Football is a wonderful sport that over the years has given me so much, I've played and loved it, I've supported club and country with so many emotions good and bad, I've coached and refereed and wouldn't change a thing. The thing is I've had so much enjoyment from the sport over the years, it has given me so much that I think everybody should be given the opportunity, if people want play or coach or whatever they should be given that opportunity, boy or girls, old or young, fat or thin, black or white, rich or poor everybody.
When I coached and managed teams I firmly believe that winning is important, football is a competitive sport so the competition is an important element but this does not mean that less skilled or less athletic people should not be given the opportunities to play and compete, simply play In a team at a lower standard for now, with coaching and experience skill levels should improve and so will your team, that team may move forward to play at a higher level or the individual may improve enough to be selected for a team at the higher level. What is important is that everybody, no matter what their ability gets to play competitive football. If they don't want to compete there should still be the opportunity to train. We can't all play at the top level, we can't all win trophies, but we can all get out on the pitch and play and should all be given access to organised teams and coaching.
Everybody should be given access to football, football for women and girls has become more established in this country and we are seeing extremely talented dedicated players making a name for themselves in the game at the top levels but also thousands enjoying the sport on a weekly basis in organised leagues across the country. But is this true with disabled people, I'm unsure, it should be, I've seen competitions on TV but normally at international level how easy is it for a kid who lives in any of our major cities to find a team to be able to play when they have any form of disability, I hope it's easier than I think it is. I recently watched a tournament for adults with various levels of mental disability and it was an absolute joy, the standard was not the highest but the effort was amazing and one or two tough tackles were thrown in, but the absolute joy of everybody playing and one or two proud family members on the sidelines confirms my belief that everybody must me given the opportunities.
Discrimination needs to be removed from grass roots football as well as from the top of the game, it's the only way to give everybody the opportunity, if you aren't given a chance in a team or club because of your colour or because you are gay how can you possibly enjoy playing. It's difficult for anybody to approach a team asking to join but almost impossible if you know that people there are going to discriminate against you for whatever reason. We all know of teams for just people of a certain ethnic background or for gay people or whoever but surely it is better for everybody to integrate I don't understand why any club would not want new, possibly talented players. I've no time for bigots and they are the ones who should be forced out of the game allowing normal thinking people to get on with enjoying the sport.
Money is always a problem for most of us, but as a sport football is relatively cheap to play, but still there are some children missing out because they simply can't afford weekly subscriptions at local clubs. At grassroots level we do have to pay to play, clubs have to hire pitches, pay refs, buy kits, balls etc not the most expensive sport but there is a cost. Most clubs I know will try to help out people who genuinely can't afford to play, I know many coaches who travel at their own expense to pick up kids to train and play games but this shouldn't be the case, there is literally billions of pounds floating around in football, just make sure a tiny fraction of it filters down to the people at the very bottom and they will make sure that every child in the country that wants to play is given the chance. Think about what i said a tiny fraction of the money, so small that it probably wouldn't be missed and the coaches and parents at the bottom levels will give every child the chance, every child! They will do the dirty work and ensure football is a sport for all.
All I am saying is football is a wonderful, amazing sport please give everybody, no matter who they are the chance to enjoy, surely everybody deserves to know what it feels like to smash one in the back of the net.
@lfclumo
No comments:
Post a Comment