Fans of Irish football would all agree it's a rare time. There's actually something to be optimistic about. After a fallow decade, a bumper generation of Irish football talent is coming of age. To extend an agricultural metaphor even further, the seeds of success for young Irish players lies in important changes to how young players are coached and developed.
There was widespread shock anger with a decision announced yesterday by the DDSL to move U11s to playing 9 v 9 football and U12s to 11 v 11 for 2020-21 season. The FAI - who administer football in this country - called for U11s and U12s to play 7 v 7 and 9 v 9 respectively in their Player Development (PDP) Plan.
The DDSL statement came with little warning or explanation, and the shock from parents was palpable.
The ramifications are pretty big here. The conventional wisdom from the top European countries is that U12s should play 9 v 9. Regardless of philosophical differences, many passionate football people complained that clubs weren't being consulted over such a big decision.
It's time for our national governing body to once and for all stand up and take control, failure to show leadership now and its bye bye to any sort of format and progression in irish football. One set of rules for each league in the country. This decision by DDSL shocking. https://t.co/wOxQp37gHG
— RealFootballAcademy (@WeAreRFA) June 18, 2020
#DDSL ...would love to see the reasons (and find out who decided) that asking kids who played 1+1/2 seasons @ 7 a side will now benefit from going straight to 11 a side ...completely skipping the 9v9 format and disregarding the FAIs player development plan .
— Ianod (@jacadam) June 18, 2020
I’m not involved with the DDSL but do coach 12, 11 & 10 year olds to play 11 a side at school. Full size goals, offsides etc. Those are the requirements for schools football. It’s daft and to think that people are seeking to bring that back into schoolboys football is incredible.
— Dermot Looney (@dlooney) June 18, 2020
Announcement, its pretty clear adults in general, basically just get in the way and kids have more of an idea of how to run the game when left to themselves.
Still can't get my head around that ddsl rule change. The most regressive step in the history of schoolboy football— Paul O'Malley (@SaintPaulo) June 18, 2020
Ddsl decision is totally against the best interests of kids in that age...11-a-side at u12 madness.Ok to make mistake...just correct it and get it right,move on and keep putting the interests of kids before anything else.KTF
— Bray Wanderers FC (@BrayWanderers) June 18, 2020
Writing in today's Indo, Dan McDonnell reported that two others leagues would likely follow the DDSL's lead. Today the North Dublin Soccer League released its own statement flagging its concerns with the PDP, including pitch size and monitoring the offside rule.
It also called for a period of 'discussion' amongst all involved: "We invite all clubs to take part in a discussion, not only NDSL clubs, but all players, managers, coaches, officials and referees to make the game better for the future of the children."
On the back of the NDSL's statement, Drogheda Boys/Girls released a constructive statement on the issue, saying 11v11 at U12 was 'not the answer'.
Statement regarding recent announcements by DDSL and NDSL. pic.twitter.com/wSsmucaysl
— Drogheda Boys/Girls FC (@droghedaboysfc) June 18, 2020
The DDSL were approached for comment today. The FAI have not commented either on this issue when approached by the likes of the Indo. One imagines this isn't the last we've heard on this issue.
