This season we will have forced on us a rule stating players can not play up above their age group. apparently this is coming from the FFA.
If this is true why is Adelaide thinking of playing a 15yr old in an a leaue game?
What do i tell 9yr olds who have been with me for 3yrs that they can not play up in U11's.
Seems like a case of double standards to me.

Double-edged sword that in many ways could hurt us.


Had a couple of friends as a kid who played up an age due to their ability alone; one then became an average player in the next age group because they couldn't adjust to the physicality of the bigger lads and the other continued to star because he had really good feet. Amusingly he ended up choosing cricket over soccer though *shrug*

When you actually can find kids who can play against bigger, more physical opponents and cope with that as well as retain their skill, you're finding potentially very good players. Of course that's balanced with putting too much pressure on other kids, who don't make the jump successfully - but not everyone can become a pro footballer, can they?

I know a lot of people who have played up a year. I remember when I was in Under 11's at Gosnells City, we won the State Cup and we had four players playing up a year. Out of those four, three of them were our best players. One has since made the NTS, another has played at inter-state carnivals for WA, and another represented the Joey's at the U-17 World Cup in Mexico this year. The other one, my cousin, just successfully trailled for Western Knight's Under 18 Premier League team. Make of that what you will. I believe playing up a year or two (the inter-state carnival guy played two years up at one stage) defintely helps you.

At the same time however, I'm currently trialling with Melville City's U18 Division 2 team. I've noticed that some of our best players, in terms of technical ability, are four guys who are eligable to play Under 16's next season. Whilst they are great with the ball, none of them are particularly big and tend to get pushed off the ball too much. I do worry that if/when they make the Saturday team and it comes to playing the big, physical teams that the squad is likely to encounter, wil they be a liability? Will they lose the ball too much and be bullied by the opposition? I hope not.

Who is Australian football youngest debutant?
If you’re good enough, you’re old enough – that’s what Adelaide United are saying with the promotion of 15-year-old Teeboy Kamara to their matchday squad. But is Kamara Australian football’s youngest debutant?
This on the FFA web site
and the QF ban players playing up 1 year.

Daniel Watkins, Melita, NSL.

Age 14.

the dutch use 2 year age bands , so teams are selected on ability and not by a calander

sounds good to me.

Am of the opinion kids can play up higher age groups as long as they are physically average for that age group. IE: 12 year can play 14's if they matches them in size.

Kids that are skillful to play 2 years above their age but not matching in size tend to get smashed off the ball or hacked off the park spending more time on the ground than on their feet.

It's a situation that must be weighed up very carefully.

I've known this scenario to occur a bit.

Older teams sometimes become frustrated when they play rep teams playing up a few years. The younger players skill often enables them to be pretty effective.

Very true.

Many young players are misled when they play in NTC and state programmes.


One former state TD constantly quoted that only one out of every 200-300 players plays football beyond their local league. In this state he meant the split state leagues.

Edited by Decentric: 17/1/2012 06:55:40 PM

Any links to this FFA rule on age limits?

Over the past few years i have changed my views on playing players up an age based upon my observations of the coaching process and information from overseas coaches.
If any good young 9 year olds can play in the u11s it follows that any good u11 will be playing in the u13s leaving the good 9s to play against the rest of the 11s this of course defeats the intended objective of getting the good 9s playing with or against better players.
From 8s through to 14s and possibly beyond the emphasis should be on the coach creating an environment that encourages the development of individual functional game skills and good decision making with and without the ball.
Playing young players up against less talented bigger players certainly will not help the technical side and will only encourage a more physical approach. Good decision making is something that needs time to develop and unless the player already consistantly makes good decisions playing older faster opponents will only cause them to make wrong decisions quicker.
So unless the player already has excellent technical ability and good decision making playing in the own age group is best if possible.

Good points but it is all a mater of relativity.
I think the decision should be in the hands of the parents.

surely not.

FYI the rule is ignored in futsal, as the qld u11 at the nationals had 5 u10 players.

All the other qld teams players are in there own age groups.
Maybe the parents decided in the u11s.

apparently not up here

In my opinion kids playing an age up will learn more than playing with kids their age. I played an age up when I was 14 and I learned so much. You learn those ''tricks'' like the street smarts of soccer etc.

Thats interesting nicobinho and what club is currently paying you to perform your "street smarts of soccer".

The initiative taken for the concern is very serious and need an attention of every one.

All good but how can football Queensland stop little johnny playing in u11s instead of U10s when the FFA make a big deal about a 15yr old playing in the A league against men?
Bit of kettle and pot and black going on.

Thank you, John.

I require your assistance.

I bought a pop up toaster from Harvey Norman on hire purchase.

Ive been unable to meet repayments and Gerry has sent out his goons to stamp on my petunias.

Any suggestions?

Option1. U10 lad in Townsville plays against whats left of u11s in Townsville because best u11s are playing in u12s.

Result U10 lad runs quick and fights for ball against technically poorer bigger players or gets bored with poor quality of game and goes fishing.

Option2. Coach gets of his arse and works with u10 lad to improve his functional game skills and cretes games to assist u10 lad with his understanding and decision making.

Result Better footballer who doesnt want to go fishing.

No idea
U11s can not play in U12s comp. Clearly you don't know what you are talking about.

Clearly option 2 doesnt appeal to you.

Is that because you cannot get off your arse or you cannot coach?

Like i said you have no idea.
=;

You asked the question seems like the answer is to hard for you.

Exceptional players play up, playing up doesnt make exceptional players.

Your answers are completely wrong and show you have no idea about how football is run.
You sound like paul lonton.
Your wasting everyone's time.=;

Thats funny.
I would like to claim my previous posts as being my own original thoughts but unfortunatly i must give credit to De roo for the "excetional players" line and Berger for "coach gets of his arse."
Still they "have no idea about how football is run."
Thats so good.
When you stop listening you stop learning.

I had a chance to listen to Peter De Roo on the subject of players playing up. He used the example of Wayne Rooney, did Wayne play up because he was an exceptional player or by playing up did he became a exceptional player?

Unfortunately most parents believe their kids are Wayne Rooney.

[/quote] From 8s through to 14s and possibly beyond the emphasis should be on the coach creating an environment that encourages the development of individual functional game skills and good decision making with and without the ball.
Playing young players up against less talented bigger players certainly will not help the technical side and will only encourage a more physical approach. Good decision making is something that needs time to develop and unless the player already consistantly makes good decisions playing older faster opponents will only cause them to make wrong decisions quicker.
So unless the player already has excellent technical ability and good decision making playing in the own age group is best if possible [/quote]

+1 Well said couldn't agree more


BTW Peter De Roo said while he's been in Australia he's yet to see a Wayne Rooney

No shit? :lol:

They have an idea, you have none.
They never suggested u11's play up in U12's comp. to them the idea of small sided age players playing 11 a side would be lunacy.
You have no idea how i coach or about my coaching philosophy.
To make statements about it makes you a fool.

From 8s through to 14s and possibly beyond the emphasis should be on the coach creating an environment that encourages the development of individual functional game skills and good decision making with and without the ball.
Playing young players up against less talented bigger players certainly will not help the technical side and will only encourage a more physical approach. Good decision making is something that needs time to develop and unless the player already consistantly makes good decisions playing older faster opponents will only cause them to make wrong decisions quicker.
So unless the player already has excellent technical ability and good decision making playing in the own age group is best if possible [/quote]

+1 Well said couldn't agree more


BTW Peter De Roo said while he's been in Australia he's yet to see a Wayne Rooney[/quote]


Totally agree however players in small comps may have no real alternative.

Edited by krones3: 19/1/2012 06:32:14 PM

Peter de Roo is a much better coach and dare i say it person than you are chips.
By a long way.

BTW Peter De Roo said while he's been in Australia he's yet to see a Wayne Rooney

have to agree only seen 2 players , 1 won a stoke trial and the other is in a skills program, having said that the gap between them and the others narrowed over the year.