About Small Sided Football (SSF)
As a result of the recently released Football Federation Australia (FFA) National Curriculum (which aims to provide national guidance; and an integrated and consistent approach to the development of players and coaches throughout the country) and feedback received from the football community, Small-Sided Football has had undergone a number of changes for the 2010 season and beyond.
One of the key recommendations to come out of the recently concluded Talent Development and Identification Review (TDIR) is the need to introduce Small Sided Football as the standard playing format for children under the age of 11 in Australia. The justification for taking such an approach is based on the following criteria:
- 11-a-side football is in essence an adult game devised by and for adults to play
- More fun and individual enjoyment due to smaller fields and simplified rules
- More playing time, which maximises individual participation and involvement
- Far more repeated touches of the ball by all players on the field
- More shots on goal
- More involvement leads to greater improvement in fitness
Whilst the recommendation for the Implementation of Small Sided Football in the context of the TDIR has as an underlying motivation – the development of players with better technical skills – there are certainly many other associated benefits that will be realised as a direct result of their inception, as follows:
- First and foremost, Small Sided Football is truly aimed at young people of all abilities, not simply the more talented players in each age group.
- With the emphasis on participation and enjoyment, and an associated removal of the current emphasis on the importance of winning, children are much more likely to enjoy their football playing experience, will be keen to play more often and are less likely to drop out of the game.
- Parents who are new to the game are likely to be more comfortable playing the role of "game leader" or "supervisor" of teams playing Small Sided Football. Given that children playing at this age do not need to be “coached”, and by extension, these adults don’t need to have a great understanding of the game to be able to carry out this role effectively, finding parents to volunteer for these roles should become significantly easier.
- Small Sided Football also make more efficient use of facilities, given there can be multiple games on one standard-size field. Importantly, a significant amount of research has been conducted in countries where Small Sided Football are prevalent (including Australia), which overwhelmingly highlights benefits such as more touches, greater participation as well as more enjoyment for the children.
