Mid Lincs County Youth League

The winds of change are blowing through youth football in England and, as the good ship Football Development heads in a new direction, the FA are putting the kids at the helm.  Following repeated failures by the senior team at major championships and the inevitable calls for action that follow, the FA last month announced a Young Player Development Review, including 25 recommendations for English football that they hope will stop such calls happening ad infinitum.   The recommendations - currently undergoing a period of consultation before a potential sign-off in May 2012 - have implications for the game from top to bottom, but central to the proposals are changes to youth football at grassroots level. The proposed changes aim to

Read more...

  9 v 9 Football for U11s ...............  One of the biggest changes in the F A's proposals is the introduction of 9-a-side football for under 11s and under 12s. The new format is designed to help bridge the gap between mini-soccer at under 10s and 11-a-side football at under 11s - a jump so big that this age group currently suffers from one of the biggest drop-rates in Youth Football in England.

It seems absurd to many in the game that children as young as 11 are expected to play on a full-size pitch and in full-size goals. And kids, being kids, are able to highlight this absurdity in brilliantly simple fashion. Here are a few of the comments that Levett heard from children in the under 11 age group while discussing the change to 11-a-side:

“Why do I have to defend the same size goal as PetrCech?” - Josh

“Why is the pitch so much bigger than last year? We're only a little bit bigger.” - DJ
“How am I expected to save shots in a goal that's so big? When the adults come to
take the nets down they use a step ladder!” Adam

Read more...

Chairmans Comments :   It is very pleasing to see that the very large majority of  teams have made great efforts in achieving or about to achieve the target of 8 matches by January 1^st.

  I congradulate you all and thankyou for your co-operation,there is no doubt we as a League are in a better position fixture wise to cope with any bad weather this season than in the past and the credit for that is purely down to the team managers.

You should all be aware of the new F.As proposals, more bad than good, with the 9 x 9 proposal being one of the good, which we feel will be implemented, being introduced mandatory  in season 2013/2014  but the League Committee want to introduce 9 x 9 next season for U/11s only, regardless of the F.As decision, this will have obvious advantages, such as avoiding the massive leap from 7 a-side on a mini pitch to  11 a-side on a full sized pitch with adult goal posts,  it will also allow us time to address any problems and financial  implications re; new 16 x 7 goal posts etc for when it becomes mandatory for U/11s and U/12s  in 2013/2014  which seems to be reasonably certain to happen, it is our intention to call a meeting in March for the present under 10 teams to attend and discuss the Leagues plans thereby given all teams plenty of time to plan for next season.  

On many of my visits around the Clubs Iam very impressed by the hospitiality offered to the visiting teams by way of after match refreshments which  I know is greatly appreciated, which ever team or Club is responsible for starting this trend has my sincere thanks -  Ron Westerman Chairman

We welcome you, to the New online Mid Lincs News Now Available. In this edition we have News on the new 9 v 9 Format proposed and The Leagues Funding proposals, Questions and Answers from Teams. Transfer Details and a proposal for a New Rule for the 2012-2013 Season. Also included Special Offers from our Official Teamwear Sponsor Pro-Active Teamwear. All available from the Mid Lincs News. 

February Issue available 1st Feb 2012