SHILLONG: In an attempt to motivate kids to take up the game of football at a younger age, Shillong would now host the first ever Meghalaya Baby League 2018 in the month of May.
The Baby League is the joint initiative of one of India’s oldest philanthropic organisations – Tata Trusts, the Meghalaya Football Association and the All India Football Federation (AIFF)
Speaking to media persons here on Saturday, MFA Treasurer Wanshanbor Kharkrang said that it was more or less a pilot project and if the project was successful in Meghalaya, it would be implemented throughout the country.
The project aims to give children from the age of 4 till 13 an exposure to competitive football over a period of six months
Kharkrang said that usually, kids here were taught basic game of football at the age of 13-14 years when they should have been taught about the skills of the game.
The format will be a league-cum-knockout arrangement, with five-a-side and seven-a-side matches, depending on the age group.
The 4-5 years and 5-6 years age groups will be five-a-side with a minimum of 10 players in each team. The 8-9 years, 10-11 years and 12-13 years age groups will be seven-a-side and will have to have a minimum of 12 players per team.
Kharkrang said that the league would be held on weekends and other holidays, with the possibility of Fridays as well so long as this does not affect the children’s school schedule.
According Participation is open to football clubs, schools, communities, localities, organisations and individuals who wish to register their own Baby League club and first twelve entries will be entertained.
He however added each participating Baby League club (also known as a centre) would have to field a team in each age group and must engage the children in regular training of at least two hours per week for at least six months.
Tata Trusts and the MFA will provide grassroots leaders certification courses for all coaches associated with the centres and playing kits for every player and balls for each centre.