Issues to be faced

Accommodation

There is a shortage of suitable accommodation: we have one outdoor red ash football pitch, one hockey pitch and two rugby pitches, plus a poorly drained uneven grass area behind the school. Indoor accommodation consists of a Games Hall, the Assembly Hall and two gymnasia, with only the Games Hall (see Picture C) really suitable for indoor football. With three junior squads, an Under-16 and an Under-18 football team, three rugby teams and several boys’ and girls’ basketball teams all looking for practice areas, organising it all can be challenging. The big headache, therefore, is caused by trying to resolve the competing claims on our recreational facilities, along with the equally competitive pressures on the limited space in the changing rooms.

Bureaucracy

Another constraint is the Glasgow Schools’ Football Association rule requiring a teacher to be present at all games so, even if parents accompany children on the bus, and even though the young volunteer coaches have the necessary coaching certificates, the teacher presence requirement means that the boys cannot play in the appropriate league. Last year the S1 boys did take part in the Coca Cola 7-a-side tournament, which was only managed thanks to one of our student teachers agreeing to accompany them, even after he had left his Bearsden placement.

Funding

Lack of available funding is a further problem: there is no provision for paying coaches of sporting teams, whether they are teachers or ‘others’. It is unfortunate that the McCrone agreement did not allow sports coaching or other extra-curricular activities to be taken into account when calculating the working week. This might have helped solve the problem of the lack of teacher involvement. In addition, the cost of hiring coaches for all teams can be prohibitive, and although funds are available from the school budget, there is no recompense for the time taken to address the organisational complexities.

Living up to the precedent

Although the original group will probably cease at the end of the current season when the coaches will be completing their university courses, the pupils involved can transfer to the Under-16 team that is managed by a member of staff, who will certainly appreciate their level of skill. With the precedent by now well established, we very much hope and are even optimistic that some of the current sixth year will return to start the coaching cycle all over again.

Equal opportunities?

When the current S2 came to Bearsden, it was clear that there were a number of keen players among the girls too. An excellent (female) football development officer set up a local girls’ league and our hard pressed Under-15 and Under-16 coach agreed to wedge them into her schedule for training. Due to smaller numbers it was difficult to keep this going, but they managed to participate in two different competitions, albeit with the recurring problems of staff cover and transport. This year, it has not been possible to continue with the girls’ football, mainly due to pressure of time for staff and the departure of the aforementioned development officer. This has been a major disappointment. Miss, what’s happened to the girls’ football? Miss, if Neil can’t come back, what will happen to our football? Will you coach us?

The increased opportunities have therefore generated further demands which we must do our best to meet, with and for our pupils. As our Depute Head, A, says:

"At this point one begins to consider the serious possibility of cloning! So many eager children who want to do so many different things and teachers who hate to say no!"