The Cringiest Word in Kids Football – “Elite”

The cringiest word in junior football

Over the past 1-2 years there has been a big increase in places that all of a sudden offer ‘elite’ groups.

Out of nowhere the city of Leeds now has more elite kids than anywhere in the world

That word is genuinely one of the best marketing words you can use to entice parents.

Especially those who are chasing the dream.

It’s also one of the worst labels you can give a child if they are nowhere near ‘elite’ level.

Let’s get very clear, unless a junior footballer is in a pro-club academy, they are not elite.

And that isn’t a bad thing!

Most kids in academies are also not at the truly elite level.

They are there because 1-2 in their group are the elite ones and they need players to play against.

Giving kids these labels isn’t good for them for a number of reasons.

What does it do to their work ethic? After-all, they’ve not yet reached an elite skill-level but they are being called elite.

What happens to their confidence when they actually do play against elite kids?

Parents need to watch out for anyone who is selling the dream and using this word simply to fill gaps in a team/group.