The Pros and Cons of Mixed Football

Chris Galvin examines the benefits and also the problems that mixed gender youth football can produce. 

There have been arguments and differences in opinion on mixed football at the grassroots level during my seven year involvement in youth football and for many years prior to that. However it’s only now that I’m starting to have reservations to the concept, having once being an advocate. I am by no means suggesting the abolishment of boys and girls playing football together, I have simply amended my opinion in the last few years to the point where I believe it has got to the stage where a sensible judgement on the ability of the players needs to be made before allowing mixed football. I do not wish to come across as an elitist, my time in the Sunday Football environment has made me truly understand the importance of organisations that provide “football for all” and how they assist player development.

The FA has recently announced that rules regarding mixed football have been amended to the U13 age group. This rule covers girls and boys being able to play with each other in the same teams at U12 and U13 level from next season (2011-12).

I am pleased to see that the FA have allowed this age extension as it will allow female players of a high ability to play at a challenging level. It’s only logical they play with boys who are of a similar ability in order to develop their own game. For me mixed football really needs to be centred on player development and enjoyment (as should all grass roots football) I fully support the idea of girls playing alongside boys who are able to hold their own physically and be integrated into a team of boys where they are developing their skills and enjoying their football. Personally I really draw the line on mixed football for the sheer sake of it, and feel there is a genuine risk of damaging a player’s development if they are playing at a level that is beyond them, and offloading girls into boy’s team to simply make up the numbers is incredibly irresponsible. I don’t apply this concept to girls alone; I have seen many young boys who are not of the ability to cope with team sport and from my own observation don’t seem to enjoy their football, which surely is the most important thing at a young age. I have been involved in grassroots football for seven years and I have witnessed mixed football first hand seeing both the advantages and disadvantages it offers. The coaches can play a significant role in the progress of mixed football. A coach who encourages girls who are good enough to play with boys can really aid those players with their development, but those coaches who resent the idea of girls playing with boys can not only slow down players development but can also severely damage the players confidence. I would like to think that most coaches and grassroots specialists would share this view.

One of the organisations I work with strive to get all-girls teams playing in a league with boys teams, as this allows girls to become more confident playing with other girls and educates them on the physical nature of the game. This has enjoyed success as I have witnessed all-girls teams displaying signs of improvement when playing against boys. The flip side of the coin is to encourage those girls who would benefit playing with boys and finding the best way to develop the players. It is therefore become more important to further engage the managers, coaches, the players and the parents to establish whether a girl would benefit from mixed football or by playing amongst other girls.