New format for YFA leagues

The draws for the 2011-12 Youth Football Association leagues were held recently at the Centenary Hall, Ta’ Qali.

After a brief introduction by vice-president Robert Attard to club delegates present for the meeting, YFA secretary general Joe Micallef proceeded to explain the changes these competitions will have over the next two years.

Changes always bring along different reactions, Micallef said.

However, the Youth FA was convinced that the reforms undertaken were for the good of the game and the development of young players.

The new format will see more teams promoted and relegated at the end of the season to make the leagues more competitive and ensure that more teams stay in contention until the last matches of the competition.

“The Youth FA has done a deep analysis of a list of proposals before they were agreed upon. We only came to a decision after numerous meetings were held with the technical centre and other stakeholders involved,” Micallef said.

He also stressed that as from this season for U-13, U-15 and U-17 matches, teams in competition will have to be coached by a UEFA ‘C’ licenced official.

Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action against the offending club, Micallef said.

Here, Malta FA Technical Director Robert Gatt insisted that football nurseries have to make the step up and ensure that they have fully-qualified personnel in their set-ups to improve the level of the Maltese game.

The Technical Centre will soon publish a booklet regulating tournaments, listing the size of playing area and other requirements for all age groups.

“This publication will assist our nurseries to adopt a more professional attitude and ensure consistency,” Gatt said.

The Youth FA revealed that as from this year, fixtures will be governed solely by a separate board who will publish the season’s fixtures (September – April).

The sequence of matches will be available on the organisation’s website (www.theyouthfa.org.mt) in the coming days.

Changes were also effected to the competition rules and disci-plinary board, mainly to eradicate violence from the sport.

At the end of the meeting, Micallef informed those present that this season’s Youth FA seminar, on September 10, will be addressed by Andy Roxburgh, UEFA’s Technical Director.