FA to ban competitive games for under eights...

[tommyg]

I got it from ESPN, i dont know the source before that ..:

FA to ban competitive games for under eights

Updated: June 27, 2008, 3:50 PM UK

The Football Association are to ban competitive league football for children under the age of eight in order to place emphasis on coaching and technique.

The governing body believe there is 'an urgent need to improve skills and technique among young English players'.

Director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking said: 'At the moment we are not at the same level as other countries.

'In the youngest age groups, there's too much emphasis on winning leagues, often to satisfy parents and coaches. That's what we're looking to change.

'We need better, more skilful players coming through.

'Of course, we are not banning children from competing against each other in football.

'Every game played is competitive, but undoubtedly having league tables at this age is not helping their development.'


what do you think?

[tsb]

I agree. Skill and technique aren't things that a player can pick up in his later years. They have their teenage years to gain competitive experience. Good move I say.

[dww]

Probably a good move. Their has been too much politics around trying to develop young players of late - this at least seems like a non headline grabbing practical move.

[TheStig]

Good move.

[jonesie]

Probably a good move because of the parents as much as anything. I used to be a kids football coach before I moved to Liverpool, and I saw it all. Parents fighting, managers slagging off the other team's players. The kids just got on with it and enjoyed playing!

[bobbyfallon]

Probably a good move because of the parents as much as anything. I used to be a kids football coach before I moved to Liverpool, and I saw it all. Parents fighting, managers slagging off the other team's players. The kids just got on with it and enjoyed playing!

thats the thing there they will always want to play.

i coach golf to similar age groups, very short attention span at that age

[Jaymo]

I was picked up by liverpool at 7, so why would they ban under 8 football.

To me this is rubbish! I can see where you're coming from about the fighting on the side linesand all that crap, but that only really happened when i got to under 13's and onwards, when i played for southport youth team, angainst the rivals like Barlows..or Town Green

[Joe King]

I think they should ban competitive games for under 14/15s. I think its around this stage of a young footballers development that skills are taught and not tactics and how to lump it forward on a 11 a side pitch. I think they have a similar system in Holland and you can see the results. They have been churning out generations of good footballers. I was reading somewhere that a lot of under 14s play on full 11 a side pitches which in my opinion is absolutely bonkers. Something should be done for things like that.

[Vermilion]

But once two teams walk out on to a pitch they are in effect competitive, the aim of the game being to win, even if only over 90 mins & not over a season or in a league. So don't see any problem with it.

Are they not just doing away with leagues for youngsters, the aim of a game of football between two teams of kids will still be to win, there just wont be a league, or as much pressure. Also coaches wont have a twisted/misguided aim for personal glory by way of winning a children's league, they can concentrate on coaching, & stop picking players because they are the biggest for their age.

[Parm]

can only be a good thing, need to get the kids techique right from day one, get them used to passing the ball, veing comfotable on it and not just playing kick and rush.
Was watching the spanish against the Russian and was so impressed by how they kpet hold of the ball, passed it about properly and did not panic and hoof it forward. It may take 15/20years before we see the full effect of this move by the fa, but it should result in more skillfull and technically excellant players becoming the norm rather than the exception.

[CJ]

a good move i would think. the other question is will this result in younger players having more technical coaching? if it doesnt it wont change anything.

[fah-q]

They should ban parents from under 15's games as it seems to bring out the worst in them

[Vermilion]

They should ban parents from under 15's games as it seems to bring out the worst in them

Some of the stuff is funny to watch, the advice some give their kids, but when you see the serious type, insulting their own kids for simply not being good enough it's ugly.

[Matt]

Football for kids under 8 shouldn't be about anything other than having fun.

On the face of it I'd say this is a good thing. The FA needs to revamp the entire structure of how things are done in this country and look at the models adopted by other countries, Russia and Turkey for example who have progressed further this tournament than England have for donkey's years.

[tsb]

I was picked up by liverpool at 7, so why would they ban under 8 football.

To me this is rubbish! I can see where you're coming from about the fighting on the side linesand all that crap, but that only really happened when i got to under 13's and onwards, when i played for southport youth team, angainst the rivals like Barlows..or Town Green

They're banning competitive football, not all football.