Major changes are being drawn up to boost the Island's youth soccer programmes.

Bermuda Football Association Youth Development director Kenny Thompson revealed yesterday that plans were in the pipelines to incorporate an Under-17 division in addition to the existing Under 11, 13 and 15s, and that two new cup competitions may also be added to the junior schedule.

Furthermore, he also said that discipline would be stepped up and in relation to that the common practice of players donning overhanging boxers and shorts will not be tolerated this season.

“What we are aiming for is to provide youth football with an environment where our young players can perform at their optimum,” he said. “An environment where we can improve the level of enthusiasm among young players if they want to be a part of football and the competitions as such.”

Thompson said the BFA had pledged to provide clubs assistance with their programmes and team development.

“It's about creating that environment in which the young players want to be part of their club programmes and are prepared to meet the standards and the guideline of those programmes,” said Thompson. “Promoting positive behaviour and, at the same time, eliminating the negative behaviour.”

It was also important that the right organisation, structure, and environment was provided for the players to encourage their participation.

“Once we are able to gain that level of enthusiasm from the players, then the demands that we make on them will readily be accepted,” he said.

In regard to the proposed changes to the competitions, Thompson said: “At this time we are in the planning stages of the entire 2002-3 football season.

“We are looking at the existing league and cup competitions for the youth age groups Under-11, 13, 15 and this year we are reverting back to Under-17.”

He also said that plans were on the table to have a pre-season tournament kick off the junior season, with the league campaign beginning the following weekend.

“We are also planning a post-season regional tournament in which we will divide the country into three sections - east, west, and central,” he said. “Club coaches will be able to select the best players from the clubs in each region and then those players can perform with and against each other in the three-team regional tournament featuring Under-11, 13, 15 and under 17s.”

Thompson said he had addressed some of the Island's junior coaches at a meeting held two weeks ago.

“We had a very good meeting with most of these coaches outlining the standards for competing in our competitions,” he said. “First of all young players and parents and coaches have to look at the transfer-deadline being September 30 - and that's “On the whole, players and coaches will be forced to organise themselves a little better in order to facilitate player movement from one club to another - not just waiting until a player shows up after the deadline and expects to play for that club.

“So those teams looking to participate in the youth competitions will have to know that September 30 is the deadline for registration of these competitions.”

He also laid down some of the discplinary guidelines for the impending season.

“Once the season begins, then guidelines in relation to behaviour of players, coaches and the appearance of players will also come into effect,” he said.

“We've stated to the coaches that we will not permit players, for example, to wear boxers as such that they are hanging below the uniform and that we will not allow for the shorts of the uniform to be worn inches or sometimes even feet below the waist.”

Thompson said such things had no place in football.

“I understand that for young people that it has its place in fashion,” he said. “Everybody that's grown up in different stages of fashion knows that sometimes young people are a little different from adults.

“I can accept that to a certain extent, but certainly not on the football pitch. For one, it doesn't look good and it has a negative effect on their performance.

“So again, these guidelines have now been put in place to help organise the structure of youth football.

“It's important to create this professional environment because over the years we have sent many players abroad for trials and they haven't been adequately prepared for that environment - not just in the technical sense - but also how to behave at that level and conduct oneself.”

By addressing these issues, Thompson said the BFA was helping to ensure young players were “well prepared for any opportunity that comes their way in the future”.