Introduction
“I’ve taken my team from U7s to U16s.”
A coach in our community shared this recently, and it stopped me in my tracks.
Nine years. Still going. Still with a core group of 18 players who love the game.
That’s not a season. That’s a generation.
The Longevity Factor
What Nine Years Means
Think about what happens in nine years:
- Players grow from 7-year-olds to young adults
- Skills develop from basic to sophisticated
- Relationships deepen beyond coach-player
- A true football education unfolds
The Continuity Advantage
Players who stay with the same coach for years:
- Receive consistent messaging
- Build on previous learning
- Develop deeper tactical understanding
- Form lasting friendships
No starting over. No relearning expectations. Just continuous development.
The Exception, Not the Rule
Most grassroots teams cycle through coaches every 2-3 years.
Players experience constant change. Different expectations. Different approaches.
Nine years of consistency is remarkable.
The Inclusion Philosophy
“Kids No One Else Would Take”
When I asked about his proudest achievement, this coach said:
“I’m most proud of including kids who didn’t get to play much at other clubs. Kids no one else would take.”
That’s not a recruitment strategy. That’s a philosophy.
Rejection vs Welcome
At many clubs, kids are told they “aren’t good enough.”
At this team, everyone has a place.
Some of those “rejected” players became starters. Some became leaders.
The Long-Term View
When you’re building for nine years, you can afford patience.
The U9 who struggles might become the U14 who excels.
You can’t see that if you’re only thinking about this season’s results.
Why Players Stay
Environment Over Results
These 18 players could have left. Gone to “better” teams. Chased trophies.
They stayed.
Why?
- They felt included
- They were developing
- They loved football
- They belonged
The environment kept them.
Trust Over Time
Nine years of consistency builds trust.
Players know what to expect. Parents understand the approach. Everyone buys into the philosophy.
That trust takes years to build. And it’s worth protecting.
Identity Formation
These players didn’t just play for this team.
They became this team.
Football identity formed around this group. These friendships. This coach.
The Cost of Short-Term Thinking
The Typical Path
Most clubs think in seasons:
- Recruit the best players now
- Win this year’s league
- Worry about next year later
What Gets Lost
When winning now is the only goal:
- Weaker players get cut
- Development gets sacrificed
- Relationships don’t form
- Players quit when it stops being fun
The Retention Crisis
Youth football has a retention problem.
Kids drop out in huge numbers between U12-U16.
Maybe the solution isn’t better drills.
Maybe it’s environments worth staying in.
Building for Longevity
Commitment Required
Nine years doesn’t happen accidentally.
It requires:
- Long-term vision over short-term results
- Patience with player development
- Consistency through difficult seasons
- Relationship investment
Philosophy Matters
“I’m not going to tell anyone they aren’t good enough. In grassroots, that just doesn’t sit well with me.”
This philosophy drives behaviour.
It’s not just words. It’s how decisions get made.
Support Systems
Coaching for nine years requires support:
- Club backing
- Parent buy-in
- Assistant coaches who share the vision
- Personal sustainability
The Bigger Picture
Impact Beyond Football
These 18 players learned more than football skills.
They learned:
- What belonging feels like
- How consistency builds trust
- That improvement comes with patience
- They matter, regardless of ability
The Ripple Effect
Some of these players will become coaches.
They’ll remember what they experienced.
And they’ll try to recreate it for the next generation.
Legacy
Trophies collect dust.
But the impact of creating an environment where kids feel they belong?
That echoes forward.
Conclusion
Nine years. Eighteen players. One consistent philosophy.
“I’m not going to tell anyone they aren’t good enough.”
That’s not just a team. That’s a coaching legacy.
Not everyone will coach for nine years.
But everyone can coach like they’re planning to.
What would you do differently if you knew you’d be with your team for a decade?