Earlestown Athletic JFC

The Football Association made one of the most important decisions in England's football history when it voted in favour of youth development plans that will enhance technique and game understanding.

Fittingly, the vote was at Wembley which will eventually reap the benefit of these much-needed reforms.

The impact of introducing small-sided games all the way up to under-12 level, allowing kids more touches in matches on sensibly-sized pitches, will not be felt at elite level for a decade but it is a hugely significant step on the road to enlightenment.

“The whole of the country has its eyes on us today,” said Barry Bright, the chairman of the FA Council, in his opening address to the FA shareholders from counties, leagues and assorted other bodies at the annual meeting. The shareholders did not let the country down.

There was still resistance among certain county FAs to change, although eventually the reforms were passed by 679 votes to 99.

Fittingly, the vote was at Wembley which will eventually reap the benefit of these much-needed reforms.

The impact of introducing small-sided games all the way up to under-12 level, allowing kids more touches in matches on sensibly-sized pitches, will not be felt at elite level for a decade but it is a hugely significant step on the road to enlightenment.

Concerns raised by some of the sceptics revolved around pitch logistics and the cost of new goals. Some of the Luddites appeared more worried about the wording of the reforms.

The successful vote means that kids will not play 11-a-side football until they are 13, that the five-a-side format will be mandatory for under-sevens and under-eights while under-11s and under-12s will play nine v nine on size-appropriate pitches.

Leagues will involve smaller periods of competition, rather than the eight-month adult variety, while parents and coaches will be urged to drop the “win-at-all-costs” approach to children’s football.

“We want there to be less pressure on kids,” said Nick Levett, the FA’s national development manager for youth football who has spent the past two years criss-crossing the country, making presentations and winning over counties and leagues.

“There needs to be a climate change – this is kids’ football, not the World Cup final.”

Yet the long-term aspiration is to accentuate technique, so moulding better players. “This is about grass-roots football but also a 15 to 20-year programme for long-term player development, ultimately to help produce players to support the professional game and England team,’’ added Levett.

“It will mean more touches, more shots and more dribbles for young players and therefore improving the kids’ technique.

“The Mid-Herts League told me that they did nine v nine for the first year at under-11s and said they ‘couldn’t believe we ever did 11 v 11 on full-sized adult pitches’.

"Bolton and Bury District Junior League started it at 11s and 12s and had feedback from clubs and kids to say ‘we want to do it for another year’. They’ve taken it on to under-13s as well [as in Spain]. It won’t be a surprise if in five years’ time a lot of leagues are doing a similar thing.

“Bolton, Bury and District League found that when people came together at under-13s, having done two years of either the 11 v 11 route or nine v nine, the teams who finished in the top six of the league were the ones who’d gone the nine v nine route and had developed better techniques and game understanding.

•Five-a-side games mandatory for Under-7s and U-8s.
The opposition to retreat back into their own half from goal kicks to allow the team in possession the time to play the ball out from the back.
•Seven – a – side format for Under -9’s and 10’s remains.
•Nine-a-side for U-11s and U-12s.
•Pitch size to match age group.
•*More time on ball the priority for youngsters to develop technical skills.!!!
•Competitions will change from eight-month-long, adult-based season into shorter periods.
•Parents and coaches encouraged to drop a win-at-all-costs approach.
•Simple logic really. Give a child more time with something and they will improve.

TWO YEARS ON FROM THIS DECISION THE QUESTION IS' HAS IT BEGUN TO WORK'

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