Further to our previous information here is an update on the JPL situation as far as River Juniors is concerned.

*JUST TO CLARIFY THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC SQUAD WE ARE CREATING FOR A SPECIFIC LEAGUE, THIS INFORMATION AND APPROACH IS AIMED AT THE JPL SQUAD ONLY, LOCAL TEAMS AND LOCAL LEAGUES WE HAVE OPTIONS FOR EVERYONE*

Should I bring my child?

Below is a full description of the process etc but before you read on it may be worth considering if you're child is suitable for this process. This is aimed at players who are excelling locally and need to have a stronger challenge by playing in a regional competition.

I ask for some realistic expectations on this, if your child is not playing in the higher division of their age group or not dominating the middle or lower divisions of their respected local leagues it is very likely this is not the environment for your child.

We are not looking for "She's a great centre back", "He's scored 100 goals in 2 seasons" because we aren't even interested in playing positions! That's of no interest to us.

What we want is children who can play without being told what to do, children who are comfortable with the ball under pressure and don't have any need to get rid of it, children who can think quickly, children who are brave on the ball, try things and most of all children with heart and desire who love football.

If your child isn't at this stage yet we are willing to help every player get to this stage asap in our normal teams and our normal sessions which everyone is welcome to attend or join. But if they're not the Junior Premier League is not the place for them at this moment.

What is the Junior Premier League?

It is a league designed to be a stepping stone between grassroots football and academy football. For U7 to U10 there is a central venue (TBC) and for U11 and older it is a home and away process with away games potentially an hours drive away. Games will be Saturday morning and those on a home and away basis home games will be on 3G at Archbishop Beck High School.

What Can We Offer?

First of all we offer an opportunity to play in this league, due to its nature it is not open to all teams/clubs. We will offer a development focussed environment in which our aim is to develop your child's football ability, confidence and mentality to help them realise their ambitions. Working with a whole host of coaches we will have available who are working in elite environments already to a set club philosophy we feel there's massive development potential for players. We offer this across the whole club but the level of player within the squads will see players influence each others development more that other groups on the program.

Selection Process

The selection process is an open invite, we've got some good teams already playing Saturday's but its not fair to just put one of these teams in to the JPL and not offer it to all our River Juniors players. Then if we do that we may not have the required numbers to fill teams so it is an open session/trial basis TO ANYONE.

Selection Criteria

Ultimately we are looking for the most committed players who've got a talent and a passion for development. If your child is new to football or not playing in the higher divisions of each league they are unlikely to be the level we require. That said your child may be the standout player or a summer birthday and with the right guidance be suitable.

We will have a full development program, especially for the U9 and older groups. At U7 and U8 we are still in the 'Pre Academy' phase and we won't restrict players based on them attending professional academy sessions. If your child (of any age) is not attending a professional football academy in a main group, development centre or on trial then the River Juniors JPL squad must be your priority.

There may be some allowances for County school boy football but in the main any players committing to the JPL squad must put this 1st, ahead of other teams, other training and school team football. We aren't saying for example school team football is not permitted but the commitment we are making to the squads must be returned.

Training will be FRIDAY evenings, outdoor on 3G at Archbishop Beck High School for these squads and players will also be expected to attend some sort of futsal coaching, 3v3 futsal or games during the week also as part of the development program. That's a commitment to playing on Saturday and 2 midweek days.

We are looking for players comfortable on the ball, confident and eager to learn. Our philosophy is learn through mistakes and we very rarely give instruction - if this sort of barking orders joystick side line behaviour is expected of us or something as a parent you do then this is not the environment for you.

We will have some other things factored in to the selection process like month of birth, size and a variety of player types to give a fair process and not just pick the giant fast kids born before Christmas.

We don't expect saints but we want children eager to learn, improve and play so players must be attentive and respectful - the first sign of any players behaviour disrupting sessions or causing issues and they will be removed.

There is no definite number of players wanted and we may create a shadow/2nd squad to play locally with players moving up and down when required.

Reminder

If you feel a decision being made on your child's ability for this could have a negative impact on your relationship with the club then please don't attend suitability sessions. Most players of a standard to attend these suitability sessions already play in teams were players are picked and teams are formed to allow better players to play together. It's unreasonable to expect your children to play at weekends in stronger teams at our club in particular at the expense of others then criticise this process if your child isn't deemed suitable for this team.

Parent Behaviour

As advised anyone is welcome to attend but please be realistic in your expectations. As parents your suitability is also being monitored, any parents shouting on and pressuring children, telling them what to do during this process will be advised to not attend further sessions and you can advise your child they haven't been selected because of your conduct.

The Backlash

It's not the perfect process, it will draw criticism but it is what it is. As a club we offer hundreds of children football, and anyone attending these sessions who are not selected will be offered Saturday football regardless. For those claiming of poaching etc we have as many children leave for other teams as there is join from other teams.

As a club every child who plays for River Juniors will have a very similar development program from September so we are developing all players and not just the few.

Suitability Session Times and Dates

All will be at Goals Soccer Centre, Netherton, L30 1QQ.

Sunday 25th of June - CURRENT SCHOOL AGE.

*Please note this has changed since the original dates.

11am Year 2 & Year 3
12noon Year 4 & Year 5*

*Please note that the original Year 6 date has been removed to enable us to concentrate on 2 age groups at a time.

From this initial session we will advise whether to attend the next session the next week as we will have about 3-4 weekends before making decisions and potentially midweek sessions also.

What next?

Please advise Ray via text on 07875527909 if you plan on attending the session.
If you can't make the 1st date then a 2nd date will be published shortly.

Thanks