The past season has been a very different one for everyone associated with Darlington Young Bulls. We endured some awful weather on weekends seeing games called off most weeks for all of our teams and then the major problem of COVID-19 which finished the season prematurely. We have now started to see our teams return to training however the Under 8’s continued to work right the way through…

With all training and football stopped the under 8’s coaching team decided to keep kids active with football and throughout lockdown setting up multiple football challenges each week to post to the Facebook group and operated a points system to find an overall winner who had impressed the most throughout the different challenges.

It was a great way to keep in touch with the players and parents but without them knowing it was also a great way for the players to continue development as best they could.

All of the players and parents contributed massively to help achieve this so a big thanks to them for their continued support. Some of the tasks set involved:

• Dribbling time trials
• Chipping footballs into a bucket
• Testing the players first touch
• Penalty saving,
• Recreating their favourite goal from a real game

With the football tasks set the Under 8’s were also tasked to write about their best football experiences, draw their teammates and design a new Young Bulls strip.

They all really enjoyed it and have even given some feedback below:

‘I have enjoyed doing the weekly challenges, they have given me something to do and it has also been good to watch my teammates attempts. My favourite challenges were the dribbling and shirt design’

‘I really enjoyed the football challenges; my favourite was the first touch challenge and I was really happy that I won’

In the weekend challenges that have been set by our amazing coaches I have enjoyed them all but especially the kick-ups one as I won’

‘Throughout lockdown I have missed football with my friends and coaches. Shaun and Sean have set us fun weekly tasks to keep our skills up and keep involved in Young Bulls. Making the videos for the challenges has been fun and I look forward to watching them on a Sunday. My favourite was the one to recreate an iconic goal I chose the Sergio Aguero goal which won Man City the league’

Our Under 8’s can’t wait to start training again this week and show off their practised skills.