What motivates grassroots players?

People play and enjoy the game for various reasons, but have you ever asked your players what it is that makes them want to play? Or what they would like to do? Finding out these answers will help you get to know your players better and could help you to tailor your sessions.

Here are some of the responses we received from players at Wantage Town juniors when we asked those questions.

"If we could choose what to do, we would play a proper game on the big pitch with goals."

"The best thing I can remember about the games is when I scored my first goal when I was playing in midfield and how it felt and how I wanted to do it again."

"I’ve got lots of friends in the team now and we like playing together and try hard for each other."

"I really like the games at the end of the session because we get to do lots of shooting and tackling. I like shooting best, because we get to score goals."

"I like the shooting games that we play, when we get the chance to play attackers against defenders and get to shoot against the keeper."

"I just like playing in games and tackling."

"I think the coaches have helped us improve our skills and working together as a team. We work better as a team now and work together during games rather than giving up. Also nobody shouts at each other."

What the coaches think

Jeremy Moor - Chairman

What activities do the children enjoy the most?

Small-sided games where they are all involved as much as possible. To keep them all engaged we often split into three smaller groups and rotate the exercises. We never use a practice where they end up in a line waiting.

If the children were in charge of the session - what do you think they would do?

I think they would play a game with lots of shooting and also do activities where they have a ball each. They certainly turn up and head straight to the goal with one being the goalkeeper, maybe to hit corners, but mainly to shoot.

If we sat them down to discuss what they wanted they would certainly want a game. The game would not have many rules other than the main laws.

We try to keep all the players engaged and try to subdue bad feeling or teasing by encouraging passes and the right decisions, not just goals or strong tackles. Ultimately they all want to score and be the winner, but we try to teach them that this comes by being a team and you can't win without everyone playing well.

What activities do you think the children have benefited from the most?

We try to make all the children understand the core ideas of being a team: supporting each other and encouraging each other. As a group they have become good friends and regularly visit each other's houses and spend time together away from football.

We try to arrange it so that the children have an opportunity to be the mascot at first-team games, organise trips to restaurants and other social events all based on the children. The social skills and respect can be easily brought into everyday life. The friends they make also helps when they move to the larger secondary schools.

David Kamm - Coach

What coaching activities do the children enjoy the most? Can you describe the activities they enjoy the most?

There are certain activities that the players always request. 'Bulldogs' is definitely a favourite. We always play it first without balls and then introduce them after a few rounds. They love playing both versions of the game as it is fast paced and competitive.

'King of the Ring' is another that the players continue to ask for. They love the fact that it is a case of every man for himself. Certain players will try different approaches, such as staying out of danger for as long as possible, or teaming up with a friend. There is always a great sense of achievement for the player who wins and they always want one more game.

Passing and dribbling activities can always be made more fun for the player by adding a goal to shoot at. Finishing with a shot at goal makes it more appealing for the players and adds an incentive to do the first part right.

Finally, playing a match. Probably the part of training they enjoy most.

If the children were in charge of the session - what do you think they would do?

I just asked my son, who plays on the team, and he mentioned the activities above. He would play 'King of the Ring' and 'Bulldogs', as well as having a match. I think some players would just choose to play a match for the entire time though.

What activities do you think the children have benefited from the most?

In terms of developing them as footballers, small-sided games are probably most beneficial. I think it's important to do activities that cover all aspects of the game though and to have a balance of each, outside of a match situation. The challenge is to then transfer these skills into the matches.

This article was first published in The Boot Room magazine in April 2015.