Most, if not all clubs, will (or certainly should have) DBS checked and FA qualified coaches - so what sets those apart that will suit your child? Spoiler alert; one size does not fit all!

Step 1 - consider why your child wants to play the sport
to begin with, consider why your child wants to play the sport. Are they just starting out, do they simply want to play for fun with friends, or are they already experienced and looking to play at a high(er) level? This will help you narrow down your options and find a club and a team that aligns with your child’s interests and level.

Step 2 - location and times of training and matches.
You’ll obviously want a time and place that is accessible to you

Step 3 - Research Local Clubs
Depending on your location, you may have a number of options with a variety of different types of clubs:

Online searches
The FA’s "Find Football" tool is a great place to start. It will help you find suitable clubs with teams/sessions matching your needs filtered by proximity to home, gender, age, whether just casual for fun sessions or club football with regular team training and matches and other criteria. You’ll then be given a matching list of clubs, with summary info on facilities, contact details etc

The Derbyshire Girls & Ladies League (DGLL) also provides a Directory of Clubs and Teams in list and map format, each with contact details.

Word of mouth  ‍- talk to other parents whose children are already playing football. Personal recommendations can give you a lot of insight into how well-run and supportive a club is.

School Links - some schools may have connections with local football clubs

Step 4 – Gather Info on the clubs you have identified.
Most clubs have websites or social media pages (although you’ll need to judge whether it looks like it’s kept up to date) where you can gather information about them and use it to eliminate any that don’t match your requirements.

Look for details such as Safeguarding, Club Ethos, Playing Time, costs of membership, how Subs are paid (once or twice a year, monthly, or split between training and matches) and what subs cover (training, matches, kit, tournaments etc) and what isn’t included, what facilities the club/team uses, whether teams are actively looking for players - and how to arrange to come along for a taster session

You’re unlikely to get answers to all those questions from a website, but you may get some hints, and it’s not a bad idea anyway to ask the same questions of the Club’s representative as well, if only to verify if the information is up to date and written word is put into practice.

Step 5 - contact the shortlisted clubs
You’ll want to check whether they have spaces and whether you can arrange to go for one or more taster sessions. If possible, try 2 or even 3 different teams. Every club, and even every team within a club, is different. Think of it as being like trying on a jacket - does it fit well, is it comfortable, and does the style suit you?

Step 6 - speak to the coaches.
It sounds obvious but you learn a lot just by talking to the manager/coach to see how they come across and what their priorities and approach are. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to check your understanding of what they say, or the info provided on their website.

Most importantly, you are trying to decide whether they are the type of person you would want to entrust with coaching your child. If the coaches focus purely on winning at the expense of actually developing each individual player, will it be at the expense of enjoyment? If yes, you might question whether that is the team for you. Particularly in the primary school years it is important children are given the chance to develop their football ability and their love of the game; they may not get this if the manager is focused only on winning above the needs of each individual.

Good questions to ask them are things like:

how many players does the team have (and together with the next two questions what does this mean for your daughter’s chances of playing?)
How does the club ensure players get regular game time - is there a Playing Time Policy?
What is the team's policy on/approach to substitutions?
Are players given opportunities to play in different positions? If you want your child to be given a chance to fully learn the game, being „locked in” to a position at a very young age can be detrimental to their long term development.
his/her view on player development, and the Club’s „player pathway” - this might be more important if your daughter is in her mid-teens and wants to continue playing into adulthood
What are the costs involved, such as subs and league fees, what do they cover (and what don’t they cover) and how are they paid?

Don’t forget to observe the session - watch how the coaches interact with the players, the coach:player ratio, how do the coaches intervene to make coaching points - with the whole group, small groups and individual players? How much time do players spend with the ball at their feet during a training session?

Choosing the right team can be tricky, take time, and is even harder if you, as a parent, have never played/coached or even been interested in football in the past. By doing your homework, considering the Club’s ethos, the environment, as well as the standard of coaching, you’ll be able to make an informed decision that ensures your daughter enjoys the sport and achieves her potential. The right football club can be a place where she learns not only football skills and fitness but also valuable life lessons and makes lifelong friendships.

We hope these suggestions prove helpful!