At this level, football should be about development, enjoyment and learning, not about running up the score. In fact, extremely one-sided matches rarely help anyone—winners or losers.

So, let’s dig deeper into the impact of these scorelines, look at the issue from different perspectives, and explore ways coaches can help keep the game competitive and positive.

Why Heavy Defeats Hurt Everyone

In grassroots football, the purpose of the game isn’t to prove who’s stronger—it’s to help young players fall in love with football, improve their skills, and learn teamwork. A 13-0 win may feel good in the moment, but it often teaches the wrong lessons:

• For the winning team: players may learn that success comes too easily. They aren’t being stretched, and they may develop bad habits such as showboating instead of focusing on teamwork.

• For the losing team: players can feel embarrassed, demotivated, and even question whether they want to come back next week. Some children walk away from football altogether after heavy defeats.

• For coaches and parents: the scoreline can become the focus, overshadowing what really matters—long-term player development.

In short, nobody truly wins. That’s why competitive balance is essential in youth football.

Different Perspectives on One-Sided Games

The Player’s View

Young players, especially in junior football, crave two things: fun and improvement. For the winning team, fun might come from scoring freely at first—but it quickly becomes hollow when there’s no real challenge. For the losing team, the fun disappears entirely, leaving only frustration or embarrassment.

The Coach’s View

Coaches face a balancing act. On one hand, they want their team to perform well. On the other, they have a responsibility to develop players and make football enjoyable for everyone. The best coaches understand that a blowout win doesn’t reflect progress—it reflects a mismatch. Coaches who think long-term know that adjusting the game is better for everyone’s growth.

Example: Many Premier League academies deliberately arrange fixtures against teams of similar ability levels to avoid extreme mismatches. The goal is to stretch players just enough so they are challenged without being overwhelmed.

The Parent’s View

Parents often see their children’s emotions most clearly. A heavy defeat can lead to tears, excuses, or even a reluctance to put on the boots again. On the flip side, parents of the winning team might cheer at first but soon wonder if their child is really learning anything from such an easy game.

The League’s View

At the organisational level, constant mismatches can damage the reputation of a youth league. If teams are regularly winning or losing by double figures, it suggests divisions are unbalanced.

Example: Some grassroots leagues in the UK have introduced “flexi leagues” or tiered divisions mid-season, moving teams up or down based on results to ensure a better balance. This has reduced the number of 10+ goal margins and kept more players engaged.

4 Ways Coaches Can Prevent One-Sided Scorelines

1. Prevent Before Cure

The signs of a mismatch are often obvious before kick-off. Looking at league tables, previous results, or simply comparing squads can give you a clue. A quick conversation between coaches beforehand can help agree strategies to make the game more enjoyable for both sides.

2. Adjust Team Numbers

If one side is clearly stronger, balancing numbers is an easy fix. Let the weaker team play with more players. This keeps the contest fair while still challenging both sides.

Example: The FA’s Power PLay rule permits extra players to be added as a scoreline increases.

3. Play in Quarters, Not Halves

Splitting a match into quarters gives coaches more chances to adapt. If the game is becoming one-sided, changes can be made quickly to keep the contest balanced. It also allows for more feedback and encouragement, which is particularly valuable for younger age groups.

Example: The FA’s “Foundation Phase” (U7–U11) guidelines already encourage short, flexible formats, where quarters and breaks are used to coach, encourage, and rebalance.

4. Keep It Player-Centred

The golden rule in youth football development: it’s about the children, not the adults. Heavy scorelines often happen when egos get in the way. By always asking “what’s best for the players?” coaches can create a more positive environment where every child feels included and valued.

Final Whistle: Who Really Wins?

A 13-0 win might look impressive, but it raises bigger questions. Did every player enjoy it? Did they learn something? Did it make them excited to come back next week?

From the players to the coaches, from parents to league organisers, the answer is usually the same: nobody truly benefits from a game that’s over before half-time.

The best grassroots and youth football environments prioritise balanced matches, player development, and above all, fun. With a little creativity and cooperation, coaches can make sure that every child benefits—because balanced games don’t just build stronger players, they build a stronger love for the sport.

And in the long run, that’s the real victory. Thats what we think, let us know what you think.

This follows the announcement of The FA’s new 2024-28 strategy, ‘Inspiring Positive Change Through Football’, to take English football forward, with a clear focus on the biggest opportunities and challenges that need to be addressed.

The new Football Without Limits strategy marks an important milestone in The FA’s ongoing commitment to drive positive change in para and disability football. To realise this vision, The FA has developed a comprehensive long-term plan focused on seven key pillars:

1. Disability Football Participation: Expanding access and opportunities for disabled people to participate in football.
2. The FA Disability Cup: Maintaining The FA Disability Cup as the premier competition in impairment-specific formats.
3. Para Team Pathway: Supporting players in transitioning to England Para Teams with a positive experience.
4. England Para Teams: Developing competitive England Para Teams for international success.
5. Coach Development: Establishing England Football Learning as the primary resource for coaches of disabled footballers.
6. Marketing & Communications: Enhancing nationwide support and visibility for grassroots Disability Football.
7. Partnerships: Securing funding to bolster Disability Football initiatives and support England Para Teams in major tournaments.

One of the strategy’s key aims is to increase the number of players by more than a third across all Disability Football formats, reaching 28,300 registered disabled players by 2028. To help achieve this, The FA aim to provide further opportunities for disabled people to have access to local grassroots clubs tailored to their needs, including upscaling the new Comets programme.

Comets is a new pan-disability programme by England Football for children aged 5-11 years old, providing a safe space for children to kick start their football journey. At present, there are around 150 registered Comets providers across England.

Pan-disability football is the most inclusive format of the sport, bringing together players with a wide variety of disabilities and health conditions. Comets introduces a fresh, adaptable, and welcoming approach to the game, focusing on enjoyment, building friendships, and simply having fun.

The FA has identified two key objectives to help the Comets programme grow:

1. Increase the number of grassroots providers: This aims to expand the network of community-based organisations, coaches who deliver the program, ensuring greater accessibility and reach at the local level. By empowering more providers, the program can tap into diverse communities and create more opportunities for participation.
2. Boost attendance and raise awareness: The goal is to attract more participants and foster a greater understanding of the program’s benefits. Through community engagement, the program seeks to engage a wider audience, encouraging more people to take part while building a strong, recognisable presence.

Mark Bullingham, FA Chief Executive, said: “This new four-year strategy sets out our long-term vision and commitment to grow disability football across England. We want to ensure that everyone has the choice and inspiration to play football regardless of age, background or ability. Our new strategy will increase participation opportunities, provide more support for coaches, and through our talent pathways, develop England Para teams for international success.”

Catherine Gilby, Head of Para Performance at The FA said: “Our new landmark disability football strategy presents both the opportunity and responsibility to create meaningful change in this important area of our game. With the next phase of the four-year Football Without Limits strategy, we can nurture and grow key elements which support the growth of disability football, while giving children, participants and elite players the opportunity to reach their full potential. We believe this approach will help to drive world-class performances that can inspire the next generation of aspiring Para footballers to represent England on the world stage.“

Louise Gear, Head of Development at The FA said: “We believe that people of all ages and abilities should have the chance to experience and enjoy football, and through pan-disability programmes like Comets, we are able to create those opportunities. We will be able to give children aged 5-11 the safe space and support to get involved and experience football tailored to their needs. It’s encouraging to see participation growing, and over the next four years, we plan to increase the number and variety of ways to play. We’re committed to helping schools and grassroots clubs strengthen their disability football offerings, both on and off the field, ensuring football is truly open to everyone.“

To find out more information on local Comets sessions or how to become a Comets provider please visit: www.englandfootball.com/play/Disability-Football/Comets

Further information our new Football Without Limits strategy for Disability Football, which is available for download in various accessible versions can be found atwww.TheFA.com.

Whilst it is acknowledged that there will be varying levels of development within any one age group this ruling prevents children being placed in potentially dangerous settings playing football with and against much larger children in matches.

The FA strongly advises against adults playing within youth football settings (Those where the child is under 16) for similar reasons to those as detailed above. The disproportionate skill level and physical size presents the potential opportunity for injury to the child/young person involved.

It is The FA’s experience that adults playing games within youth football in either training settings or so named ‘friendly matches’ (often historically referred to as ‘lads v Dads’ games) can result in injury. It should be noted that the injury of a player in such circumstances has in the past resulted in legal action being taken by the injured party against the offending player/adult and may fall outside the limitations of the clubs insurance.

Whilst coaches may deem themselves to be ‘aware’ and skilful enough to avoid contact the risks of injury remain high. With the best of intentions; enthusiasm and effort on behalf of either party can and does result in physical contact.

FA Learning coaching courses make it very clear that coaches are not to join in games or training sessions when working with youth teams. Indeed such activity would be deemed in conflict with the Respect Code of Conduct for Coaches and leaves the coach open to potential claims against them and discipline charges raised against the.

Point deductions will apply to clubs at Step 7 and below of the men’s game, and clubs across Tier 3 and below in the women’s pyramid, which commit cumulative incidents of serious misconduct. This could include acts of discrimination and assault or attempted assault, and physical contact or attempted physical contact against a match official.

Deductions will range from 3 to 12 points depending on the amount and severity of offences committed within a 12-month period.

To find out more about how points deductions will be implemented, take a look through our FAQs below.

Points Deductions FAQs

1. If a Clubs first team and then U18s team commit serious offences, are the Club charged?
a. No, the charge is triggered if there are at least two proven discriminatory offences by the same team.
The same applies to Assault / Attempted Assault, Physical Contact or Attempted Physical Contact against a match official, there needs to be at least two offences committed by individual(s) within the same team.

2. Does it include offences from 2022/23?
a. No, this process will commence for offences taking place on, or after the 1st of July 2023.

3. What happens when a Club reach the threshold with players on short-term registrations? a. Regardless of registration length, the club will become liable if their participant(s) commit offences listed
within the guidance document.

4. Why isn’t this being applied in the professional game?
a. We understand why this question would be asked, however there is a very specific issue in the grassroots game, insofar as accumulative offences including aggravated misconduct and assault / physical contact offences.To address this issue, teams will be deducted points where they fail to act on previous serious misconduct.

5. What is the process of communicating the points deduction order to the league and following that, what would happen if the league did not comply with the order to deduct the points?
a. Once the disciplinary decision arrives, which will be encompassed into a set of written reasons, the CountyFA should wait until the appeal deadline has surpassed. Once surpassed, they should inform the league and provide them with the findings, who will then deduct the points from the league standing. If all fixtures have concluded, the points will be deducted from the following season and the team will commence on minus points.

6. Why are we not including other behaviours in particular assaults by a participant on a participant, can we have some good comms to address this?
a. There is little evidence to suggest accumulative offences including participant on participant take place. Our intention is to address the issues where data supports, including aggravated misconduct and assaults / attempted assaults & physical contact / attempted physical contact against a match official.

7. What is the definition of strict liability and if it is strict liability what can the panel do with aggravating and mitigating factors?
a. Strict liability means that the underlying offences have been committed as a matter of fact, therefore the disciplinary panel will only be required to determine sanction. There is a sanctioning range, meaning based on the aggravating and mitigating factors, the panel can determine where on that scale the breach fits best.

8. Points deductions do not apply to cup fixtures, how can County FA’s or leagues act in these games?a. County FAs will continue to bring proceedings against the individuals as per the disciplinary regulations. For consistent application, it does not include cup fixtures.

9. How is a County FA going to be notified off the repeated offences?
a. There is going to be a dashboard on CRM, which will allow County FAs to track where multiple offences have
taken place.

10. Can two charges in the same game be used and counted as cumulative misconduct or does it need to be in separate games?
a. No, two offences within the same fixture, will be counted as one offence for the purposes of accumulation.

11. What happens if one of the cases is appealed late or later and points have already beendeducted and that appeal is successful?a. In that event, the league will be required to add the deducted points back to the league standings.

12. Would a County FA charge a league for not complying with an order to deduct points and if so what charge?a. If a league refuse to deduct points, they will be subject to a misconduct charge, for failing to comply with a decision of The Association.

13. If there is a third act of applicable misconduct taking place during the 12-month period, thus triggering the charge, what evidence is needed?
a. The evidence required for submission is the result letters of the previous proven individual misconduct offences.

14. What training have the Disciplinary Panels received on the guidance?
a. The National Serious Case Panel will receive training on its applicable on the 14th of July 2023 at the
National Serious Case Panel Conference.

15. Why are only serious cases being considered, when so few teams will reach the threshold?
a. The statistics show that over 130 teams have cumulative misconduct of the offences mentioned, which are 130 teams too many. This will act as both a deterrent as well as an effective punishment for failing to deal with tolerable culture towards serious misconduct.

16. What happens if a player has a proven charge and then moves Club & has a 2nd proven case?
a. Then the individual will be sanctioned, with the second offence being an aggravated factor. The team(s) involved however, will not be punished.

The current provision of youth football in England from U7s to U18s to be assessed, with aim to identify new and exciting ways to improve the grassroots game for all young people

The module will enable you to recognise and respond appropriately to a sudden cardiac arrest while also providing you with key facts and information.

Available online, you can complete it at a convenient time and place. Plus, it only takes one hour!

Upon completion, you’ll receive one hour of CPD and an FA certificate.

Research shows that 12 young people lose a life each week in the UK and those with an inherited heart condition can be up to three times as likely to suffer a sudden cardiac arrest if they participate in intensive or strenuous exercise.

Dr Lisa Hodgson, The FA’s medical education lead, said: “The FA is passionate about raising the awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and highlighting the fact that this can occur in what appears to essentially be, from the outside, a fit and healthy young person playing sport.

“Sudden cardiac arrest is infrequent but it is not a rare event.

“The more awareness we can raise on this issue, the greater is the chance of early recognition and lifesaving intervention being performed.

“We would like as many people as possible to complete this module and to share it among their peers.

“Everyone should be taught these lifesaving skills in all walks of life, not just in sport and we hope that this module helps to do just that.”

COMPLETE THE MODULE

The Football Association [The FA] has launched an ambitious new strategy for grassroots football in England, providing clear direction for the next four seasons and addressing the short, medium and long-term challenges to serve and lead the game for the many millions that play nationwide.

The strategy, titled ‘Survive. Revive. Thrive.’, outlines seven transformational objectives through to 2024:

• Male participation – Modernised opportunities to retain and re-engage millions of male participants in the game
• Female participation – A sustainable model based on a world-class, modernised offer
• Club network – A vibrant national club network that delivers inclusive, safe local grassroots football and meets community needs
• Facilities – Enhanced access to good quality pitches across grassroots football
• Grassroots workforce – A transformation in community football by inspiring, supporting and retaining volunteers in the game
• Digital products and services – An efficient grassroots digital ecosystem to serve the administrative and development needs of players, parents and the workforce
• Positive environment – A game that’s representative of our diverse footballing communities, played in a safe an inclusive environment

The strategy, launched as grassroots football is able to return safely after lockdown from Monday, also identifies the immediate challenge, in light of Covid-19, to get grassroots football back on its feet. This includes continuing to focus on providing financial and business support to those that need it most whilst ensuring football can continue to be played in a safe and secure environment through The FA’s Covid-19 guidance.

The new strategy also sets out a number of goals to revive the game by addressing the areas that require particular attention. This includes increasing opportunities to ensure girls have the same access as boys to football in schools and clubs, and improving quality of pitches, with the aim of seeing 5,000 good-quality pitches added to the current number by 2024.

The four-season long strategy also takes a look ahead to ensure the game thrives. Not only encouraging new participation at every age group and from historically under-represented groups, but also harnessing the power of digital to better connect participants to the game they love. It also means ensuring the game is played in a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment.

To coincide with the launch of the grassroots strategy and return of grassroots football, The FA has also published a new report that explores the social and economic value of grassroots football in England, finding its value to equate to £10.16bn each year.

This year’s report, which follows on from research published in 2019, quantifies the social and economic value across the entire lifetime of a player for the very first time, from childhood participation through to football in later life.

The report, titled “The Social and Economic Value of Adult Grassroots Football in England”, found that grassroots football in England has a considerable impact on a person’s mental and social wellbeing, highlighting mental health benefits for children and physical health benefits for older adults.

For more information go to www.TheFA.com

Coaching very young children focuses a lot on the psychological and social corners of development. These players are learning about themselves and their role in the world, discovering things they’re good at – or sometimes not so good at. They’re finding out that other children have different capabilities, opinions and thoughts, that they have to deal with and try to understand. On top of this, they’re learning the game of football.

As a parent, you’re probably already used to guiding your child along their development path in your home environment, so it’s a case of transferring your parenting skills to the pitch – while remembering that your relation to your child while on the pitch, is first and foremost as a coach.

Here’s some general advice:

• Pay attention to how you talk to your child (and about your child) in front of others.
• Treat your child as an individual and be consistent with the treatment of all players. Don’t favour your child, but there’s also no need to be ‘harder’ on them – be fair and impartial.
• Recognise as both a parent and a coach that emotional intelligence is a valuable life skill.
• Talk to your child and the other players about feelings. Football is an emotional game.
• Don’t define your child just by their ability on the pitch and let them know that everything is possible.

You might have parented your child using many of these things to guide you – now use this to help develop well-rounded, intelligent and respectful young players.

As parents, we must stop worrying about how fast we can make intelligence grow and instead concentrate on how far. The same applies to coaches working with young players: celebrate where each child is at, understand them better and then work as effectively as you can to develop them further.

The aim for each young player (including your child) is to emerge from childhood excited and confident about learning. Let’s also help them to develop a life-long love of sport and physical activity.

Article courtesy of  The FA Bootroom

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