posted by Cunning stunts View Post
After a few rounds this season i would love to hear peoples opinions on the below topics.

Firstly i think there is a lack of knowledge across some coaches and coaching staff in regards to the drop off zones, Free kicks. Is this something for each club to assure there teams and coaching staff understand the rules of JDL correctly? or do you beleive each club take there own opinion of these rules and play it how they like?

Topics:

1) Players moving up a age group? yes or no? if so how does your club run this? E.g. under 9s player playing or training under 10s
2) Drop off zone? does your club police this and how is it run?
3) the knowledge that there is no direct freekicks?
4) positional rotation? (for some kids i have found clearly have no interest or drive to play certain roles and to me looks to bring down a team in regards to there overall developing during game situations)
1) If a child has the development required and can physically handle it I've got no problem with it; the only wrinkle I see is if that player pushes out an appropriate aged player that then misses out on further development. I guess this is a per-player decision the club would have to consider
2) I make sure my game leaders know about it and enforce it; I also try and talk to the opposition coach about it before the game; I will often remind the players during the game if they are not dropping off; someone down thread suggested the rule now says all goalkeeper possessions, but I'm pretty sure the rule is just goal kicks. That being said, I have on occasion told my kids to drop off whenever the keeper has the ball.
3) There are direct free kicks in U11 and U12. But you're right in U9/U10 there are only indirect.
4) U9 last year we rotated through positions in a very rigid, prescriptive way. You got 40 minutes of game time and it was all played in the one position. Next game we rotated so you played the position next to the last one, again for 40 minutes that game. With 3 subs this was possible and reasonably easy. It was obvious when players didn't want to be in certain positions and it was obvious when they were coping or not in each position.
U10 this year and we are stilling rotating where appropriate. I have 5 subs, which makes it more difficult to balance game time and keep the kids in one position long enough so you can see how they are coping/developing. I have mentioned to the parents that game time in one game will be uneven, but hope to balance out game time over 3 or 4 games.

I'll add a 5) Goalkeepers must throw/roll the ball out, or play the ball from the ground with their feet. They can't kick or drop-kick the ball directly from their hands.