PARENT GUIDE

WELCOME TO WALTON MK FOOTBALL CLUB

This guide is designed to provide an overview of our club, introduce you to our football philosophy and to highlight what the club expects of you as a parent or guardian.

We strive to be the most proactive club in the area taking pride in developing the players in a fun, safe and inclusive environment. It is our focus and aim to ensure your son or daughter enjoys their football experience at Walton MK FC.

The priority for our younger teams from U6 to U12 is to develop their football skills in line with the Walton MK FC football philosophy. From U13 onwards we adopt a balanced approach between success and ongoing player development. At all age groups we expect our players, spectators and officials to win, lose or draw in a spirit of fair play and respect.

Thank you for your support.

Spencer Potter

Chairman | Walton MK FC

Walton MK Football Club

Parents’ Guide

SEPTEMBER 2017

1. MISSION STATEMENT

Provide a high standard of training to all players in a safe, fun and inclusive environment, to the benefit of the individual, the club and the community.

2. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

To provide an environment where young players can express themselves and enjoy their football development.
Provide a model pathway for learning and development of players.
Maximise the potential of individuals, to a level so that the opportunity for players to sign for professional clubs centre of excellence is achievable.
Develop players as responsible people with an awareness of their responsibilities to each other with mutual respect for others.
Develop and teach the players to understand the benefits to be gained from a healthy lifestyle.

3. CLUB OBJECTIVES

Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the club.
Continually review and evaluate our football model.
Club officials to have defined job descriptions with clear roles and responsibilities.
To have the full backing of the parents.
Maintain FA development club status.

4. COACHING OBJECTIVES

Support every player to realise his/her potential, supporting the development of skills at a young age.
Enhance enjoyment of the game, developing healthy lifestyles, creating a new generation of talented players.
Aid players’ progression to a higher level of football.

5. PEOPLE OBJECTIVES

Recruit, train and develop the workforce that will support the administration, development and promotion of the club.
All Club coaches to hold a minimum of FA Level 1 and FA CRB check.
Increase the number of Level 2 coaches.
Encourage enthusiastic Level 1 coaches to progress.
Recruit new volunteers

6. THE WALTON MK FC PLAYING PHILOSOPHY

All of our teams will follow the football philosophy.

a) In Possession
A possession-based approach played through the three-thirds of the pitch.

Quality passing and intelligent movement and support off the ball.
Penetrative, incisive and varied attacking play, allied to good finishing.
Counter-attacking whenever opportunities arise.
Players with varied and unique dribbling skills and the dexterity to go past defenders, particularly in the final-third, are fundamental to success in the game.

b) Out of Possession
A tactical approach to defending, in which all players contribute.

A controlled, calculated and assertive approach when and where necessary.
Additionally, the playing philosophy actively encourages the individualistic player.

Applying the Future Game Playing Philosophy to Grassroots Football

The coaches at Walton MK FC are fully committed to develop the playing philosophy by adopting the FA’s Future Game principles to football to aid in the development of young footballers.

7. CLUB HISTORY

Walton MK FC, formerly Southside United Football Club were formed in the early 1990s. The club was started by two parents living in Walton as their children did not have anywhere to play football. Initially the club drew players attending Heronshaw and Heronsgate schools, but subsequently expanded to attract children from a wider area.

The club was formally constituted in 1992.

The early teams played at Heronsgate and Wavendon schools as well as the fields behind the EDS offices. Over time further playing facilities were secured at Swallowfield and Fulbrook schools and Browns Wood playing fields.

We became FA Charter standard club approximately 10 years ago and now has 14 teams and nearly 200 players.

In 2012 Gary Singleton became Chairman of the club and, along with a number of like minded committee members, decided that the club needed to become more organised and more structured. Several new committee members were recruited, new commercial deals successfully negotiated, Junior (pre-school and Foundation year) football was incorporated into the club and the search for a permanent home commenced.

In June 2015, we were given the prestigious award of FA Charter Standard Development Club status. This is a fine achievement and reflected the significant progress that the club has made over the last few years.

In 2017 we changed our club name to Walton MK in order to recognise our roots in the parish of Walton. The name change has given us a clear identity and allows us to further integrate with the local community. In September 2017, David Ellis took over as Chairman from Gary Singleton.

As an FA Development Club, the club has a trained Welfare Officer, CRB-checked volunteers, Emergency Aid-trained volunteers linked to each team, Respect programme sign-up, a Level One coach as a minimum for each youth team, appropriate club administration in place and a volunteer co-ordinator. In addition to this, the club commenced a programme of training coaches to FA Level 2 accreditation rather than the more commonplace Level 1.

The club has an annual health check from the FA to ensure our standards of provision are maintained. We also benefit from 50 hours with a UEFA ‘A’ licensed coach to help mentor our teams and coaches which can only continue to help support the improvement in our coaching capabilities.

8. GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS ON MATCH DAYS AND AT TRAINING

Please ensure you arrive on time for training and games. On match day the players warm up and a team talk can take up to 45 minutes – the team manager will advise an arrival time. Late players may miss an important part of the warm up and this could lead to injury.

All players must have the correct equipment, including shin pads, appropriate footwear and a drink. Full Walton MK kit will be required for matches. Please also consider clothing suitable for the weather conditions to ensure players keep warm and dry when appropriate.

Any help to put up goals, nets or the respect line on match days will always be appreciated by the coaching team.

Always respect your own and the other team’s coaches, officials, players and parents.

Respect the coaching team’s decisions on team formation, tactics and substitution. Once the games or training starts please limit your activity to encouraging the players only – please leave all coaching to the coaches. If you would like to discuss any concerns with the coaching team, it is suggested that straight after a match may not be the best time. An e-mail or phone call to the coach the following day is highly recommended.

Respect the referee’s decisions, it’s a difficult job and the game cannot happen without them.

Please remember that we are volunteers running football teams for children – it’s not always about winning games but it is about creating a positive, fun and rewarding learning environment for our players. Please do everything that you can to help us create that.

Finally, please take the time to take a look at the following links which you will find useful -

http://www.waltonmkfc.com/our-welfare/our-parents/

http://www.waltonmkfc.com/our-welfare/our-parents/advice-for-new-parents/

http://www.thefa.com/respectguide/

9. CLUB OFFICIALS AND GOVERNANCE

The Walton MK management committee meets once a month to discuss all matters relating to the running of the club. These include: team performance and welfare, financial performance, sponsorship, league directives, communication strategies and general governance matters.

An agenda and minutes are produced for each meeting and these are distributed in advance of each session. The meetings are attended by committee members, team managers and coaches. There is an open invitation to parents and guardians to join the meeting, please contact the Club Secretary if you would like to attend.

The club has an annual General Meeting every June and an agenda is prepared in advance. Key elements for discussion are the appointment or re-appointment of committee members and the approval of our annual accounts.

a) Key Contacts

Spencer Potter – Club Secretary David Ellis – Chairman

Mobile: 07557 025029 Mobile: 07818 024550
Email: secretary@waltonmkfc.com Email: chairman@waltonmkfc.com

Steve Goodenough – Child Protection Officer Sarah Barnes – Club Treasurer

Email: welfare@waltonmkfc.com Email: treasurer@waltonmkfc.com

Mike Perry – Head of Communications Asad Asif – Pitch Coordinator

Mobile: 07971 931291 Mobile: 07764 482736
Email: info@waltonmkfc.com Email: pitches@waltonmkfc.com

Paul Murray - Head of Coaching

Mobile: 07827 326334

Email: coaching@waltonmkfc.com