Guide For New Parents

Your child will be joining an established club (1994) with over 200 children signed on. Our philosophy of allowing every child an equal chance in the younger age groups makes us a popular club (Please read our Mission Statement).

Managers - Managers/Coaches are usually recruited from within the parent group. Volunteers are supported and receive suitable training to become fully qualified. Managers/coaches need and appreciate any help you can provide: helping with training, washing kit, putting up and taking down the goals etc.

Kit - Each child must have shin pads and football boots - if they train in midweek they might need trainers. A pair of shorts, T-shirt and football socks will do in warm, dry weather. Every team has enough match shirts but some managers may wish you to provide shorts and football socks.

During the Winter your child must have a waterproof jacket - during matches there will be times when your child will be waiting on the side of the pitch - they will need to be warm and dry. The club training jacket is ideal and has the benefit of your child's initials being included - Contact the Chairperson (Nigel Parker) if you are interested. Track suit bottoms might be a good idea as well

All kit your child brings should be named - children tend to forget any discarded clothing as soon as as it has been taken off but a manager will normally check the pitch after training/matches and collect stray kit - they will return it but only if they can find a name.

Your child will grow out of his boots quite quickly - ask your manager if he has any second-hand pairs that have been donated.

Costs - Current registration with the club costs £12 for the season - this covers our insurance costs and the newsletter. Our other main cost is pitch hire at King George V and for this we charge £2.00 per match (home or away) and £2.00 for Saturday training. Some managers add these fees up and ask for just two payments (in advance) to save on their admin. Older age groups train in midweek (usually Tuesday) and a manager will have to cover his costs so prices could vary - the Astro Turf at Exeter School currently costs £2.00 per week.

Times - Training at King George V starts promptly at 10.30 - your child will not appreciate having to do warm ups on their own while everyone else has started training!!! If you are not staying to help please return to pick your child up at 12 noon. Make sure to tell your coach if someone else is taking your child home.
Some matches start earlier at 10.00 please confirm times with your manager. Your child will appreciate your support in matches but if you can't stay please remember they sometimes finish before 12.00 so make sure you are there in good time.

Matches - Your child will be given the opportunity to play in matches against other clubs but Central usually has too many players in the younger age groups for everyone to play every game. Some matches are away and your manager will liaise with you on the best way to get your child to the venue. The furthest venues are probably Tiverton, Hemyock or Crediton (Bow) but quite a few will be within the City boundaries. Matches become more frequent as your child gets older - by the under 11 age group most Saturdays will be matches and midweek training becomes necessary.

Behaviour - When you and your child sign the registration form every year you promise to behave in a responsible manner. Supporting your child from the sidelines is positively encouraged but please think about your opponents and remember to praise them as appropriate.

Medication - If your child needs to use an inhaler or other medication they must bring it along to every training session or match - their manager is not allowed to let them play if they forget. They must be able to administer it themselves. In some rare situations the club may request a separate doctor's report saying that a particular child can play.

Age Groups - Age Groups are defined by your child's age on the 31 August. eg a child aged 8 on that date will be in the Under 9s, Aged 12 will be in the Under 13s. This table might help: Age Group Table

Questions - If you have any more questions please ask the Secretary by accessing his link on the menu on the top left.