Junior Premier League (JPL) / Grassroots - Children’s Football

[Pickle Rick]

Has anyone had their child play in the JPL? It’s early days, but my son might get involved in it. Saturday matches instead of grassroots’ traditional Sunday is what I’m told.

Maybe the training and coaches approach might be different also?!

For those who have a son/daughter playing football in the JPL and may have previously been in grassroots, what experiences and opinions do you guys have as parents/carers? 

Any comparisons between both the JPL and grassroots?

I’m new to all this as my son will be playing matches as he enters Year 2 from September and has played for a club since he was about 3 years old.

[The Bard]

JPL is in between club Academies and grassroots like Ashton, Whitchurch Sports etc.  

 

My son was involved in BICADC which is probably now called something else.  It was before they joined the league but he got to travel to exotic locations like Ludlow, Walsall and Barnwood to play equivalents sides, some of who were linked to league sides.

 

Coaching was decent.  There were a lot of deluded parents though.  Occasionally some kids would be picked up by an Academy but in the most part the kids were good but not quite outstanding.

 

 

 

[And Its Smith]

16 hours ago, Pickle Rick said:

Has anyone had their child play in the JPL? It’s early days, but my son might get involved in it. Saturday matches instead of grassroots’ traditional Sunday is what I’m told.

Maybe the training and coaches approach might be different also?!

For those who have a son/daughter playing football in the JPL and may have previously been in grassroots, what experiences and opinions do you guys have as parents/carers? 

Any comparisons between both the JPL and grassroots?

I’m new to all this as my son will be playing matches as he enters Year 2 from September and has played for a club since he was about 3 years old.

My son played for BIC. I found the parents to be a lot worse than Sunday morning football.  They seemed to think their kids were going to make it. The coaching is much better though especially if they are training twice a week. Quick improvements but quite drill based which put my son off.  The games do get scouted quite a lot by City, Rovers, FGR, Cheltenham, Cardiff.  
 

Overall I’d say if your child just loves anything football then it’s great. If they just want to play matches in training then it’s not for them. 

[Cowshed]

16 hours ago, Pickle Rick said:

Has anyone had their child play in the JPL? It’s early days, but my son might get involved in it. Saturday matches instead of grassroots’ traditional Sunday is what I’m told.

Maybe the training and coaches approach might be different also?!

For those who have a son/daughter playing football in the JPL and may have previously been in grassroots, what experiences and opinions do you guys have as parents/carers? 

Any comparisons between both the JPL and grassroots?

I’m new to all this as my son will be playing matches as he enters Year 2 from September and has played for a club since he was about 3 years old.

I have had a Son play in the JPL and,  ahem I was a coach at a development centre playing in the JPL.

Opinion. It is beneficial to look at all development centres, one size, one development centre does not fit all.

 

[mattjb]

23 hours ago, Pickle Rick said:

Has anyone had their child play in the JPL? It’s early days, but my son might get involved in it. Saturday matches instead of grassroots’ traditional Sunday is what I’m told.

Maybe the training and coaches approach might be different also?!

For those who have a son/daughter playing football in the JPL and may have previously been in grassroots, what experiences and opinions do you guys have as parents/carers? 

Any comparisons between both the JPL and grassroots?

I’m new to all this as my son will be playing matches as he enters Year 2 from September and has played for a club since he was about 3 years old.

I thought JPL football runs alongside grassroots football? I mean they’ll be playing JPL on a Saturday and grassroots for their club on a Sunday, that’s the impression I get at South Glos and that’s what they expect.
My girl has playing for them this season and hopefully will move up into JPL with them next season , she plays for her club on a Sunday as well .They don’t start JPL with the girls until u13. With these RTC centres like south glos the training is good and they are training with players of their ability rather than mixed ability which means they push on quicker .It is quite a lot more expensive than grassroots football though and more travelling in the JPL although it is more regional now from what I understand. Great bunch of parents in my daughters group and she really enjoys it. I say if they really like playing football then give them every opportunity you can if time and money allow. 

[Sir Leigh of Somerset]

On 21/04/2024 at 19:18, Pickle Rick said:

Has anyone had their child play in the JPL? It’s early days, but my son might get involved in it. Saturday matches instead of grassroots’ traditional Sunday is what I’m told.

Maybe the training and coaches approach might be different also?!

For those who have a son/daughter playing football in the JPL and may have previously been in grassroots, what experiences and opinions do you guys have as parents/carers? 

Any comparisons between both the JPL and grassroots?

I’m new to all this as my son will be playing matches as he enters Year 2 from September and has played for a club since he was about 3 years old.

As a generalisation, Rick, every kind of competitive game that a child plays puts them in the shop window for (especially) local football club scouts who are  looking for recruits to their Academies.

I may be wrong but i believe that children can, and do, play in the JPL on a Saturday and then their Club team on a Sunday.

[damo]

My daughter has been playng grassrrots for 4 years now and is 10 , she had a trial with Sussex RTC JPL and was successful . Just want to know if this is a step up from Grassroots as unfortunately she would have to give this up and they train on  SATURDAY and been told JPL play on a saturday so do not want to make wrong decision . Can anyone tell me what coaches are like etc ie standard and was this a positive move got you and your child ?

Thanks 

Damien  

[Stockwood gate]

My lad played for Poulton rovers in the JPL one of the coaches was a guy called Nick Gyther he was a fantastic coach nothing but praise for him , only issue I found lots of travelling 

[Glen hump]

My lad played in the jpl after getting released by Newport’ the coaching wasn’t great’ just seemed a moneymaker for the parent club’ that was about 9 years ago so might be better now.

[mattjb]

18 minutes ago, damo said:

My daughter has been playng grassrrots for 4 years now and is 10 , she had a trial with Sussex RTC JPL and was successful . Just want to know if this is a step up from Grassroots as unfortunately she would have to give this up and they train on  SATURDAY and been told JPL play on a saturday so do not want to make wrong decision . Can anyone tell me what coaches are like etc ie standard and was this a positive move got you and your child ?

Thanks 

Damien  

She should progress quicker at an RTC as they are playing and training with players of their own ability rather than a mix of abilities at grassroots level . As I said earlier in the thread my daughter (12) is at an RTC , just did the training for a year and then has been playing for a season this season . They will be moving into JPL next season. She’s definitely benefited from being at an RTC , I’d say the coaching is a higher standard than grassroots. 
It is a money spinner though, they charge a monthly fee for training,signing in fee , buy the kit and a match fee. 
I’d give the RTC a go if she’s up for it, you can always go back to grassroots if it doesn’t work out 

[Cowshed]

1 hour ago, damo said:

My daughter has been playng grassrrots for 4 years now and is 10 , she had a trial with Sussex RTC JPL and was successful . Just want to know if this is a step up from Grassroots as unfortunately she would have to give this up and they train on  SATURDAY and been told JPL play on a saturday so do not want to make wrong decision . Can anyone tell me what coaches are like etc ie standard and was this a positive move got you and your child ?

Thanks 

Damien  

Yes. Its a step up. Your Daughter has being identified as being at the level of regional talent club. That is a big step up. 

Coaching will reflect the level. The head coaches overseeing the RTC will be EUFA B +, the coaches overseeing sessions will be EUFA C level (old level two) and up. Grass roots clubs rarely have what are pro standards coaching for them. 

The answer to positive. Generally yes but its not for all, or fits all. Kids can find the added commitment, discipline and expectation not to their liking particularly ten years olds. And many many kids thrive and grow as footballers.   

Edited May 16 by Cowshed

[Curious cat]

I’d like to know a bit more, we are in Wales and my son has been offered a place in JPL which means giving up grass roots such a massive decision- so following thread 

On 16/05/2024 at 13:03, damo said:

My daughter has been playng grassrrots for 4 years now and is 10 , she had a trial with Sussex RTC JPL and was successful . Just want to know if this is a step up from Grassroots as unfortunately she would have to give this up and they train on  SATURD and been told JPL play on a saturday so do not want to make wrong decision . Can anyone tell me what coaches are like etc ie standard and was this a positive move got you and your child ?

Thanks 

Damien  

[Pickle Rick]

Just thought I’d message back an update from my original post…

My son went to a JPL session and I think we were both underwhelmed. The training standard was not better than our grassroots club. The standard of player was not overly high. Probably more selfish players if anything!! 

This was for U7’s though and early days in that regard. Things probably need to shape up.

I’ve heard a lot of comments in conversation which includes ‘money spinner’ more than anything else. Everybody will have their own experience though.

As for the club my son plays for, things have come on really well in preparation for their upcoming 2024/25 season.

As for quality of coaching, I’ll just say we are very fortunate. 

Edited June 30 by Pickle Rick

[Jacki]

My lad played in the JPL for about 4 years and really enjoyed it. The standard of the games were good and the coaching was pretty good overall too, although that could be a bit more hit and miss depending on who the actual coach was. I would say that the standard is a little higher than normal grassroots overall, although there are some weaker teams in there too.

In my son’s age group, about 7 or 8 of them got picked up by academies including him, so if you want a way in to the academy system it can work out well. 

[Cowshed]

5 hours ago, Curious cat said:

I’d like to know a bit more, we are in Wales and my son has been offered a place in JPL which means giving up grass roots such a massive decision- so following thread 

The JPL is played on Saturdays. Grass roots football is played in Sundays. Kids can play in both.

4 hours ago, Pickle Rick said:

Just thought I’d message back an update from my original post…

My son went to a JPL session and I think we were both underwhelmed. The training standard was not better than our grassroots club. The standard of player was not overly high. Probably more selfish players if anything!! 

This was for U7’s though and early days in that regard. Things probably need to shape up.

I’ve heard a lot of comments in conversation which includes ‘money spinner’ more than anything else. Everybody will have their own experience though.

As for the club my son plays for, things have come on really well in preparation for their upcoming 2024/25 season.

As for quality of coaching, I’ll just say we are very fortunate. 

The JPL is the league. The league itself doesn't have JPL sessions? Theoretically because of the nature of the teams in JPL leagues being different to grass roots clubs e.g development centres, junior clubs linked to semi pro and pro clubs the standard is different.

Some of the teams in JPL leagues are businesses, they have to make money, coaches and the owners are paid and are on wages.

As a standard I would expect ant JPL league team to be providing quality coaching and their coaches to possess at least C licences, and for coaching to be overseen by a coach of higher level.  

This doesn't mean that coaching at grass roots clubs will not be of the same level as teams JPL teams.

Seven year olds are more selfish, they are egocentric, driven by the extrinsic's of goals, glory, dribbling, shooting and neurologically can't and won't comprehend team play. Its the foundation stage (u7-11), let them play, assist players to gain skill, learning ball mastery, improving physical agility balance and co-ordination, and some game understanding these should be the expectations. 

[sami]

Does anyone know how to contact jpl? I want to take my son there but don't knw who to contact contact.

Sami