Junior Football: How does your club rate?

If your son or daughter is playing junior football, or maybe your a coach or a fan,

It's time to rank your local club against the FFA benchmarks outlined below.

In Canberra all clubs have changed their junior football structure to meet the requirements of the Mitchell Technical report over the last few years.

There is still a little way to go for some clubs in Canberra but we are way ahead of other states.

The FFA are about to release a Technical report which has been signed by ALL States.

All States and clubs will bring in the new structure over the next three years.

Check out how your local club is tracking:


The aim is to give children a better learning environment which will assist them to become better players and for the elite to become more technically adept.

Basic more touches at an early age, more involvement in the game, which means smaller pitches, less players and removing the points factor, should assist player enjoyment, player development at all ability levels.

Makes complete sense to me!

Key details in the report are:

From Under 12's down, it will be small pitches with smaller numbers.
Points will be taken out until 10 years of age.

Under 11 and Under 12's will play 9 a side on a modified pitch.
Intra club for children in Under 6, 7, and 8, and smaller teams and pitch sizes for the younger players. In many cases, no goalies.

Aussie kids will not play eleven a side football until the age of thirteen.

Age 5,6, 7, 8 and 9. kids will focus on the game. Talent ID will begin at the age of ten. The best ten year old players will be joined with the best junior football coaches to improve these children's' skills.

A big issue for many States and clubs, but the support across the country is unanimous.

Lets' hope things get moving for the next junior season and more kids get to have more fun, more often.

Seeing the Under 7 standing in goal, for 15 minutes on a freezing morning, with nothing to do, hopefully will soon become a thing of the past!

And seeing a group of players playing 9-a-side at under 7 level will also be out of favour. The kid who never gets the ball!

In smaller size games surely that child will have a better experience.

Can't wait, can you?