Lowick United FC Parents FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Lowick Utd's approach to youth football?

Like all clubs, the volunteers who run Lowick Utd are a diverse bunch. What we all have in common is a love of football and a desire to give young people the opportunity to enjoy the game.

We aim to provide the very best standard of coaching to help players of all abilities reach their full potential. We take a long-term approach to player development; some children show ability early while others catch up much later. As long as players are doing their best and showing a desire to learn they are welcome at Lowick.

We believe in the value of competition, we want our teams to win, but not at any cost. The importance of teamwork, taking responsibility, fair play, respect, how to win and lose with dignity; these are all valuable lessons that we want our young players to learn from sport.

2. Who can join Lowick Utd?

Boys and girls of any age or ability are welcome to become members. We do not discriminate against new members for any reason. Our club motto “decuria pro vita” means “a club for life”. It is our intention over the next few seasons to fill in the gaps in our current provision to make it possible for boys and girls to stay with the club from 5 years old right through into the men’s and women’s first teams.

Once the season has started we cannot promise a place in competitive teams to new members. We can usually accommodate new players at training but obviously there are a limited number of places available in squads. Please check with the secretary for availability of places if you are thinking about joining mid-season.

Please note that children must have reached their sixth birthday before they can play in games against other teams. We would ask a parent of younger children to stay on site during training sessions until they settle in.

3. The training times are not convenient, can my child just play matches?

That is not something that we would normally agree to. Even in the case of very talented players it is more important to us that we can work with young people at training and help develop their ability.

In exceptional circumstances we can accommodate a player who cannot get to their squads regular training session. A few players attend alternative sessions with other squads. Players who regularly fail to attend training will not be selected for games so it would set a bad precedent if we took on a new player who would not be available to train.

Of course players who only want to train but not play are welcome to join and will be charged a reduced fee.

4. What does it cost to be a member?

We are one of the least expensive clubs you will find. There is a basic annual fee with discounts for second children in the same household as well as reduced fees for the youngest players. You can check out the current costs and methods of payment at this page...

5. Will I get pestered for other costs and fundraising?

No, we try to avoid regular appeals for sponsored events and so on. However we do hold events such as bingo evenings and we will give you the opportunity to support these if you wish. Once a year, usually in the summer, we hold a festival weekend at Lowick involving the whole club and the local community. This is also an important opportunity for us to boost our funds and we do appreciate your enthusiastic support of this one event.

6. What equipment will my child need?

There are a couple of essential items that your child will need to have. Shin pads are obligatory for both training and matches and they should bring a plastic bottle with water or juice. For reasons of hygiene we no longer provide water bottles. Your children’s strips will be loaned to them without cost, we ask that you take good care of them and return them promptly and in good condition. All items of strip, including socks, must only be worn for matches and at no other times. If strips are returned showing excessive wear you may be asked to pay for a replacement.

Tracksuit tops and waterproofs in club colours and with an embroidered badge are available from J.J. Youngman’s shop in Castlegate, Berwick at a cost of approx £16 - £18 each depending on size. There is no obligation to buy these but please make sure they have warm clothing that is suitable for the weather.

7. Why do Under 8 teams not have published results and league tables?

The FA has prohibited under 8 teams from taking part in leagues or cup competitions. Our experience has shown that this is a positive development. Please do not make the common mistake of imagining that this means u8's do not play "competitive" football. Young players will make the same amount of effort and enjoy games just as much whether or not the results are published.

The difference is that parents and managers are able to focus on giving every player a fair share of the game regardless of ability, and allowing them to experiment and make their own decisions, without worrying about league tables.

8. How can I help my child improve their skills?

There is no way a young player will develop excellent technique with just an hour or two training each week. It is essential that they practice regularly in their own time. We would strongly recommend they sign up an account at the FA Tesco Skills web site that is linked at the junior’s home page and let their coach know about new skills they are learning. We can also help them set specific goals and encourage them to show us what they have achieved at training sessions.

We would ask you to work with us by rewarding effort and improvement over results. The result of a match is not as important as the need for a young player enjoy their game and make further progress. It is possible to win more games by forcing young players to play in a particular way. We believe that encouraging them to play without fear, to challenge themselves and make their own decisions will pay off in the long-term.

Please have a look at the excellent resources the FA have provided to help parents think about the effect they can have on the progress of their children.

9. How do I get regular information from the club?

There are two main ways that we keep you informed about what is going on in the club.

This web site is updated regularly. The main features you should check are the notice board and news box on the home page, the weekly calendar that is updated every Sunday evening (sometimes very late) and your child's team's mini-site in the junior section. We need members to take responsibility to stay informed about fixtures and training sessions and any last minute cancellations or changes.

At least one parent of almost all of our junior members is on our text messaging list. Usually once or twice a week we will send group messages with news and information. If there is a last minute change to a fixture or session we will alert you by text. In the case of urgent texts we will normally ask you to acknowledge receipt. Please be sure you keep us informed of your current text number and feel free to add a second number to the list if necessary. To update your details send a text to 07966 722679

10. What do I need to know about match days?

If your child becomes unavailable to play at a match it's important you tell their manager as soon as possible. Please make sure your child is at the venue in plenty time. The manager will give you a specific time but usually this means being at the pitch at least 20 minutes to half an hour before kick off. If your child is playing at Wooler you will need to allow time to walk from the car park at Redpath's yard, please do not park in the roads around the school; parking in the school is for managers only.

As part of the Respect campaign all spectators are asked to stand on the same side of the pitch and behind the barrier or cones where provided. Team managers and substitutes will be on the opposite touchline

We are obliged by the terms of our lease to prohibit smoking anywhere on school premises and to prevent dogs from coming onto school grounds. Your cooperation is appreciated.

11. Is it OK to shout encouragement at games?

Yes! Please feel free to cheer on your child's team. Be sure to keep all your comments positive, even if they do not appear to be trying their best allow the coach to deal with it. We would ask that you refrain from coaching during games, allow them to make their own decisions and learn by mistakes if necessary. Some managers have a lot of input during a game others save it for half-time, please allow them to do their job in their own way.

Be generous to the opposition as well and applaud good play by both sides. Keep in mind our code of conduct for parents and spectators and be careful our celebration does not become intimidating for opposition junior players.

12. Can I take photographs of my children playing football?

We take a common sense attitude towards photography in junior football. However we need to be aware of the legitimate concerns that other parents may have on this subject. Our players are covered by parental consent for appropriate pictures but if you wish to take pictures at a match you will need to be sure that your team manager has cleared this with the opposition club. We have published some helpful guidelines you should follow if you wish to take pictures at club activities.

Make sure you inform your child's manager or coach in advance and if you have any concerns or further questions please feel free to have a chat with our child welfare officer.

13. How can I get involved in helping at the club?

There are many things that need to be done to run the club even apart from football specific things. We have a parent's committee for example who help with organising events from time to time.

If you wish to get involved in coaching we will be very happy to hear from you. We will help you obtain your level 1 coaching qualification and will provide you with support and mentoring while you gain experience. You can read our volunteer recruitment policy here.

In the interests of good practice in child welfare it is essential that we avoid casual or unofficial arrangements in recruiting new staff. If you would like to know more please have an informal chat with our volunteer coordinator.

14. Would I have to do a CRB check?

For any role within the club that puts adults in regular contact with children we will require an enhanced CRB check. The form has been greatly simplified in recent years and only takes a few minutes to complete. You will be asked to provide a few simple documents to confirm your identity. Unfortunately CRB certificates that have been obtained by any other organisation cannot be accepted. Lowick Utd will pay for your check.

The results of your disclosure will be completely confidential and known only to The FA CRB unit and the club's welfare officer. Only previous convictions that affect your suitability to work with children will be taken into account and any decision will be taken by The FA. For more information or to discuss any concerns you may have in confidence please speak to our club welfare officer.

15. I am unhappy about something in the club, how can I make a complaint?

There are a number of ways you may raise a concern depending on the nature and urgency of the problem.

You may wish to start by having a word with your child's coach or team manager. Often it's best to do this when they are not preoccupied setting up a training session or looking after a team.

On the parent's home page there is a feedback form that you can use, it will be read by the club secretary who will get back to you as soon as possible. If you have concerns about football matters or your child is not getting the best out of training please feel free to speak to Bill who is head coach of the junior section.

If it is a more serious or urgent matter, especially if it concerns the welfare of safety of junior members, please do not hesitate to contact Debra Jerdan our club welfare officer. Her contact details can be found on the welfare page.

16. How do I complain about the conduct of the team my child played against?

Occasionally you may be very unhappy about the way the players, manager or spectators of an opposing team have behaved. When this happens it is likely that feelings are running high and it is essential that you do not retaliate in kind or get involved in a public confrontation.

Take note of specifically what has happened and be assured we will deal with matters through proper channels. In the first instance speak to your team manager; do not confront the opposition however tempting it may be. Any official complaint needs to be made in writing through the club secretary to the secretary of the club concerned or to the league secretary. When parents take matters into their own hands we may end up having to defend your actions when we should be dealing with the original offender.

Be assured we will take strong action on behalf of our junior members when necessary but the best outcome is always achieved by a considered and measured response.