How We Group Players by Age and Ability at CPS

When your child comes to CPS, we want them to train in a group where they can learn, get involved and feel appropriately challenged.

We use a combination of age and ability to help find that fit. Our groups are flexible, so where a player starts isn’t necessarily where they will stay.

Getting to know your child

We welcome players of all abilities within our session age ranges. Your child doesn’t need to arrive with a particular football background or prove they are already at a certain level.

When a new player joins us, we often know very little about their experience. We start by welcoming them and watching how they get involved.

Our sessions typically begin with a short game lasting around five to ten minutes. Coaches generally let this flow with minimal intervention, giving players an opportunity to warm up and enjoy playing.

For a new trialist, it also gives us an initial opportunity to observe how they play and consider which group might suit them. We continue reviewing that as the session develops.

Finding the right level of challenge

We’re looking for a middle ground: a group where your child finds the training challenging but manageable.

If the practices are consistently too easy, a player may become bored or have limited opportunities to develop. Being comfortably ahead of everyone around them doesn’t necessarily mean they are getting the most from the session.

Equally, if a player is struggling to understand or carry out almost every practice, the challenge may be too great at that point. That can make it harder for them to get involved and may affect their confidence.

The right group gives them opportunities to succeed while still having things to work on. We don’t expect every attempt to be perfect—learning involves mistakes—but we want players to be able to participate meaningfully.

Are the groups fixed?

No. We can adjust groups during a session or from one week to the next.

A player’s group is a coaching decision about what suits them at that time. It isn’t a permanent label of their ability or potential.

That flexibility allows us to respond to what we see, rather than keeping a child in a group simply because that is where they started.

Can parents ask about their child’s group?

Absolutely. If you have a question or think a different group might suit your child, speak to us.

We’ll listen and review it. The coaches will make the final grouping decision for the session, taking into account your child’s needs and the players across the other groups.

Parents know their own child well, and that perspective matters. Coaches also see how the different groups work throughout the evening. Bringing those perspectives together helps us have a useful conversation.

We’re happy to explain why we have chosen a particular group and what we would look for when considering a change.

Is the more advanced group always better?

The most useful group is the one that gives your child the right opportunity to develop.

A more demanding group can be helpful when a player is ready for that challenge. But moving before they can comfortably participate may make it harder for them to practise the very skills they need to improve.

Our aim is to find a setting where your child has plenty of involvement, can cope with the practices and is encouraged to stretch their ability.

That is what guides our decisions: helping each player get something valuable from their time with us.

Want to see how your child gets on? Book a free CPS trial, or visit our Parent FAQs for session information.