U11s to u12s

[FUBAR]

I've heard if a few lop sided results in the u12s, not just this year but regularly over time.

I'm still learning this info, so correct me if I'm wrong. The u12 comp is based on zones and not so much divisions right? But the u11s (& SSF) is not with teams playing against a wide variety of opponents. Why is that?

While scores are not recorded in SSF, is there a kept record of them? This might help with putting teams in appropriate leagues with similar abilities??

In order to develop doesn't it say have the best vs best?

I'm sorry if this topic has been covered.

[Big Mac]

If SSF scores were kept & not recorded you would have coaches going out to "win" so that the following year they end up in the top division.
You can't help the lop sided scores in U12, theoretically it only is for the one season before they end up in an appropriate division.

[Toffeefox]

The FFSA aren't interested in the best v the best in U11 because their emphasis is development, so anything that involves grading is condoned. We all know young players develop at different rates and therefore the challenges they need to be set varies and therefore grading can be beneficial to all players. In my experience it has meant kids get more involvement in games because the better kids aren't there to take the ball, they have to take responsibility and I have seen great improvement in these kids. From a training point of view it makes no difference because a good coach will work varying skill levels in separate groups in order to provide the correct level of challenge and progression.
Internally most clubs if not all keep a record of the results from U7 to U11 (because U11 is SSF). I have used them in the past to switch fixtures as the season unfolds to get a more appropriate match up of skill level.

However the FFSA policy for U12 JPL is as follows:-
3 divisions South, Central and North with the 30 clubs(1 side from each) split geographically into the appropriate division. Their aim with this is to get the best 3 sides from each region into the 13A JPL plus the best 4th placed side from whichever league (usually central or north, south haven't consistently got 4 strong sides).
This way of selecting doesn't always get teams into an "appropriate division".

In the UK at U11 in many areas the results are sent to the local county league and they don't publish the results but they do regrade their leagues twice a season in order to get the skill levels to a more even standard and to identify the best 10 - 12 teams that would go into the A division at U12's regardless of region.

[Stich This]

The FFSA aren't interested in the best v the best in U11 because their emphasis is development, so anything that involves grading is condoned. We all know young players develop at different rates and therefore the challenges they need to be set varies and therefore grading can be beneficial to all players. In my experience it has meant kids get more involvement in games because the better kids aren't there to take the ball, they have to take responsibility and I have seen great improvement in these kids. From a training point of view it makes no difference because a good coach will work varying skill levels in separate groups in order to provide the correct level of challenge and progression.
Internally most clubs if not all keep a record of the results from U7 to U11 (because U11 is SSF). I have used them in the past to switch fixtures as the season unfolds to get a more appropriate match up of skill level.

However the FFSA policy for U12 JPL is as follows:-
3 divisions South, Central and North with the 30 clubs(1 side from each) split geographically into the appropriate division. Their aim with this is to get the best 3 sides from each region into the 13A JPL plus the best 4th placed side from whichever league (usually central or north, south haven't consistently got 4 strong sides).
This way of selecting doesn't always get teams into an "appropriate division".

In the UK at U11 in many areas the results are sent to the local county league and they don't publish the results but they do regrade their leagues twice a season in order to get the skill levels to a more even standard and to identify the best 10 - 12 teams that would go into the A division at U12's regardless of region.

Makes sense .

[FUBAR]

Isnt our national curriculum saying the best should play against the best. Kids need to play in appropriate skill levels/groups??

[mancity]

Makes sense Toffee.

Im not sure if there are an even number of teams in each under 12 zone this year.

Last season they were uneven so to make up the U13 JPL this season they took from U12 last season the top 3 from the south, top 4 from the north and top 5 from central. Resulting in 12 teams in U13 JPL playing a 22 round season.
Although only 2 games in to the season it seems to be working fairly well with the majority of results close and its great for the kids to be getting challenged every week.

Just need to educate the parents now that there is no sheep station involved for winning the U13 JPL and that 14 year old referees are doing their best and should be encouraged to be out there at 8:30 on a Sunday morning and not have to spend the morning copping abuse from parents. But thats another topic