Why ‘small’ is beautiful for local youth football club

Carniny Youth FC’s two youngest teams - the under-9s and under-10s - will instead play in a mini soccer league designed specifically for children to play on a pitch of reduced dimensions which will see them have more regular contact with the ball.

The format of youth football has been consistently under the spotlight with many critics arguing that 11-a-side on a full-sized pitch is not conducive to honing children’s skills.

“As a club, we have decided to commit to small-sided football for our youngest members,” Carniny secretary Billy O’Flaherty told Times Sport.

“It’s the same system that many clubs in Spain, Holland and other European countries use for children, where they don’t play competitively until they’re maybe in their early teens.

“People wonder why the likes of the England team at World Cups don’t look as comfortable on the ball as other nations - it’s because those other nations have been brought up with having a ball at their feet since they were no size.

“We have watched our youngest players playing on a full-sized pitch where the goalkeepers don’t even come close to touching the crossbar and players out on the wing maybe only touch the ball a couple of times - how is that helping them to develop?

“With small-sided games, they are playing seven-a-side on a pitch whose dimensions are tailored for young players, with smaller goals and a smaller ball. That way they are continually involved in the action and getting the ball regularly.

“We’ve run the McDonald’s Mini Soccer League in Ballymena over the spring and summer months for the last 11 years and it has been well supported, but come the autumn and winter, everyone starts back into 11-a-side games.

“There is a small-sided league in Coleraine and the North West which our under-9s played in last year. This year we will be entering two teams in the under-9 and two teams in the under-10 competition. We feel that the 14 player squad which you would have for an 11-a-side game will benefit more by playing mini soccer in two groups of seven.

“We are extremely fortunate in Ballymena that our local Council has had the foresight to create a pitch specifically for mini soccer - the new pitch six at the Showgrounds has been designed for that purpose, it’s an adult-free zone.

“The whole concept of small-sided football is something that could breathe new life into football for children of primary school age - just think of an example of a small rural primary school who might not have enough pupils to make up an 11-a-side team.”

“As an example, it could even be regionalised into the four Council electoral areas - Ballymena North, Ballymena South, Braid and Bannside - the facility is already there at the Showgrounds.

“In my opinion, clubs need to get away from this idea of developing athletes and instead look at ways of improving youngsters’ technical skills - you only have to look at some of Barcelona’s players to see that you don’t have to be a giant to be world-class.

“The Irish Football Association has come on board with our Mini Soccer League in Ballymena and our local IFA grassroots development officer Wesley Gregg is a big believer in small-sided games but it is maybe something that the IFA should be looking at in terms of making it its policy.

“It could even be extended to the point where you don’t have youngsters playing competitive 11-a-side football until they are 12 or 13, as happens in some countries. By that stage, they have been so used to playing the smaller version that their technique and comfort on the ball is fantastic.

“Youngsters will always want to play football but it doesn’t necessarily have to be the case that we say ‘well 11-a-side was good enough for my father and for me, so it’s good enough for my children’ - we should always be looking at ways to improve,” added Billy.

n What do you think is the best way forward for youth football in the Ballymena borough? E-mail your views to [email protected]