Update 5th March 2021

Dragons Zoom Fitness Sessions For All – Every Saturday during Lockdown at 9.30am – We all need to get fit for when football starts again.

To join click on the link at 9.25am:  https://zoom.us/j/93010985110?pwd=TDRZLyswaU9ySGF4L1RXbmZpcFNnZz09   .The session starts at 9.30am sharp and will last 45 minutes:   

Restart of Grassroots Football:

The Government plans to restart from the 29th March. The vaccination program is going well so we hope there will be no delay.  The FA has ruled that the season can be extended to the end of June. Our Leagues are deciding their plans. It is not straightforward as some pitches will be unavailable due to annual maintenance or being incorporated into cricket pitches. The difficulties are exacerbated by councils having contracted out grounds maintenance  to companies – some of which have staff on furlough, so it is not always possible to find out whether grounds will be available in April, let alone May and June.  The current situation is:

  • The Middlesex County Football Association (All KD teams): The 2020/21 County Cup program has been cancelled
  • The Middlesex County Football  League (KD Senior Firsts and Blues): Are consulting with clubs and councils. They have the added problem that there are up to 20 teams in a division and it may prove impossible to play all the home and away matches before the end of June. The questions then become: How do they decide League winners? or Who should be promoted? or Relegated?
  • The Harrow Youth League (KD Boys U12s to U18s): Fixtures will be scheduled for  April 4th; 11th; 18th and 25th.  The program for May, and possibly June, is under review
  • The Capital Girls League (KD Girls U11s to U15s): Fixtures will be scheduled from Saturday 10th April, not the 4th as it is a Bank Holiday weekend. It is then hoped to schedule matches to the end of June.
  • Harrow Soccer Combination (KD Boys U11s): Fixtures will be scheduled for April 4th; 11th; 18th and 25th.  The program for May, and possibly June, is under review

Next Coaches’ Conference Tuesday 9th March:

All our coaches should attend. The topic will be “Kick-start your Coaching Philosophy bearing in mind the Dragons Ethos” .  The results of the previous Conference, with a paper describing KD’s Ethos and Operation, have been sent out to all coaches in reparation. This is an interesting topic. Our ethos is:

  • No player is prevented from joining in our activities because they cannot afford it.
  • Loyalty Begets Loyalty
  • There is more to football than just winning. It should be enjoyable
  • Education is important. Young players should strive to be better footballers, but not at the expense of their education. It is possible to be good at both

The coaches have to coach a squad in a competitive environment, whilst remembering our ethos. Decisions are not always easy. Deciding when and how to make a substitution, for example,  can be extremely stressful. Such decisions are better made from an agreed settled approach.

Best wishes