COMPETITIVE matches in boys and girls football will be a thing of the past if the Football Association get their way next week.

A motion will be voted on at the FA’s annual meeting on Monday which will reshape the way youngsters play the game – and how it can be reported.

The idea behind the restructuring, which will bring the country in line with other nations, will discourage a win at all costs mentality and instead focus on technical ability.

It will see smaller-sided games take place in the younger age groups, but is set to have serious ramifications with matches involving players from under 11 age groups downwards being ‘child-friendly competition’, in which no results, reports or league tables will be allowed to be reported.

The only games which can be published will be from the handful of finals played through the season.

Paul Lyon, fixture secretary at the Oxford Mail Boys League, said: “I can understand the reasons behind the short competitions and smaller-sided games, I have no issue with that.

“But the kids love seeing their names in the paper and these plans will massively impact what can be published.”

It is a view shared by the clubs, who see the value in the small-sided games, but disagree with the child-friendly element which cannot be published.

Marc Key, Abingdon Youth Under 10s manager: “Those who are doing well need to be rewarded and recognition is a form of that.

“The kids still want to see their names in the paper, no matter what they’ve done – if your team loses 10-1, but you get the one goal it means a lot to see it recognised.”

Rotherfield FC’s Andy Davies said: “Pushing non-publishing is wrong – once the kids get to the final year of primary school it’s a competitive world.”

Oxfordshire clubs backed the plans afer a presentation last month from Gareth Southgate, head of elite development at the FA and Les Howie, the organisation’s head of grassroots coaching.

Southgate said: “Hopefully, even people that don’t agree, understand why we’re doing it – and we’d like to do it with the best of intentions.

“Generally speaking, I think the majority of people understand the reasons for it and lots of leagues are already doing some of the things and have found it very successful.

“It’s an opportunity to make some significant differences to kids for decades to come and that’s very important.”

Howie added: “It’s absolutely the best way forward to develop players in this country.

“It’s got to be on the right-sized pitch so it becomes about technique and skill not just who can kick it the furthest.”

The proposals will impact everyone playing football from under 11s downwards, beginning in the 2013/14 season.

Instead of 11-a-side competition for all, it will be built up slowly, starting with five-a-side competition for the youngest players before progressing to seven and then nine-a-side.

There will also be far-reaching changes in competition rules, starting with under sevens and eights from 2013 and gradually phasing in up to under 11 by 2015/16.

The nine-month league season will be scrapped in favour of short trophy events lasting up to a month, with the rest of the time filled with ‘child-friendly competition’ – one-off development games.

The main issue in Oxfordshire is on the ramifications for the way youth football can be reported, both in the media and on club websites.

Under the proposed system, the only games which can be published will be from the handful of trophy finals played through the season.

No other results, scorers or league tables can be reported.

Lyon added: “I don’t think the awareness is there at the moment.

“There will be people who won’t understand what it means.”