SMALL SIDED GAMES (S.S.G)

The Football Federation of Australia (our national governing body) has directed all State and District associations to fall in line with the rest of the world in the development of junior players by adopting what is known globally as Small Sided Games or SSG's.

Basically the philosophy behind this change is to ensure that our young players develop faster by getting more touches on a football. There are fewer players on teams and the empasis is not on who wins or loses but on the development of a young player's ball skills. This system has been used in Europe, South America, the US and Asia for a number of years and it has proven to work. By 2010 all juniors from U5 to U10 will play SSG's in Australia.

The Nepean District Association (our local governing body) has complied with this direction and has been given approval to introduce SSG's over 3 seasons commencing this year for the U5 to U8 age groups only. Those playing in the U9 and Under10 age groups will not be affected by the introduction of SSG's and still play regular competition games on large/full size fields. Therefore next years U9's (this years U8's) will play SSG football in 2009 and 2010.

Here's how it works this year....

Under 5 & 6 (Teams of 6 players) 4 v 4 played on mini field - 15minute halves - 5 minute break

Under 7 (Teams of 7 players) 5 v 5 played on 1/4 field - 20 minute halves - 5 minute break

Under 8 (Teams of 9 players) 7 v 7 played on 1/4 field - 20 minute halves - 5 minute break

Goals are folding type - No goalkeeper - Unlimited interchange - No penalty area - Size 3 ball - Game Leader - Not competition (results not recorded).

The official is called a game leader not a referee and while they control play like a referee, their role is also to assist the players in understanding the rules of the game and re-inforcing the philosophy of the game (development of players and fun) with coaches, players and spectators. Coaches from the participating teams can share the role during a game or agree on a person to perform the role for the entire game.

Penrith FC will be running an introduction to SSG's with our junior coaches and managers on 26 and 27 February after registrations to familiarise them with the system