“I think it’s going better than expected. I thought there would be more opposition than there is, but on the whole, there haven’t been any major areas of discontentment,” explained Levett, who has been central in involving children in the decision-making process. Asked to rank a number of statements about playing the game in order of importance, it may come as a surprise to some that ‘trying my hardest is more important than winning’, having fun and making friends came out above winning trophies and medals. The feedback will be used to shape any change.
“This is about making the game better for the 99% of kids who play it because they love it and they love making friends” explained Levett. The sentiments of fun, enjoyment and learning are echoed by the former Middlesbrough manager.
“When we’re developing them as footballers, we’re also developing them as people, giving them confidence and skills which they will use in other areas of their life. The long-term welfare of our kids is at the forefront of our thinking. And that’s not just about developing elite players, it’s about keeping as many kids engaged in the game as possible and making the game as enjoyable and fulfilling as we can. If we achieve that then it’s been a really positive step.”
“ Coaches who want their players to play out from the back and take players on, must not lose heart if they lose games in the short-term. If they believe it’s the right thing to do, they’ve got to keep doing it whatever the reaction of the parents or opposition.”
The practical implications of change have proved the greatest concern. However, with discussions ongoing with the Football Foundation and Sport England, as well as the identification of a number of unused funding pots, any logistical obstacles will hopefully be overcome.
“There’s a lot of funding out there that club’s don’t take advantage of and also there’s got to be a bit of creativity in what we do. Existing pitches can be converted, we don’t necessarily have to have the specific size of goal as soon as we get started and we can play across pitches. We don’t have to have a specifically marked out 5 a-side pitch right away. To me it’s more important that the kids are going out there and playing football,” explained Southgate, who’s seen the benefits of smaller-sided football with his own son who plays in the grassroots game.
Grassroots Consultation
- Age-appropriate pitch and goal sizes
- New approaches to competition and flexible league formats
- Addressing the Relative- age effect with changes to seasonal start dates
- Rule changes: introducing a retreat- line, allowing teams to play-out from the back
- Guidelines on ensuring equal playing time for young players.
Your Game, Your Say Roadshow
12 September, South West, Exeter, Exeter City FC
14 September, London, South London, Charlton Athletic FC
19 September, East Midlands, Nottingham, Nottingham University
21 September, North West, Lancashire, Bolton Wanderers FC
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