Small sided football provides winning formula for Eastern Suburbs juniors

The Eastern Suburbs Football Association (ESFA) hosted the first of its inter-club gala day?s for 2012 last weekend with the Under 6?s event held at Coral Sea Park and Queens Park playing host to the Under 7?s gala day.
Juniors from Coogee United, Easts FC, Kincoppal, Maccabi Juniors, Maroubra United, Mascot Kings, Olympic Eagles and Waverley Old Boys tried their luck against one another and there were only positives to be taken from the day.
?The players had a great time and the best thing was that whenever a goal was scored, all of the parents were clapping and the players shook hands,? ESFA Small Sided Football Chair Frank Friedmann said.
?They appreciated the players showing what they can do which is always the best thing.
?We are certainly to finding that games are played in good spirit because it?s non competitive.
?The parents can relax and the group leaders don?t have any pressure on them.?
The gala day has been running over the last couple of years and gives junior players the chance to play in a competition-style environment without the pressure of winning. With each team playing two games on the day and no winner awarded, ESFA?s gala day maintained the values of Small Sided Football.
?The main idea is that we get the 6?s and 7?s playing against different clubs now and again,? Mr Friedmann added.
?They play intra-club for three or four weeks to develop skills.
?Every month we put on these gala days where they see how they are going against other clubs of similar ages so it is always a great colourful occasion that brings the parents, clubs and players together.
?They play two games against different teams so if they are finding one team a bit too strong then the next team they might be closer to their ability.?
There are two more gala days planned for the juniors this year on June 2 and July 21. And following the success of the Under 6?s and 7?s event, there are plans to introduce gala days for players from Under 8?s through to Under 11?s. One thing is certain ? the message is getting across that development is more important than success for young footballers. 
-By Mitchell Grima