The past few weeks have been all about preparation for the new football season, from transfers to club signings, marketing campaigns to the launch of new equipment or kits - you’ve probably noticed that things are in full swing!
The Football League got underway on the first weekend of August and the Premier League followed suit a week later with Liverpool opening the new campaign with a 4-1 Friday night hammering of Norwich City at Anfield. Manchester City then went one better the following day by hammering West Ham United 5-0.
While the Reds and the Citizens are already going hammer and tongs for the crown of English champions, you might be wondering when the real stuff starts – namely, the kids football season.
Here are some important dates for the grassroots diary – and how you can get your child involved for the new campaign.
September sees the return of youth football
Most youth football leagues kick their seasons off on the first weekend of September. This is in fact the case for grassroots football in general, with many adult and Sunday Leagues also getting starting in the ninth month of the year.
Prepared clubs would have been training for anywhere up to four or six weeks before that, with many having already begun playing friendly matches in order to get some match practice under their belts before the start of competitive fixtures.
If you’re looking to get your child involved in a youth football team this season, then there really is no time like the present for doing it. Have a look for reputable clubs in your area – any that are FA Charter Standard are pretty much guaranteed to be good – or get in contact with your local County Football Association who will have a full list of youth clubs near you.
With many teams struggling for numbers, there will be a team out there somewhere for your child for the 2019-20 campaign.
Schools and Football Academies
It isn’t just youth football which kicks off in the first week of September, but the 2019-20 academic year as well. That means that school football teams will be up and running shortly afterwards, something that you can encourage your child to get involved in this year if they are interested in playing competitive football.
The return to school also means that many afterschool clubs will spark back to life over the next month or so. You can find our weekly professional football coaching in your local area by performing a simple google search.
Summer football
Of course, for many kids the football season never really ended and they’ve been playing the beautiful game throughout their summer holidays.
This is possible in several of different ways. There are organised coaching camps which go on for a week at a time and can allow players to spend their time off school playing their favourite sport.
There are some youth football leagues which run throughout the summer, taking advantage of the better weather to allow children to play the sport without the threat of postponements which December and January often bring.
Or they might just have spent the summer kicking a ball around with friends down the park. After all, when a sport is as fun, accessible and popular as football, does the season ever really stop?
