Few would argue that mini-soccer is not, in principle, admirable. Gone are the days when tiny goalkeepers were dots in huge goals and little legs tried to cover long pitches. They studied best practice in countries like Holland and came up with a game they thought would be right for us,' says the FA's head of football development, Kelly Simmons. At under-10, it would be seven against seven on pitches measuring 60 yards by 40 yards. Goals would be 6ft by 12ft.
Players get time on the ball and space to develop skills.
The rules would be mandatory from September 1999 and the FA would help finance the change, paying 65 per cent of the cost. He does not wish to be identified as he believes his pressing of the issue over the past 18 months has already caused him enough problems with his county association. On hearing of the new rules in April 1999, he checked with the local schools. None had received any notification or grants. The league continued as usual, but with all matches being eight versus eight.