FA Buggering up junior football

[Phil Dicky]

Having some interest in the running of my sons football team I tend to hear the FA's top plans for junior football, the next range of changes are classics. Basically any football team up to u13 will be playing non competitive football, no leagues published, no winners, no losers, no cup games, and this is to teach our children the basics of football, what a crock.
It appears the thinking is to bring us into line with our European cousins....when really the lack of investment in grass roots football could be the reason we perform so badly.

What a bunch of tossers.........

[Phil Dicky]

I agree with the team sizes that makes perfect sense...it's the non competitive games at u11

[Phil Dicky]

Kinky said:

As the father of an U11 goalkeeper, I'm delighted that we're having in interim step between 7-a-side goals and full-size adult goals.

Moving from 7-a-side on a minis pitch to an 11-a-side full size is just absurd.

And there are still leagues and competitions next season

Yeah but 2015 no competitive football under U11....none of this effects my lad he's u11 now, but he keeps an eye on the leagues more than me.

[Phil Dicky]

ady1320 said:

vonuber said:

.. but more seriously, they are under 11 years old. let them enjoy playing without the pressure. This means we might actually learn to play rather than hoofing it to the big strong lads who can get a result through power.

could not put it any better myself

We've played our first season at 11 aside this years and the lads have loved it...but I've not seen one team hoofing the ball, and as for the stronger lads getting results through power would that be the case playing regardless of the team numbers

[Phil Dicky]

sjc said:

If you're involved in the running of a team, I'm gobsmacked you can't see the benefits in it.By non-competitive it means no leagues, the matches themselves will be every bit as competitive as they were.When a kid is in pieces because a mistake may have cost the game,a good academy coach will pop the lad into his office and ask him where the league table is,making the point to the lad that he (the coach) isn't worried in the slightest.It's what the pro academies have always done,( and even more so with ALL professional academies being regraded for next season) and the changes bring grassroots football nicely into line, along with their ethos of small pitch/small sided games,intermediate goals,playing in all positions, building from the back and generally making them better all-round footballers.Rest assured, the games themselves are frightenly competitive.As an aside, one of the pleasures of watching this type of football is the lack of bks spouted by parents from the touchline.Kids will still be aware of who they've beat etc ,but in time they will be young players not scared of making a mistake, and in turn playing with no fear and able to express themselves much more.It will take time,but the benefits long term will be massive.

I've yet to see one of our team players in pieces because he made a mistake and our team love the league idea and thrive off it ...I agree with the smaller pitches and numbers and can see the benefit there. But the kids have to learn about league tables and points etc , I just think waiting till they are into their teens makes no sense

[Phil Dicky]

sjc said:

Phil Dicky said:

ady1320 said:

vonuber said:

.. but more seriously, they are under 11 years old. let them enjoy playing without the pressure. This means we might actually learn to play rather than hoofing it to the big strong lads who can get a result through power.

could not put it any better myself

We've played our first season at 11 aside this years and the lads have loved it...but I've not seen one team hoofing the ball, and as for the stronger lads getting results through power would that be the case playing regardless of the team numbers

Phil,you say you haven't seen one team hoof the ball? Are you honestly saying that every team that has played against you has rolled the ball out from the keeper? Because that is one of the aims of the changes,and on the very odd occasion my lad hasn't got a WHU academy game we go and watch his old team, and without fail all I see is both keepers punting it as far down the pitch as they can.It's that sort of stuff that has to stop if we are going to build proper footballers for the future.WHU academy(and in fairness all the others based on last season)would rather give away a goal rolling the ball out and try to play properly,than gain 30 yds.It encourages defensive awareness,forces players to make themselves available, and also to think quickly and not dwell on the ball.Above all though,it's simply fantastic to watch.

Sorry, thought we were talking about long ball from defence, my mistake......I get the points about encouraging playing the ball on the ground etc and have said I agree with them via the 9a side route. My sticking point is the leagues or lack of them

[Phil Dicky]

dirty boy said:

Phil Dicky said:

My sticking point is the leagues or lack of them

I don't think there's a need to have leagues.

We put enough pressure on our kids with school exams at young ages, something I don't agree with, as kids develop at such massively varying rates.

Must just be our team then, as they thrive on the league idea, and no they didn't win the league (came 6th)

[Phil Dicky]

An update on our situation...my son has just left his old team and move across to some rivals. He's 15 now and totally his descision but after full support from me. We had been at his old club for 7 years he was the Captain and a valued member of the team....and I really liked the club and was upset that we leftf the reason for leaving was this.......his old club and a policy of developing the players regardless of if the team wins. So basically the main aim is to improve the seeker players as opposed to winning games. Which meant in games we were comfortably winning we would have three changes and weaker players would come and the game was lost. Now I get this at u7 to u13..but at u15s surely they are old enough and mature enough to be playing to win. They are young men not kids anymore.

Anyway the new club plays the game as adults would, to win and he's enjoying his football again......i guess I just wondered what people's thoughts are..at what age should the game be about the win?

[Phil Dicky]

Hi Chris,

To be fair to his old club they were upfront about their policy and have even stated they are happy to be relegated as long as they are improving the players...the relegation is looking very likely. We play in the Huddersfield Junior League in the premier league so a very good standard. My lad wants to win games and was quite upset about leaving but felt he had no option. His old club's policy wasn't working for him as he felt the development is going to the weaker team members. Was a hard decision for us both but one we feel happy about now.