FA to ban leagues for under 8s

[Al Bion]

Up here in Cheshire football for kids is non-competitive until U11. U11 is played as 7 a side on mini soccer pitches. From the new season my son will be classed as U12 and steps up to play on a full size pitch and now 11 a side and the offside rule. It's quite a big change for them but I think it's about the right age, towards the end of last season I realised that the mini soccer pitch was really too small for them however I do think it is important to ensure small sided football continues until U11, it really does give everyone more chance to learn the skills that they need and I don't really think competitive football hurts them, after all nobody tells them not to play competitively in the playground!