OXFORD MAIL YOUTH LEAGUE

THE Oxford Mail Youth League is at the forefront of the overhaul sweeping across English football, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

Based on two years of research from around the world, the FA has issued a series of new regulations which include smaller teams, smaller pitches and a reduced emphasis on results.

“The aim is to make youth football more child-centred to improve their development and increase their enjoyment of the game,” said Nick Levett, FA national development manager for youth and mini-soccer.

“Previously we’ve had ten-year-olds playing on the same sized pitches as 26-year-old internationals and it’s poor for development.

“We were imposing an adult format on children and the feedback that we got from our research is that the kids themselves wanted these changes.

“The move to nine v nine has kept more children in the game and already we’ve noticed increased participation. The feedback we’ve had from kids is that they enjoy this format far more.”

Andy Earnshaw, county development manager at the Oxfordshire FA, says that the changes are being well received locally.

He said: “There has been a really great change in the coaches’ attitudes recently.

“Kids today are being taught to play the ball out from the back, whereas in the past the biggest players would automatically be stuck at the back and told to get the ball forward as quickly as possible.

“We meet regularly with the local League Development Group and have talked about this a lot with them.

“Obviously we can’t be at every match, but there is a real sense that people are buying into it.”