1. FA Youth Review: 2012- 2015 Impact on the Stourbridge & District Youth and Girls Football League

2. Agenda Main changes to the current league formats U7s and U8s U9s and U10s U11s and U12s Summary of changes Reasons for changes Good Practise from other leagues

3. Why do we make our kids play like adults?

4. http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=0BD2iLUq6DE

5. Why make the changes? Children have more touches on the ball to develop technique Children have more dribbling opportunities and 1v1s Children have more shots and score more goals Children have more involvement in the game Children get more enjoyment through learning to play football

7. “This is about a modern, child-friendly approach to youth football, challenging the win-at-all costs mentality that is stifling development and enjoyment for young people. Working together with a proactive attitude, adults can help develop a better learning environment for young people that puts their needs at the centre of the process.” Nick Levett, The FA

8. U7’s and U8’s: the facts Goal Size: 12ft x 6ft ½ way line used as a retreat line Size 3 ball, 5v5 format Option of playing ¼’s rather than ½’s Roll-ins- instead of throw ins Roll on, roll off subs No results to be published 3 trophy events a season- max of 2 weeks each * *It is important to note that the Law changes to Mini-Soccer that include a retreat line, the option of quarters for development matches and roll-ins for U7/8 are optional for season 2012/13.

9. U9’s and U10’s: the facts Goal Size: 12ft x 6ft ½ way line used as a retreat line Size 3 ball- U9, Size 4 ball- U10 7v7 format Option of playing ¼’s rather than ½’s Roll on, roll off subs No results to be published: – U9’s 13/14 season – U10’s 14/15 season 3 trophy events a season- max of 4 weeks each

10. U11’s and U12’s: the facts Goal Size: 16ft or 21ft x 7ft Size 4 ball, 9v9 format Roll on, roll off subs Offside rules apply Normal Throw ins No results to be published for U11s from 2015/2016 season 3 trophy events a season- U11s- max of 6 weeks each

11. Goalpost Sizes

12. Age GroupFormat for 2013/2014 season U75v5 U87v7 U97v7 U107v7 U119v9 U1211v11 U13+11v11 Age GroupFormat for 2014/2015 season U75v5 U85v5 U97v7 U107v7 U119v9 U129v9 U13+11v11 Formats of the Game

13. Pitch Solutions

14. Competition Formats

15. Age Group2013-2014 season2014-2015 season2015-2016 season U7 No league tables published No single 8 month long season 3 trophy events allowed per mini season U8 U9 U10 U11 League tables allowed U12 U13+

16. U7 and U8U9 and U10U11 Each child gets the opportunity to play for a little cup up to 3 times a season. This competition can take place over a 2 week period As children develop, the periods of competition can increase. They can begin to interpret results in a more meaningful way. This competition can take place over a 4 week period Children can now start to understand whether a team beats them because they tried harder or they were better players. This competition can take place over a 6 week period E.G. A knockout cup event E.G. Group stages and a cup final E.G. Champions League style event This means that over a typical 26 week season, 6 weeks of this will be focused on competition. This means that over a typical 26 week season, 12 weeks of this will be focused on competition. This means that over a typical 26 week season, 18 weeks of this will be focused on competition.

17. Suggested Competition Formats Champions League e.g. 32 teams in an age group- 8 groups of 4. Round robin matches that lead to the group winners being decided. The top teams go through to play in a Champions League competition & the other teams organised into a Europa League format. Place Competition Split 20 teams into 4 small groups, after a series of round robin matches provided the organisers with a ‘place’ for that team. Put all the teams that finished in the top 2 of their group together to play for 1 ST to 8 TH place. All the teams that finished 3 RD in their group, play off for 9 TH to 12 TH. The teams that finished 4 TH play off for 13 TH to 16 TH & the teams that finished 5 TH play off for 17 TH to 20 TH. Festivals & Round Robins Mini-Soccer has proved successful where a number of teams have come together at a venue to play several matches, rather than two teams playing one match against each other. With some clever planning the teams would get the opportunity to play both a hard game and an easy game. This will alleviate any pressure felt about winning when only playing one match. It is also a great opportunity to get young coaches and referees involved in football administration within a controlled environment.

18. Cup Events If you are organising a cup competition that has a knockout element to it, why not try ensuring that teams can play more games by running a plate or a vase competition alongside this too. This gives more teams the chance to experience the thrill of a cup final against teams of a similar level rather than getting drawn against a team three divisions higher. Ladder Events Depending on the organisation of fixtures, it is possible to arrange matches in such a way that teams can play against those near them several times a season, challenging the teams above or below them to swap positions. This puts the emphasis on more equal games and avoiding the 26-0 score lines we don’t want to see. This has worked really effectively in tennis competitions. Development Matches In between the trophy events it is vital teams still understand the importance of playing development matches. Development matches are a valuable way to put all the skills learnt in the Youth League into practice. Scores from these games can be kept and used to seed teams in different events or for future league tables.

19. More Solutions 9v9 Goal Post fund Support: 50% off BC Coach Bursary Scheme: up to 60% off Local Authority Volunteer Centres: post adverts for more volunteers FA Football Futures: new volunteers via colleges and universities Dudley Council: currently reviewing PPS and investment will be made next season

20. Good Practise

21. Surrey Youth League (over 500 teams) -Moved to 9v9 this season and found the change to be fantastic for all involved, including referees. - The League managed to secure a grant through Sport England Small Grants Programme (£10,000) that has paid for all of their goals for the clubs to use.

22. East Lancashire Football Alliance -Been running this model this season, with the team’s starting outside before coming indoors for a mid-season block of Futsal, and then back outside for the final block of learning. -The best thing they have found from this process is that the adults have taken the more laid-back attitude of development matches into league matches, making the environment much better for the children playing.

23. One league in the midlands have 32 teams in one age group, split them into 8 groups of four and played a Champions League style event – something that really captured the children's imagination. One league in the midlands have 32 teams in one age group, split them into 8 groups of four and played a Champions League style event – something that really captured the children's imagination. The SELKENT League in south-east London have discussed the option of playing the bottom 3 in 1 division against the top 3 from the below division, as they were never sure on whether they could compete equally a league higher up. The SELKENT League in south-east London have discussed the option of playing the bottom 3 in 1 division against the top 3 from the below division, as they were never sure on whether they could compete equally a league higher up.

24. Coventry Minor League- Received funding for 5 sets of 9v9 goals from The FA/BCFA. The league normally loses 12 under 10’s teams for the following season when they move to under 11’s when playing 11x11 football, since the start of season 2012/13 and 9x9 football the league as retained the same number of teams that we had in the under 10’s divisions in season 2011/12. Coventry Minor League- Received funding for 5 sets of 9v9 goals from The FA/BCFA. The league normally loses 12 under 10’s teams for the following season when they move to under 11’s when playing 11x11 football, since the start of season 2012/13 and 9x9 football the league as retained the same number of teams that we had in the under 10’s divisions in season 2011/12. Nuneaton & Bedworth Minor League- FA pilot league for Youth Review changes. Continued growth each year and better ‘customer’ satisfaction from clubs and players. Nuneaton & Bedworth Minor League- FA pilot league for Youth Review changes. Continued growth each year and better ‘customer’ satisfaction from clubs and players.