Okay...the trials have been run and the squads selected. Last night I spent an hour getting 30 odd very enthusiastic 10 year olds measured up for their kits. It was also our first interaction with the parents so I expressed the need for punctuality and an understanding from them that we are football coaches not baby sitters. With 32 kids to improve and 90 minutes a week to do it in we cannot tolerate kids that are disruptive and cause things to breakdown thereby ruining it for the others in the group and we will ask kids to sit out or miss sessions for persistent offending. It's never come to that in 2 years but I think it's important to set the standards early. I'm thinking employing a yellow/red card system so, as in the game, they get a warning that their behaviour is unacceptable and any further indiscipline will be met with a further sanction. Our objective is to ensure every boy leaves us a better player and we need not just two good feet but two good ears from each of them to achieve that.

We instigated our shake hands rule at the start of this process which as expected is adopted enthusiastically by some and very nervously by others - they will learn!

The trial process went as smoothly as could be expected with just over 1,000 kids trialling across the various age groups. We had just under 100 for the 10DS which we cut in half after the first two trials which were conducted in 5v5 format. The final trials then moved to 7v7 and 9v9 with a final cut down to the last 32 who become the Development Squad for next year.

So that's all there is to do now until February when we begin the 2011 programme. I will be meeting with the other 3 coaches over dinner to discuss our strategy for the group with objectives for both next year and the next 3 years as I will hopefully following this age group through from 10DS to 11 and 12 Reps so I'm keen to set in place some standards and expectations about the way I want this group to be playing at 12 and then look at the building blocks working backwards and where I'd like them to be at the end of 2011 and 2012 to achieve that.

There's no guarantees for this group - they will have to re-trial again at the end of next season to make reps or DS at 11 - however they will be in the box seat after 30 weeks of working with us in 2011. That said there were a number of lads who did not make this year's 10DS who just turned up and trialled and made next year's 11reps.

Another key element to our development of this group will be the transition to full field as they have are playing SSG next season at under10s but then will progress to full field if they make the 11 reps team in 2012.

So more than enough to think about over the "off" season to be ready for next February.

I'm thinking about setting minimum expectations for the kids to achieve by the end of the season such as being able to pass the ball 10m accurately with both feet, beat man in 1v1 situation with at least 3 different skill moves, certain amount of juggles with alternate feet (set number after judging  median level), ability to defend effectively 1v1 and 2v2 situations, ability to recognise situation and execute one-twos and overlapping runs, ability to consistently create width and depth to maintain possession.

The other question I haven't answered yet is do we make the kids aware of these objectives or is it something we coaches have as our own checklist to track their progress. The public nature of this could prove counterproductive, especially given the size of the group, with the less able kids in the group being demotivated.

If you were in my position - what objectives would you set yourself by the end of the next season and would you make them known to the kids or keep them to yourself as your own checklist?