Should U8s be forbidden competitive football?

Posted on March 6, 2008

Hundreds of youngsters are set to miss out on the chance to play competitive football next season.

A decision by the English FA to ban knockout cup matches, league tables and the awarding of points in U8 matches means that the SKF Chiltern Junior Sevens League's U8 divisions have effectively been handed a death sentence.

Beds FA chief executive Peter Brown says the league should not have been running tables for U8s or cup competitions this season, either.

But league secretary Andy Piggins, 45, branded the decision 'silly.'

Mr Piggins helped set up the league in 2001 after 11-a-side games for U10s were banned by the FA.

He has had one child play at the U8 level and believes competitive football does not do the children any harm.

He said: "We've been doing U8s for six or seven seasons. It started off as an U10 league because they were who the FA stopped playing and it's gradually grown."

Children from as young as six have been allowed to play competitive football in recent seasons, but the enforced changes mean that children must be aged eight and over if they are to take part next season.

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Source: Luton Today, 5 March 2008