| Area for improvement. 20:30 - Feb 19 with 3409 views | Bluespeed225 |
‘The Ball Team’. Are they youngsters with the Club? They seem to have no interest/urgency/clue. If get a corner, they should be sprinting with the ball to the corner flag. I’d be metaphorically kicking every ball if I was out there! If we get in the play offs, last minutes and we need a goal they can be that extra man. Remember the Spammers pulling that trick? No multi ball for us, they seemed to have several ready for throw ins. Is there a maximum age? Bring back Keith Deller! |  | | |  |
| Area for improvement. on 21:05 - Feb 19 with 3059 views | Garv |
They definitely need to be a tad older and given actual guidance, in my opinion.
Sometimes they aren't even aware of whose ball it it, e.g we win a corner and they throw it to the keeper for a gk. Not really their fault, they look really young. |  |
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| With how forensic the club are being about other elements of match prep and… on 21:38 - Feb 19 with 2975 views | unstableblue |
… in-game details. These ball boys and boy girls and their lack of preparation, urgency and connection to any game plan, stand out as a bit odd. |  |
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| Area for improvement. on 21:49 - Feb 19 with 2937 views | fabian_illness |
They are kids from local football teams.
They turn up about an hour before the game starts, get told to fetch the ball when it goes near them but in no uncertain terms are they allowed on the pitch.
Don't blame the kids. |  | | |
| Area for improvement. on 22:07 - Feb 19 with 2858 views | Zx1988 |
| Area for improvement. on 21:49 - Feb 19 by fabian_illness |
They are kids from local football teams.
They turn up about an hour before the game starts, get told to fetch the ball when it goes near them but in no uncertain terms are they allowed on the pitch.
Don't blame the kids. |
I get the feeling that this is where the potential issue lies?
It's been an age-old football tradition that the ball team is sourced from local schools or football teams, and certainly makes for a fantastic PR initiative. With the club's heightened focus on the PR side of things, I can see why they might be loath to switch to a more professional setup.
There must be a way to retain the positive link with local youth football, whilst transitioning to a better ball team setup that can work in tandem with the requirements of the First Team. | |
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| Area for improvement. on 00:46 - Feb 20 with 2686 views | bournemouthblue |
| Area for improvement. on 22:07 - Feb 19 by Zx1988 |
I get the feeling that this is where the potential issue lies?
It's been an age-old football tradition that the ball team is sourced from local schools or football teams, and certainly makes for a fantastic PR initiative. With the club's heightened focus on the PR side of things, I can see why they might be loath to switch to a more professional setup.
There must be a way to retain the positive link with local youth football, whilst transitioning to a better ball team setup that can work in tandem with the requirements of the First Team. |
They could certainly do with a crack team for bigger matches, perhaps they could score the ball boys and girls like you would a referee and consider the better performing ones for bigger games? |  |
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| Area for improvement. on 07:21 - Feb 20 with 2511 views | ITFC_Forever |
| Area for improvement. on 22:07 - Feb 19 by Zx1988 |
I get the feeling that this is where the potential issue lies?
It's been an age-old football tradition that the ball team is sourced from local schools or football teams, and certainly makes for a fantastic PR initiative. With the club's heightened focus on the PR side of things, I can see why they might be loath to switch to a more professional setup.
There must be a way to retain the positive link with local youth football, whilst transitioning to a better ball team setup that can work in tandem with the requirements of the First Team. |
It didn’t used to be, back in the eighties there was a team of regulars, a couple of lads from my school were in it. |  |
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| Area for improvement. on 09:04 - Feb 20 with 2309 views | Darth_Koont |
We don’t get the ball in that quickly, do we? We rarely look like we’re busting a gut anyway.
Maybe we would if the ball was always there but we look a side – especially with Davis’s delivery and now Clarke’s long throw – who want to take their time with set pieces and throw-ins. |  |
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| Area for improvement. on 09:05 - Feb 20 with 2311 views | davblue |
| Area for improvement. on 00:46 - Feb 20 by bournemouthblue |
They could certainly do with a crack team for bigger matches, perhaps they could score the ball boys and girls like you would a referee and consider the better performing ones for bigger games? |
they are young children, not sure it should be made into a competition and im not one of those anti competition types, i love competition but unless the club has a rota of trained boys/girls to do the job regularly then i don't think there should be any expectations put on them. |  | | |
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| Area for improvement. on 09:10 - Feb 20 with 2272 views | clive_baker |
| Area for improvement. on 09:04 - Feb 20 by Darth_Koont |
We don’t get the ball in that quickly, do we? We rarely look like we’re busting a gut anyway.
Maybe we would if the ball was always there but we look a side – especially with Davis’s delivery and now Clarke’s long throw – who want to take their time with set pieces and throw-ins. |
The 'long throws' have wound me up these last few games. If you've not got it in your locker don't attempt it. |  |
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| Area for improvement. on 09:21 - Feb 20 with 2206 views | Darth_Koont |
| Area for improvement. on 09:10 - Feb 20 by clive_baker |
The 'long throws' have wound me up these last few games. If you've not got it in your locker don't attempt it. |
To be fair, the first one Clarke threw on his debut was an absolute missile. Not had quite the same since but a great weapon IF he can throw that fast, flat throw more consistently. | |
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| Area for improvement. on 09:49 - Feb 20 with 2157 views | wrightsrightglove |
Didn’t they use academy players for a while? Seem to recall that happening to give the academy players a chance to experience the game up close along with the atmosphere etc. i wouldn’t be adverse to that happening again and for them to be drilled on when to speed up / slow the game down. | | | |
| Area for improvement. on 09:51 - Feb 20 with 2169 views | PhilTWTD |
I don't know the current policy but I remember they were told under Joe Royle not to show urgency, to take their time before getting the ball back to players so as not to inadvertently misread a situation and give the opposition an advantage.
This post has been edited by an administrator |  | | |
| Area for improvement. on 09:55 - Feb 20 with 2129 views | JammyDodgerrr |
| Area for improvement. on 09:51 - Feb 20 by PhilTWTD |
I don't know the current policy but I remember they were told under Joe Royle not to show urgency, to take their time before getting the ball back to players so as not to inadvertently misread a situation and give the opposition an advantage.
This post has been edited by an administrator |
And it is certainly a managed thing by clubs now, in terms of telling them to respond quickly or not. I would be stunned if the club is giving no direction to them. |  |
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| Area for improvement. on 10:10 - Feb 20 with 2064 views | Bluefields |
| Area for improvement. on 09:55 - Feb 20 by JammyDodgerrr |
And it is certainly a managed thing by clubs now, in terms of telling them to respond quickly or not. I would be stunned if the club is giving no direction to them. |
They arent given any specific instructions. The young girl behind the North Stand goal for the Sheff Wed game looked about 8. | | | |
| Area for improvement. on 11:00 - Feb 20 with 1984 views | itfcjoe |
You aren't allowed multi ball any more - but this is something I contacted the club about earlier in the season and they have no plans to change it.
Missed opportunity for me - get one of the young academy teams out there watching players intently and being able to read game state etc and help us out |  |
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| Area for improvement. on 11:32 - Feb 20 with 1902 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
Its infuriating. Its not even that they are too slow. Its that they don't even get the ball, they just sit there all game. I remember some guy asked it at the fans forum and got mocked on twitter a bit.
Let the academy players do it, and have Mckenna talk them through what he wants. Will be great experience for them |  |
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| Area for improvement. on 12:00 - Feb 20 with 1806 views | LankHenners |
Think rotating it around local schools or football groups or whatever they do is a nice community idea and must be lovely for the kids and for their families to see them involved but agree with others they could do with a bit of 'coaching' at times. Half the time they don't move when they ball goes out and sometimes they're quick to throw the ball to an opposition player who's asking for it. Some of them do rush about quite a bit and it's often JD when he's playing telling them to slow down if we're leading going into the last 5 mins or so. |  |
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| Area for improvement. on 12:37 - Feb 20 with 1680 views | 3_5_2 |
| Area for improvement. on 21:49 - Feb 19 by fabian_illness |
They are kids from local football teams.
They turn up about an hour before the game starts, get told to fetch the ball when it goes near them but in no uncertain terms are they allowed on the pitch.
Don't blame the kids. |
my daughters team did it when they were u12 and this is exactly what happens
They are not given any advice or prep on what to do at all other don't go on the pitch and throw it, not kick |  |
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| Area for improvement. on 12:57 - Feb 20 with 1584 views | bournemouthblue |
| Area for improvement. on 09:05 - Feb 20 by davblue |
they are young children, not sure it should be made into a competition and im not one of those anti competition types, i love competition but unless the club has a rota of trained boys/girls to do the job regularly then i don't think there should be any expectations put on them. |
I'm not suggesting the children are privvy to the results, simply the club have a way to draft the better teams in for the bigger games, they could then coach them up a bit and offer advice etc
I appreciate it shouldn't be a massive game changing move but clearly other clubs take it a bit more seriously? | |
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| Area for improvement. on 13:02 - Feb 20 with 1563 views | Pinewoodblue |
| Area for improvement. on 12:57 - Feb 20 by bournemouthblue |
I'm not suggesting the children are privvy to the results, simply the club have a way to draft the better teams in for the bigger games, they could then coach them up a bit and offer advice etc
I appreciate it shouldn't be a massive game changing move but clearly other clubs take it a bit more seriously? |
Remember, years ago, a hard fought game at St Andrew’s. When home side went one up, late in the game, Trevor Francis recalled all the ball boys/girls. Brilliant time waster. |  |
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| Area for improvement. on 13:15 - Feb 20 with 1495 views | Asa |
I'd be interested to know if I hold the record for oldest ball boy / ball girl.
The guy in charge of the ball team now has been there forever. For the first home game of the 95/96 season they had a massive shortage and, as we knew the guy (his mum and dad ran the refreshments bit near where my dad sold Golden Goals) I got asked to do it as a one off. I was 16!
I took every opportunity I could as it was a one off. I was in front of the Cobbold Stand in the North Stand corner, spent most of the game singing along with the North, couldn't resist going onto the pitch and having a kick with about 10 mins to go, after the ball hit a hoarding and bounced slightly onto the pitch (they couldn't sack me!).
I even managed to throw the ball miles past a Palace player coming over to take the throw with a minute left, as we were 1-0 up, to a big cheer from the North! The Palace player went mental at me. I've always thought it was David Hopkins but that might just be because I decided some time later he was the one who was most likely to go mad but can't see he'd have been the one taking the throw. I didn't dare make eye conduct and scurried back to my advertising board.
Even back then it was just a) don't go on the pitch and b) don't kick the ball. Couldn't believe how little prep there was. Just got changed into a tracksuit and I was pitchside. [Post edited 20 Feb 2023 13:17]
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| Area for improvement. on 13:26 - Feb 20 with 1431 views | monty_radio |
On a slightly variant note, I've noticed two or three times recently that, when these same languid ball retrievers have lobbed it gently back to an opposing goalkeeper, that said goalie suddenly misremembers that they are a goalie at all, and gently pats it away from where it needs to be going and has to trudge after it. I've yet to see a ref intervene, but that should be one warning, then a yellow - no wait! Instant yellow! | |
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| Area for improvement. on 13:50 - Feb 20 with 1354 views | bournemouthblue |
| Area for improvement. on 13:26 - Feb 20 by monty_radio |
On a slightly variant note, I've noticed two or three times recently that, when these same languid ball retrievers have lobbed it gently back to an opposing goalkeeper, that said goalie suddenly misremembers that they are a goalie at all, and gently pats it away from where it needs to be going and has to trudge after it. I've yet to see a ref intervene, but that should be one warning, then a yellow - no wait! Instant yellow! |
League One seems to be the peak league for this, no doubts the dark arts get worse the further you go down the pyramid | |
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| Area for improvement. on 21:08 - Feb 20 with 1008 views | uppersirbob |
| Area for improvement. on 09:51 - Feb 20 by PhilTWTD |
I don't know the current policy but I remember they were told under Joe Royle not to show urgency, to take their time before getting the ball back to players so as not to inadvertently misread a situation and give the opposition an advantage.
This post has been edited by an administrator |
My lad has done this a couple of times this season they were told McKenna wanted balls back quickly to us not to opposing team
If we are more than 2 goals up slow down | | | |
| Area for improvement. on 22:18 - Feb 20 with 928 views | xrayspecs |
| Area for improvement. on 13:26 - Feb 20 by monty_radio |
On a slightly variant note, I've noticed two or three times recently that, when these same languid ball retrievers have lobbed it gently back to an opposing goalkeeper, that said goalie suddenly misremembers that they are a goalie at all, and gently pats it away from where it needs to be going and has to trudge after it. I've yet to see a ref intervene, but that should be one warning, then a yellow - no wait! Instant yellow! |
It is rife.
Goalkeepers are very adept at misjudging the ball when they want to waste time. Fumbling passes to them so that it runs away from them so that they can slowly walk after the ball. Having been super confident the ball is now a hot potato.
Wycombe (?) was one of many examples of this s1ithousery. Included subs kicking the ball way behind the hoardings, for which they were rightly booked.
Any time wasting, straight red. | | | |
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