SCWGL UNDER 18 AGE GROUP

PLEASE SEE THE BELOW MESSAGE FROM THE SURREY COUNTY WOMENS & GIRLS LEAGUE (SCWGL) GENERAL SECRETARY

Dear Club Secretaries,

For the 2007/2008 season, the FA increased the age limit for youth players to play adult football from age 15 to age 16.  This would mean that any Under 16 teams who had any Under 15s playing up in their team would not have been able to take the whole team up to adult football and would have to leave those Under 15 players behind, potentially splitting up teams that had been playing together for a number of years.

As a result, it was necessary to set up a further “youth” age group to bridge the gap between Girls’ & Ladies’ football. Whereas the other youth age groups encompass a 2 year age gap, the Under 18s encompass 3 years.

Due to the decline of participation at this age, it was much more sensible to adopt Under 18s (encompassing 3 years) rather than Under 17s (encompassing only 2 years).

This enables “Under 17” teams who are struggling to call on players from a further year as regards date of birth.  Effectively, the Under 18s are really Under 17s with just a few Under 18s in the mix.

It makes absolutely no sense for Clubs to be calling for the Under 18s to become Under 17s as this will reduce the number of players available to register to those teams.  If Clubs think the U18s are struggling now, just imagine the struggle they could have by cutting down the group of players available for selection.

Here are the statistics that back this up:-

I hope this clears up the various unfounded, baseless and illogical myths that appear to be doing the rounds within the League.  These are the facts and anyone who considers it acceptable to leave potentially 48 players with no League to play in should be ashamed of themselves.

Karen Bailey
General Secretary
Surrey County Womens & Girls League