Mid Lincs County Youth League

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Football Association plans for a radical overhaul of youth football in England are just one step away from becoming reality.

The youth development proposals include a revised player pathway focused on small-sided football – including new 5v5 and 9v9 formats – up to the under 12s age group and a child-friendly approach to competition up to under 11s.

The ambitious plans received the approval of the FA Council earlier this month, leaving just one more hurdle to negotiate – a vote by FA shareholders at the AGM on 28 May – before work can begin on implementing the proposals.

If 75% of FA shareholders approve the rule changes relating to the revised player pathway and new competition formats then they will become mandatory practice, being phased in from the youngest age groups from the 2013/14 season onwards.

Whilst the original plans may have been whittled down, the two proposals being put to the vote on 28 May still represent the biggest change to youth football since the introduction of mini soccer in 1999 – and they arguably go way beyond that.

If voted in, for the first time ever children will only begin to play on full size pitches at under 13s level while, for teams up to under 11s, the traditional league format will be replaced by three six-week ‘trophy events’, allowing all teams to play ‘competitive’ football for 18 weeks of a 26 week season, rather than all compete for a single league trophy over an entire season.

  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

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We are proud to announce that we are a Zero Tolerance League. Mid LincsCounty Youth League acknowledges that every child, young person or adult who plays or participates in football should be able to do so in an enjoyable and safe environment. Mid LincsCounty Youth League will not tolerate any form of inappropriate language or threatening behaviour from parents/guardians, guests, spectators, visitors, officials or club representatives on match sidelines, particularly that aimed towards match officials and participating children.