Youth Report If I had to pick a single word to describe the 2001 season it would have to be "frustrating".

For the record we had 152 Youth players (currently defined as Under 13 to Under 18) this season comprising four Under 13 teams, two Under 14's, two Under 15's, one Under 17 and those who made up the Premier Youth League team. As usual the numbers in each age group were not kind, especially the Under 16's who, after subtracting those in the PYL team, were left with only six players who kindly agreed to join the Under 17's. Further complicating this was the fact that SoccerTas did not have an Under 17 competition this season so the squad were forced to play in the Under 18 division! The Under 13's were problematic for the opposite reason: we had too many for three teams so we decided to go with four - a decision I do not regret in the least. Those players who helped out other teams in this age group definitely got their registration fee's worth in yet another short season.

The first frustrating aspect of the season was the lack of those prepared to coach a Youth team, resulting in at least two and maybe three coaches filling in (again). It may well be that next season we will have to nominate teams on the basis of available coaching staff rather than player numbers as has been the case up until now. This would obviously mean that we will have to turn away some prospective players.

The second major frustration was the (expletive deleted) weather - by far the worst I can remember during the last ten or so years. Not only were two whole rounds cancelled (with some teams missing even more) training was effectively suspended for several weeks during the season in the hope that the grounds would be able to recover and, in the case of Sherburd, be available for matches. It is a credit to the players that they all hung in there and did not disappear from the Club during this time. I'd love to be able to state that training facilities and ground conditions will improve next year but, realistically, it will take longer for this to be the case.

But, personally, the most frustrating aspect of the season was our inability to maintain, let alone expand as I'd hoped, the Youth Development programme. Apart from a combination of the two above reasons we lost Steve Chetcuti to Norway on work experience and, whilst Charlie White and Adam Powell put in stirling efforts to oversee up to 30 at times, they also had to concentrate on the PYL team in particular. The Committee have agreed to the need to appoint, from outside the Club if need be, a new Director of Youth Coaching next season whose sole resposibilities will be the expansion of that programme and Youth coaching in general. We could not, again as hoped, repeat the end of season visit to Riverside this year as, due to the abbreviated programme, it would have been unfair to have selected a squad for the trip.

Although the winning of league titles is not the immediate aim of the Youth section it was pleasing to see the Under 15 Blacks winning division 1 and the Under 13 Blues winning division 2 of their respective age groups. Congratulations to the players and also their coaches, Brian Reynolds and Damien Sanita respectively.

With the election of the new Committee recently I have been able to pass on one of the other areas for which I had responsibility. This will allow me to concentrate more of my energies in the Youth field next season and I hope to build on recent initiatives and pursue futher possibilities. I also hope to be able to get to as many Youth games as possible next season and look forward to meeting all this season's players, as well as those coming from the Juniors, next year.

On behalf of the players, I'd like to thank the coaches of the Youth teams for their dedication. Some of the teams also had managers to relieve the coaches of some of the more mundane (and distracting) jobs that have to be done. If you are a parent of a player and regularly (or not) attend games next year then I'd ask you enquire as to how your assistance, however small, may be utilised. Coaches are a major asset of the Club and are to be treasured! Ask not what the Lions can do for you (or your child) .....

All the best during the off-season - I hope you can all find a couple of hours a week to continue practicing your soccer skills in preparation for next season.

Steve Kerr