Small-Sided Games

In 2008, FFA in conjunction with Member Federations, Zones Associations and Clubs will be rolling out Small-Sided Games (SSG). This rollout will be staged commencing primarily with the younger age groups moving through the ages in 2009 and beyond.

SSG have been extremely well received and supported by Member Federations, Zones, Associations and Clubs. The feedback for the smaller fields and reduced playing numbers with an emphasis on player development has been very positive, Clubs and parents see the end result that buy touching the ball more the children will become better players and enjoy their football experience much more. The education of this message remains the main priority and early suggestions are proving that the rollout will be very successful both in 2008 and the over the next few years to complete the implementation of SSG through ages 6 – 12.

In 2008 in excess of 60,000 children will be participating in SSG throughout all Member Federations, to give you an idea below is what is happening in each Member Federation;

Football Federation Victoria – Under 6 – 8 years throughout the state
Northern NSW Football – Under 6 and 7 year old children
Football NSW – Over 16 associations, representing over 30,000 children
Football West – Selected regional and metropolitan associations
Football QLD – Under 6, 7 and 8 year old children
Capital Football – Under 6 – 12 year old children
Football Federation NT – Under 6 – 12 year old children
Football Federation SA - Selected regional and metropolitan associations
Football Federation TAS – Selected zones and associations

Member Federations will lead this roll out of SSG throughout their affiliated zones, associations and clubs

Education of clubs, parents and players is vitally important to the success of SSG. With this in mind FFA has produced the following educational resources to assist clubs in promoting and educating parents in SSG.

Small-Sided Games Handbook

The SSG Handbook is a resource for clubs to assist the roll out of SSG. Two copies of this will be made available to each association and club conducting SSG in 2008. These SSG handbooks are with your Member Federation, who will lead the distribution from the 14th January 2008 through relevant collection meetings to associations and clubs where applicable. Further copies can be downloaded from this link –

SSG Parent Information Flyer

The SSG Parent Information Flyer is a resource to educate parents in SSG. The Information Flyer can be distributed to all parents through your club at registration days and the commencement of the season. These SSG parent Information Flyers are with your Member Federation, who will lead the distribution from the 14th January 2008 through relevant collection meetings to associations and clubs where applicable. Further copies can be downloaded from this link – Parents Information Sheet

Small-Sided Games and Goalkeepers

Goalkeepers are not required in the initial stages of Small Sided Games football.

This is an issue of contention for some parents and clubs who are being exposed to the future of grassroots football for the first time. Some believe that if there is no goalkeeper, it is not really football. This is not true as pointed out by Football Federation Australia’s National Technical Director, Rob Baan.

“There are always some exceptions with physically stronger children, but at that age (U6s – U/7s) children are just dribbling the ball and do not have the ability to “shoot” on goal. Because of that there is not much for a goalkeeper to do and the occasions where she/he would be required to make a “save” are minimal, therefore not much of a learning factor. Also – children at this age like to be involved in the game and only when they are tired want to be acting as a “goalkeeper”.”

This theme is carried through when the children also moved to 7 v 7 football when they are 9 and 10 years old. Baan explains that even as the children progress, the need for a specialist goalkeeper is not there.

Baan says “Even at the older age group, most of the time we support the idea of rotating the goalkeepers and/or using them more as a “sweeper” than as a real goalkeeper who stays on his line to wait for a ball to come in their direction. The majority of the time it is the parent or coach who makes the choice and tells a child “you have to be our goalkeeper!!! If you look at professional players now, the best ‘keepers in the world started out as field players and later found they preferred to play in goals.”

“More importantly, the role of a goalkeeper in modern football has changed completely and the judgment of present goalkeepers is very much depending on the fact if they are capable to act in the game as "sweeper" who can kick a ball, control a ball and build up the game without using their hands.”