This will help the standard of English football

[PRC1964]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2202...ght-teams.html

FFS kids need to learn how to compete.

[Platypus]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2202...ght-teams.html

FFS kids need to learn how to compete.

I agree, but we're talking about under 8s here. I think this might not be such a bad thing.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2202...ght-teams.html

FFS kids need to learn how to compete.

Cheat, lie and generally be crap like their premiership idols? No thanks.

The FA says it's to protect young kids from the demands of competitive parents.

A lot of refs I knew (I used to go out with a female footie ref) refused to do the kid's matches because the parents behaved like such scum.

[sasguru]

Perhaps not concentrating on goals might help kids learn the technical skills that are common in other countries?

[wobbegong]

<PC tulipe> No, no, no, the concept of competition is all wrong, it breeds aggression, and furthermore the labelling of individuals or groups as 'losers' in that competition can be harmful not only to their self esteme, but also to their inner happiness and eventual development into well balanced members of society.
</PC tulipe>

[Moose423956]

If you read the article you'll see that they're not banning goals or even competitive matches, they're just saying the kids of that age shouldn't play in leagues. So they'll just play friendlies. What's wrong with that?

The ruling is not aimed to stop competitive football because any match between two teams will be competitive

[PRC1964]

Perhaps not concentrating on goals might help kids learn the technical skills that are common in other countries?

The under eights don't need to spend too much time of technical skills, what they need is to have playgrounds and parks where they can kick a ball around.

The competitions that my kids enter are great fun, their team has never won the tournaments, but they all look forward to them.

[engineer]

Perhaps not concentrating on goals might help kids learn the technical skills that are common in other countries?

Possibly, yes.

However, the kid's skills must be improved , so that in the future, the english teams again take part in the european and world championships! These competitions are boring without them. This time, we had to play against turkey in the semi final , and did have even one penalty shooting over the whole EURO 2008 competion.

I really love these matches of our team against the english players.

[scorchio]

Get them playing this instead at that age. Let them be creative, improvise and build technique before introducing the convential game later on.

Hasn't done the Brazilians any harm has it now..