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New steps to improve grassroots youth football in England to be introduced from the 2026-27 season VISIT OUR DIGITAL CONTENT HUB FOR MORE INFO From the start of the 2026-27 season, we will be launching a new progressive framework for grassroots youth football in England, which aims to further improve the experience for young players […]
Read More… from UPDATES TO GRASSROOTS YOUTH FOOTBALL IN ENGLAND
In grassroots football, the battle between coaching and poaching often plays out on and off the pitch, affecting both players and the teams that nurture them. These two approaches represent different philosophies and can have a profound impact on the development of young players, the dynamics of clubs, and the wider football community. Understanding why […]
Dutch football is considering scrapping the offside rule in grassroots football to deal with an increase in violent incidents – but the ban would only apply to amateur matches. As with grassroots football in England, many grassroots games in the Netherlands use assistant referees who are not professionally trained and are usually a parent associated […]
Read More… from DUTCH GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL CONSIDERS SCRAPPING OFFSIDE DUE TO INCREASED VIOLENCE
A reminder of the FA guidance for U6s is below. Children under the age of 6 should not be permitted or encouraged to play in a football match of any kind. To clarify, FA Rule 8(C) states the following, C) A child who has not attained the age of six shall not play, and shall […]
Read More… from REMINDER OF THE FA GUIDANCE AROUND U6S PLAYING FOOTBALL.
Grassroots football in the UK is the bedrock of the nation’s sporting culture. It’s where future football stars hone their skills, and where communities come together. But behind every match and every training session is a dedicated army of volunteers—coaches, managers, committee members, and parents—who offer their time and expertise to ensure the smooth running […]
A former football manager who punched a young linesman during a match has avoided jail time. Robert Williams-Jones, the former manager of Amlwch Town FC, struck the teenager during a match in which his team suffered an 8-0 defeat against Penrhyndeudraeth FC in North Wales. The incident occurred just 15 minutes into the game, when […]
In the world of grassroots football, where the focus is as much on fun as it is on the game, there’s always one parent who stands out from the crowd—The Parent Who Knows Everything. You know the one. They’re at every training session, every match, and they always have an opinion, whether it’s wanted or […]
Read More… from GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL CHARACTERS WE ALL KNOW – THE PARENT WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING
Introduction: Grassroots football is the heartbeat of the sport in the UK. It’s where future stars are born, and where local communities come together in the spirit of the game. But there’s a growing concern that sideline behavior—whether from parents, coaches, or spectators—is undermining the experience for young players, coaches, and referees alike. We can’t […]
Read More… from BEHAVIOURS IN GRASSROOTS – ARE WE AT A CROSSROADS RIGHT NOW?
The start of a new year always brings with it a sense of anticipation and possibility. For grassroots football, 2025 promises to be a pivotal year. While the challenges faced by the game at the local level are well-documented, the future holds a wealth of opportunities to elevate and energize football from the ground up. […]
Read More… from What Does 2025 Have in Store for Grassroots Football?
A reminder to all of the rules regarding photography and filming at youth football matches. Parents, children and football clubs generally look forward to celebrating and/or publicising footballing successes by photographing children at matches and events. Documenting a child’s involvement and progress through the season both by film and photos is widely accepted as contributing […]
Read More… from Photographing and Filming Children at Football Matches
