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

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  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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Chairmans Comments : 15th Feb 2012  After  loosing two weekends in February due to the weather, managers are going to have to be very organised in the re arrangement of their fixtures and if there are any teams who cannot agree on a fixture or find that they are not getting the fixture rearranged due to being out of their control then an email should be sent to myself giving me your division and teams involved and the facts  regarding the postponement and I will be more than happy to provide assistance in finding a solution. With still over 1100 fixtures (as at 15th Feb)  to complete before the end of the season, managers must get any postponed games reorganised and played where ever possible even if this means switching venues. At this stage of the season we are not looking to extend it. The last day of the season is 22nd April with play offs organised for 29th April and Cup Finals for May 6th.

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, a meeting for ALL under 10 mangers has been called for March 5th at Ruston Sports,Newark Road,Lincoln 730pm and plans for the future of next years under 11s will be finalised so we can go ahead and make arrangement for pitches and goal posts 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. Questions and Answers from Teams. Also included Special Offers from our Official Teamwear Sponsor Pro-Active Teamwear. All available from the February Mid Lincs News. 

March issue available soon.