Went to a meeting last night in my local zone and we were introduced to the format for the introduction of Small Sided Games.

I don't know if this is the way it is being introduced throughout Australia but in my zone the only age groups to play SSG this season under the new format will be 6 & 7 year olds.

In the past kids in my zone from 6 to 9 year olds played rooball, basically a six a side game. At the age 10 the kids moved onto a full sized pitch and played 11 a side football.

It seems absurd to me that we introduce a system that is supposeed to help develop kids and we let last years 9 year olds progress onto a full sized field and play 11 a side football. This situation will not change until last seasons 6 year olds get to 10's when they start to play 9 a side on the 60X40 pitch.

Surely a better situation would be to also start this years 9 and 10 year olds on 7 a side on the 30X40 pitch.

The roll out would be quicker and more beneficial for the kids. Afterall why should we keep sending kids up to the full sized pitch when we know they would be better off playing the SSG format.