Executive Committee Meetings The Exec committee will hold meetings as and when required to do so, All members of the Exec committee will be notified of the relevant dates and times for these meetings by the Chairman / Vice Chairman. Managers and Coaches meetings Managers and Coaches meetings are held at Cranfield United FC or elsewhere at the direction of the Academy Mangers, the meetings are an opportunity for managers and coaches to discuss issues affecting their teams and in a separate meeting prior to the Executive Committee meeting. The object is to discuss and raise issues which affect the running of the club. Coaching by Local Professionals... The academy team support and promote the ideas of Coaching by the professional clubs in our area, as such should any opportunty arise, that will allow the colts to receive training from these clubs we will notify you of any dates and times..Watch the Professionals in action The Colts will organise periodic visits to football matches and training sessions at different venues so that players, officials and supporters can have an enjoyable day out. Over the last few seasons we have visited Northampton Town FC and Rushden and Diamonds, after the training sessions, we were invited to watch a league football match.Rules Of Football Several of the Colts officials are qualified referees and so we are looking to run occasional courses for parents who might like to help referee Junior 7’s matches. The Rules of Football course aims to give parents the confidence to run matches by arming them with some simple but effective techniques for controlling games, decision making scenarios on some of the finer points of the game, plus of course the key rules of the game at youth football level. Cranfield Colts Spring Tournament The Spring tournament at Cranfield United FC is the single biggest event in the Colts calendar, as it is both a major logistical exercise to organise and also is an important fund raising opportunity. We appreciate you and your team(s) taking part in our event. We strive to make every year better than the last, if you have any constructive feedback then please let us know how we can improve and make the day more enjoyable.. we really do want to hear your opinion. Our planning for this event starts well in advance as it involves not only getting teams from around the region to compete, but also other entertainment and attractions, and support services, such as the St Johns Ambulance service, bouncy castles, photographers, merchandise etc... oh and don’t forget the BBQ(s) ...Presentation Evenings Our Annual awards are made at the end of the season for each age group in the club. All dates will be published in advance... In the future we are looking to improve these nights. special trophies are presented for Clubman, Most Improved, Supporters / players player, and most prestigiously the Coach’s / Managers Player of the Year and occassionally Top Goal Scorer for the season. Registration Registration to play for the Colts is held once a year, in the close season, at Cranfield United FC. While the evening is mostly taken up with existing players re-registering for the club it is also a great opportunity for parents and children new to the area to meet with the coaches.

SO IF IN DOUBT GIVE THE COACH A SHOUT.....Who coaches the teams ? The coaches are usually, but not exclusively, the parents of the children in each age group. All coaches hold (as a minimum) an FA Level 1 Football Coaching Certificate (usually gained in their first season with the club); an Emergency First Aid Certificate; and Child Protection Certificate. Where do we train and play ? The Colts train and play at several locations, as we do not have a dedicated recreational area big enough for all of the teams. The younger age groups usually train and play in the Village park, while the older children play at Cranfield University, North Crawley Sports Fields, or Cranfield United Football Club. To find out who plays where please look at Pitch Directions on our website. Who provides the equipment ? The training equipment (goals, footballs, etc) and hire of the playing areas are provided by the football club, as are the match football strips. (We couldn’t do this without the support of our sponsors). If you are given a football strip you will be responsible for looking after it. You must supply your child with boots, shin-pads, suitable clothing for training and non-fizzy drinks. In addition to this equipment, the Colts has a wide range of merchandise such as tee-shirts, sweaters, fleeces, etc sporting the club’s logo that you can buy. (the perfect gift … for that special occasion) How can I join? Before the beginning of each season the Colts hold a registration evening usually in July at our warm and friendly clubhouse in the village. The registration evening is when most players register for a further year’s football with the club. However, players can join throughout the year, largely at the discretion of the coach, if places are still available. Please note that a Registration fee is required. Registering for the Colts does not automatically mean that you will be able to play in the league games, as there are restrictions on the number of players allowed to register for a league team (a different registration process than joining the Colts) but for exact details speak to the relevant manager / coach.