Last weekend, the Premier League took Under-11 players from 16 clubs on a journey into the unknown as a way of developing their confidence and leadership skills.
At the training grounds of four clubs across the country (Manchester Utd, Norwich City, Ipswich Town and Derby County), the boys gathered for the first 'Player Led Festival', not to play against each other for their sides, but to mix with one another and play in new teams, with new team-mates.
The day began with the boys being provided with Match Attax cards. The cards were of different stars under whose names they would form as teams.
Once they knew which team they were in, the players had to work out themselves who their new team-mates were with the same Match Attax cards as them, then had to take ownership and responsibility for managing the day's competition themselves.
The objective was to get the players to deal with unfamiliar situations in a football environment, to take them out of their comfort zone of their club, their team-mates and their coaches and family. This way they would learn to gain confidence, learn social skills and leadership skills in a way different to what they experience at their clubs.
"The boys experienced what potentially they’re not exposed to in this current climate," said Dean Smith, a Games Programme Football Manager at the Premier League. "It's not as common to see children playing on the streets, mixing with other children from different backgrounds, where they manage everything themselves.
"The aim is to expose them to situations where they are socially stretched but in a subtle, friendly environment, for example, where the Match Attax cards become an aid for the children to engage with each other."
As well as staff playing no role in the day, during the matches, there were no referees to officiate.
"In keeping with the player-led theme, kids again managed this aspect throughout the festival," Smith said. "We were encouraged that there were no huge disputes over contentious decisions. In fact, the kids just put the ball down and played the game effectively."
The festivals received positive feedback from those involved.
"Players had lots of ownership and it brought out some excellent social outcomes," the Colchester United coach said. "The interaction with other teams, the coping skills of playing with other individuals from different clubs and towns."
Among the boys themselves, they returned to their clubs with the achievement of making new friends and reduced fear of making mistakes.
