The Boot Room
Issue 01 August 2011
“ This is about making the game better for the 99% of kids who play it because they love it.”
Your Kids, Your Say The changing landscape of grassroots football
In September 1999, The FA introduced Mini-Soccer into grassroots football. Boys and girls under the age of 11 were afforded a more child-centred introduction to the game with smaller pitches, scaled down goalposts and fewer players. Twelve years on, and with the game and society having evolved, the landscape of grassroots football is in need of further change.
Premature exit from last year’s World Cup lead to a review of Youth Development across the game. 25 recommendations, including a revamp to formats of football in the grassroots game, were agreed in January and have triggered momentum for change.
“We want to make grassroots football an environment centred on what kids want from football: playing with their friends, developing their skills and trying their hardest. We want the changes to give kids the chance to express themselves with no fear of making mistakes,”
explained FA Head of Elite Development, Gareth Southgate, who along with FA National Development manager, Nick Levett, has been embarking on a nationwide tour to canvass opinion on the proposals.
“I think it’s been really important that we engage with people and explain why we want to implement the changes. I don’t think it would be right to just sit at Wembley and tell everybody that’s what we’re doing. We’ve got to bring people with us,” added Southgate.
The ‘Your Kids, Your Say’ roadshow, held at 16 venues across the country, has given the opportunity for coaches, volunteers, parents, leagues and administrators the chance to input. As well as alternative formats of football, discussion areas have focused on: child-centred approaches to competition, addressing the relative age effect and developments to Mini Soccer. The feedback has been encouraging.
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