AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Increasing the base of the player pyramid structure works with work on the grassroots. The more talent available in the bottom strata of the pyramid the more refined the product at the top of the pyramid.

Keeping in mind the development at the grassroots level, the All India Football Federation’s Baby Leagues is a revolutionary step in extending the horizons of grassroots football, giving young players are clear pathway onto the junior leagues. With the U-13 I-League and U-15 I-League coming into play, young players have a platform wherein they can showcase their skills and grow in the competitive environment.

“With the foundation for development being established with the Baby Leagues, we need comprehensive local youth leagues that run all through the year from ages 13-18. The aim is to increase the number of games without making it a logistical burden for participating teams and make all competitive platforms as local and regional as possible”, said AIFF’s Head of Player Development Richard Hood.

“Along with the Baby Leagues, we are also working overtime in establishing local hotspots models which are in line with best practices”

Hood further explained the need of local hotspots and opined that “By doing this we will provide every player entering the game at an early age a well established and comprehensive eco-system of clubs, schools and academies that train with a sense of purpose to perform for the game on the weekend.

“Needless to say given the diversity we have in this country every model for this eco-system will need to be region specific, but the number of games per season and the duration of the season is the non-tangible factor”,

The introduction of Baby Leagues perhaps leads to the overall development of Indian football with Referees, Coaches and other technical staff being involved in the process of setting up a well-rounded League. Hood agrees and adds, “Within this framework, we will start to see stakeholders take extra effort and set unforeseen standards and also aid in the development of coaches and referees who will get unprecedented and much-needed number of games under their belt”

“By amplifying our local and regional football we will see a far healthier eco-system a decade or so from the time we start. This is where patience, stubbornness and commitment to a singular cause and vision is needed”, he concluded.