The Football Association recently asked local FA's not to publish the results of Child Friendly matches. This seems like a simple request but oh no, like everything the FA tries to do it was criticised as much as applauded. More evidence of the seemingly impossible job the games custodians have.
In an age when virtually everyone has acknowledged that our National Game needs to evolve it seems that some cant see the wood for the trees.
The FA's comments were published in the press and quickly picked up by pundits and ex players and predictably, I've yet to see one positive comment from them and yet coaches Online seem to agree its a good step.
So what's the issue?
Currently, most County FA's play two phases of fixtures for Under Eleven teams. One Phase is Competitive and one Phase is "Non Competitive". Games in Non Competitive phases can not have results published anywhere. You'll still see teams put their results on Twitter etc but they shouldn't.
Results from the Competitive games can be published and are just as they always have been.
Why did the FA do this?
Well it seems like a great compromise based on evidence from young players stating "results mattered very little to them" although "competing and trying their best did matter".
Ask any Youth coach and they'll tell you that young players have mostly forgotten the result by the time they get home. However, what is also obvious is that the result matters greatly to most parents and some coaches.
So, results are, to a large extent an adult requirement that can skew priorities and development requirements. They effect how kids are developed.
Its relatively easy to win youth football matches but this has nothing to do with developing good footballers.
The FA is trying to change how kids are developed and decided to partly remove this adult requirement. This seems perfectly reasonable and positive.
Why has it not been readily accepted?
Probably because adults still want or need the crutch of a result to rest upon. I have yet to see a single child come out and say "Hey FA where have my results gone?" This negative feedback is 100% adult driven.
Who cares what adults think about this initiative? Its the kid's game not theirs.
Secondly, some famous pundits and ex players ( Shearer and Ferdinand ) and others have come out to say it reduces Competitiveness. As yet, I have seen zero evidence that this is true. Kids have a largely inherent sense of competition and the outcome is quickly moved on from ( not for adults ).
"Little Johnny, why didn't you challenge for the ball? No point coach the results are never in the paper"
I'd ask any of these dissenters to watch a youth match and tell me they are not competitive. The kids still challenge for every ball and attack to win the match. Not because the result will be in the paper but because that's the game and they want to do well.
So, we agree youth football needs to evolve, we have evidence the result is an adult issue and has no effect on competition but does allow kids to play in an environment they prefer and can develop in.
I for one applaud the FA for putting the child at the centre of the youth game. Sorry "Grown ups"
Live4footy
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