Kids playing

Under 5 and Under 6 Development Centres

A message from the East Riding FA

The East Riding FA would like to express its thanks and gratitude to the clubs in our county who are giving opportunity to five and six-year-old children to play football. The role you play in inspiring young people at the start of their footballing journey is invaluable and never underestimated.

It is important to remember though that Development Centres are exactly that. Young people come to your centres because they want to have fun with a football, not because they want to be the top goal scorer or play in competitive football games.

Many players will get their first experience of competitive, structured football at Under 7 or Under 8. The reason for this is because it has been proven that exposing children to competitive sport at a young age can have a detrimental effect on the development of the child.

That is why we want to remind the managers and coaches of players aged five and six years old that the FA Code of Rules state that:“A child who has not attained the age of 6 shall not play, and shall not be permitted or encouraged to play, in a match of any kind”.

Thank you for everything that you do!