Dont you think the SFA pathway should insist that all scottish clubs including SPL are to play 7 a side football. That way they wont have to lose Europa and Champions League qualifiers anymore? Or could they perhaps revert back to the days when school football, Juvenie Football & Boys Brigade and Cubs had 11 a side football. Because if my memory serves me correct the Scottish International team and professional clubs such as Dundee, Dunfermline and Kilmarnock had great european nights not to mention Aberdeen. Rangers and Celtic having 11 scottish players in their teams when they actually won the competitions. Im afraid when Ernie Walkers 'Think Tank' met up they forgot to include all the good things that Scottish Football had in its set up. There were even very good quality at the likes of Salveson, Edinburgh Thistle, Edina Hibs,Musselburgh Windsor,Tynecasle BC and Hutchison Vale. Wonderful events like the Inspectors cup final have been reduced to being almost meaningless.
So when Mr Faddy (or is that Fuddy?) bemoans how the game we love is in decline. Maybe he should buy a season ticket to watch Hibs before coming to the conclusion that stopping kids from playing 11 a sides is the answer to Scottish Footballs decline when its very clear that 7 a sides is NOT WORKING! Nor is the SFA pathway! Maybe he should report that to the SYFA, ESSDA or the SFA cos they clearly dont listen at the best of times and if there is no money in it they wont listen. And I bet they wont thank him for that neither!

The S.Y.F.A are putting out contradictary information it seems about 2000 age group playing 11-a-side football.

ESSDA State On Thier Website

Eleven a side Football

The Player Pathway says that all ESSDA ages should be playing small sided development football. The SYFA have clearly stated that 2000 teams should not be playing 11 a side football, even friendlies. These matches are not recognised and will not be covered by your club insurance.

Yet I just received a booking form and letter from the organisers of the Blackpool 2012 Tournament and in their letter it states:

We have spoke to the S.Y.F.A regarding Players Group Year 2000 taking part in our 11-a-side Tournament at Easter. The S.Y.F.A have no objection to teamss taking part in this 11-a-side tournament providing they have permission of their local leagues.

So why if you can play 11-a-side in that tournament you can not play 11-a-side in your own association. I think we need to clear this up once and for all.

Just started back to training and already the race is on to get 11 aside games for u12's already heard of teams conctacting each other to arrange games and traing sessions geared up for 11 aside "shapeing". I'd heard of 11 aside game being played the week before Xmas between Edina & Mussleburgh Windsor.

These all seem to be from the ESSDA leagues as ELSSDA has confirmed with the SYFA that these games are not covered by your insurance and should not be played. Do the parents know that? ELSSDA have also warned any team "caught" playing 11's before the offical time will be kicked out the association. I don't think ESSDA would use that threat as most at the top table are from the teams who are playing these games.

Again I have been in contact with our friends at Peffermill and they are aware of the situation but would be interested in any information regarding the disregard of following the player pathway

Mr Faddy wrote:


The Player Pathway is flawed and should never have been ratified until the change from 7's to 11's was better prepared.

The clubs are spot on if they are starting to coach their laddies into the 11's game now.

Do the SFA think that they will learn much in the space of 4 weeks in july when they finish 7's then take up 11's.

I'm not surprised that clubs are be making an extra training nights available for boys to come along and be coached in 11's. How else are they meant to learn the game?

The powers that be who have advocated this changeover from 7's to 11's in this manner dont have a clue, and this will only draw the game back in Scotland even further than it is. After all we're meant to be developing these boys to become football players at the "big game"

The date or time of the change over from 7's to 11's is there as a "line in the sand" so to speak and if everyone changes over at the same time they would all be in the same boat they all develop together. It is this race to get one up over your rivals that’s driving early 11's games.
I believe it's far more important to concentrate on the smaller sided game (7's) for as long as possible to develop as many players as possible. For example a lot of clubs go from running 2 teams (20) players at 7's everybody getting a good amount of game time (or the should be) to 1 11's team where due to the competitive nature only 12 or 13 player regularly getting ample game time. Those left on the bench soon leave the game. This scenario will always happen but why have a rush to it we need as many kids playing and for as long as we can, 7's gives players the teams and time to participate we can't afford to lose 6 months of development because some coaches want to win a trophy in their first year at 11's.
I also think that most coaches & parents do a disservice to the players intelligence in thinking they can't adapt to the "big game" in weeks rather than months. They adapt easier than you think. The problem I think is that some coaches want 13 year olds to be playing like a well organised premiership team from the word go.
As for the extra nights training - why is it only now at 11's this is introduced at most clubs when developing kids could do with it at 7's?

I have to say, Mr Faddy, you make your points well. I think the key is the coach's attitude towards U13s - if they can use it as a developmental year and forget about scores, whilst having their players enjoy football and buy into their training, it sets them up nicely for the years ahead.

What I don't agree with is the acceptance that a quarter of your players will leave the game at the transition period. If this happens to a team when they move up to U13s, and their new U12s are in a similar situation with two teams, I would recommend they have a word and encourage the next age group to create an alliance with another club in a similar situation. Create a new team and keep everyone playing.