They'll be OK. It's the parents that are usually the problem. When they start panicking and shouting and screaming, that's when the kids will feel the pressure.
If you want some kiddy bragging, I remember when my lad was in a final that went to penalties. He was about nine. When it came to his turn to take the fifth pen and the scores were level, I looked around to find out where he was with my chest pumping like a drug addict in a marathon. He was lying on the centre circle with his chin on his hand as though he was lying on a beach looking at the sea.
Ambles to the spot, calmly steps up and slots the ball in and ambles away in with no celebration whatsoever while the players and half the crowd (including me) are jumping up and down like lunatics.
The kids need to be told that they've done great to get there but it's a game of football and they should concentrate on playing it like every other game of football. Not showing off and keeping the ball.Not chasing about like an idiot for the first ten minutes and wearing themselves out.
If they do that and do the right things, they'll be OK.
And no fucking tears if they lose. I hate that shit. It makes me want to batter the little cunts. Nobody in the world wins every game and learning to lose is part of football and part of life.
Good luck again.
.GIF "Thumb(1)")
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