Having announced plans for a new futsal league in January, Surrey Football Association have set their sights on unearthing talent to follow in the footsteps of footballing superstars such as Lionel Messi and Kaka, writes Adam Corre.
Alex Prior, spokesman for the organisation, said: "We hope to provide a platform for the development of the next crop of top players, emulating the likes of Kaka and Messi, who played the game as children and teenagers."
Some critics believe reforms are long overdue. Others argue that developing the technical prowess of players can be achieved on smaller pitches without the need to introduce futsal (in which matches are played indoors using a softer ball).
However, Prior maintained: "Football and futsal should be viewed as two separate disciplines. Futsal is focused on employing different techniques. It is played in a high pressured environment as you play in a smaller area, and there is far greater opportunity for players to take each other on one-on-one, to add flair to your game and enhance a player's close control."
The initiative follows hot on the heels of wider changes in youth football which have included introducing both smaller pitch sizes and goals. The reforms will be compulsory from 2015.
Prior asserted: "Everyone is fed up of seeing exhausted kids running around on full size pitches struggling to kick the ball far enough. Players on the wings barely get a touch of the ball. As a result, their confidence drops. This will hinder their development – I've even seeing them give up the game altogether."
Across England, the FA have identified the five to 11 age group as central to such plans. Prior said: "This is the time when children grow and start to learn about spatial awareness and is key to instilling basic football principles".
Yet the plans are part of a wider cultural shift in football development programmes across the country as Prior explained: "Until now, tall and strong guys have been the focal point of our game. We are trying to develop players who are happy to hold onto the ball rather than boot it to strikers."
But if the Surrey FA are to have any chance of success, they will need to address deep-rooted problems. The corrosive effect of the winning at all costs mentality is driven by people off and on the pitch.
Part of the organisation's Respect programme has focused on curbing the influence of overzealous parents and coaches by placing barriers around the pitch, creating a physical and psychological space between the spectators and players.
But Prior concedes the task ahead is a vast one admitting: "There will be coaches who encourage their team to play dirty - we know this goes on but they are in a tiny minority. But even one example of this is one too many – we need to eradicate anti-social behaviour in order to create a fun and safe environment to enjoy football in.
"The programme exists because there are problems, but on the whole it is working – the number of active referees has improved season-on-season, while a recent dedicated Respect Weekend saw many clubs throughout Surrey take part to demonstrate their own methods of combating the negative aspects of the game."
Alex Prior, spokesman for the organisation, said: "We hope to provide a platform for the development of the next crop of top players, emulating the likes of Kaka and Messi, who played the game as children and teenagers."
Some critics believe reforms are long overdue. Others argue that developing the technical prowess of players can be achieved on smaller pitches without the need to introduce futsal (in which matches are played indoors using a softer ball).
However, Prior maintained: "Football and futsal should be viewed as two separate disciplines. Futsal is focused on employing different techniques. It is played in a high pressured environment as you play in a smaller area, and there is far greater opportunity for players to take each other on one-on-one, to add flair to your game and enhance a player's close control."
The initiative follows hot on the heels of wider changes in youth football which have included introducing both smaller pitch sizes and goals. The reforms will be compulsory from 2015.
Prior asserted: "Everyone is fed up of seeing exhausted kids running around on full size pitches struggling to kick the ball far enough. Players on the wings barely get a touch of the ball. As a result, their confidence drops. This will hinder their development – I've even seeing them give up the game altogether."
Across England, the FA have identified the five to 11 age group as central to such plans. Prior said: "This is the time when children grow and start to learn about spatial awareness and is key to instilling basic football principles".
Yet the plans are part of a wider cultural shift in football development programmes across the country as Prior explained: "Until now, tall and strong guys have been the focal point of our game. We are trying to develop players who are happy to hold onto the ball rather than boot it to strikers."
But if the Surrey FA are to have any chance of success, they will need to address deep-rooted problems. The corrosive effect of the winning at all costs mentality is driven by people off and on the pitch.
Part of the organisation's Respect programme has focused on curbing the influence of overzealous parents and coaches by placing barriers around the pitch, creating a physical and psychological space between the spectators and players.
But Prior concedes the task ahead is a vast one admitting: "There will be coaches who encourage their team to play dirty - we know this goes on but they are in a tiny minority. But even one example of this is one too many – we need to eradicate anti-social behaviour in order to create a fun and safe environment to enjoy football in.
"The programme exists because there are problems, but on the whole it is working – the number of active referees has improved season-on-season, while a recent dedicated Respect Weekend saw many clubs throughout Surrey take part to demonstrate their own methods of combating the negative aspects of the game."