General Information 5/5
Your club facility
With the introduction of the new game formats, we are receiving many questions from clubs about the implications for the number of volunteers, number of pitches, goals etc. This very much depends on the size of the club. In order to make a realistic assessment of the implications for your club, the KNVB has developed a calculation tool. This tool helps you to estimate the potential consequences for your club. By filling in the tool, you will gain an indication of the number of teams per age-group, the number of football goals you need and the amount of time required to run the competition matches.
Introductiontool new youth-football
Changing rooms and pitches
Whether or not more changing rooms are necessary depends to a large extent on the overall planning of the games on a given day as well as the number of pitches that a club has at its disposal. If the issue is a full-sized football pitch divided into 2v2, 4v4 and 6v6 pitches, then there are more players on the pitch than when it is used for two 7v7 matches. In that event, more changing rooms are needed for those players. This can be limited by spreading the smaller game formats over the morning and/or day. The KNVB can provide support should questions arise as to the composition of an optimal match programme on the basis of the number of changing rooms available.
Delineating the pitch perimeters
We understand that the new game formats ask more of volunteers, for example when marking the new pitch perimeters. Where necessary, the KNVB will support clubs by compiling an optimal match programme on the basis of the number of pitches available, so that they can be appropriately delineated and demarcated. Marking the perimeters of the pitch can be done in various ways. Crucially important is that the demarcations of the pitch are properly measured and easily visible. The pitch perimeters and other markings should be entirely clear and visible to players and others involved so that they do not interrupt or disrupt the game, or hardly do so. One way to do this is by placing a cone every five metres. The dimensions of the pitches are such that on a full-sized pitch, two 8v8 pitches can be delineated. On an 8v8 pitch, two 6v6 pitches can be delineated. On a 6v6 pitch, two 4v4 pitches can be delineated. And on a 4v4 pitch, two 2v2 pitches can be delineated. In this way, clubs can make intelligent use of pitches delineated earlier in the day, or pitches that still need to be demarcated. In addition, permanent pitch delineation may be brought about on a neighbouring artificial pitch to accommodate the various game formats. We would advise you to contact the KNVB's consultant responsible for facility management, or your own club advisor.
Learn more about the rules of additional pitch delineation
As a consequence of the new game formats, more removable football goals will be placed on the pitch. A club needs to ensure that the football goals with dimensions of 5 x 2 metres are properly affixed in the ground (at three specific anchor points for each football goal) so that they cannot fall over or be tilted should a player run into them, or that the chance of that happening is limited. Football goals with a dimension of 3 x 1 metre do not need to be anchored in the ground.
Read more about pitch delineation in the new game formats.
Football goals
Goals measuring 5 x 2 metres will be used for the 6v6 and 8v8 game formats (Under-8s through Under-12s). These football goals are used in the current 7v7 game format. Goals measuring 3 x 1 metre are the most suitable for the 2v2 and 4v4 game formats (Under-6s and Under-7s). These goals too are in use within the current mini Youth Football structure and in various training formats. Whether or not extra goals are needed depends to a large extent on the size of the club, the number of players per age-group, match planning on game day and the number of players per team. Many games in which children of the same age-group need the same-sized goals at the same moment require more football goals of these dimensions. Distribution of these age-groups over the morning therefore requires fewer football goals. We anticipate however that clubs will need extra football goals. Football goals measuring 3 x 1 metre for the Under-6 and Under-7 age-groups are a new phenomenon for many clubs, or only available in short supply as training goals. Clubs can participate in a collective procurement initiative if so desired.
Collective procurement
The KNVB is to start organising a collective procurement initiative to purchase football goals. In April, clubs will be informed about collective procurement and can register for this initiative. These football goals will arrive at the clubs at the start of the 2017/2018 season.
Crowdfunding
The KNVB, together with main sponsor ING, facilitates a ready-to-go crowdfunding platform for amateur clubs to help generate additional income to acquire extra equipment such as football goals or new footballs. A football club can start its own campaign without investing beforehand. Start complimentary crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is the financing (funding) of a specific objective by a large group of people (the crowd). It often amounts to many small donations, but companies too contribute to projects such as these. It is therefore also a form of sponsoring.
Players and clubs can set their goals and encourage the membership to do what it takes to achieve these objectives. Examples are event organisation, door-to-door collections or through the deployment of social media. Progress can be monitored live through the club's online crouwdfunding environment, and it is absolutely transparent how much has been collected and where the funds have been invested.
Pitch delineation
2 versus 2 pitch delineation
Pitch delineation for the 2v2 game format can be carried out as indicated in the visual, depending on the number of pitches needed. In principle, eight small pitches can be created on one half of a full-sized pitch. During delineation of these pitches, use can be made of the middle line, the sideline or the five-metre line opposite the first goalpost as the point of departure. When the pitches are created lengthwise one behind the other, the rear side of the football goals can be placed against one another to create sufficient space.
4 versus 4 pitch delineation
In principle, four games can be played on one half of a full-sized pitch. Two smaller pitches can be created alongside one another between the middle line and the five-metre line. This depends partially on how many pitches are required. The length of the pitch runs from the goalpost to the sideline. When four pitches are required, the rear side of the football goals can be placed against one another.
6 versus 6 pitch delineation
Pitch delineation for the 6v6 game format is in line with that of two 4v4 pitches. The rear side of one of the goals is on the middle line, the other football goal is placed on an imaginary continuous five-metre line. The point of departure is on the level of the first goalpost, running towards the sideline.
8 versus 8 pitch delineation
When creating an 8v8 pitch, little changes with respect to the current 7v7 Youth Football structure. The pitch will be a little narrower than previously because the point of departure is the five-metre line from the goal area and two metres from the middle line.