A new approach for children’s development in football at grassroots level is set to prioritise the most important aspect of football: the enjoyment of participating in the game. 

The new Player Journey concept, developed in partnership with the Scottish Youth FA, Scottish Schools FA and Scottish Women’s Football, replaces the existing Player Pathway. Through a more inclusive and dynamic approach, it aims to create a positive culture where children can enjoy the game and develop at their own pace.

The strategy builds on research and knowledge exchange from other nations, including England, Ireland, Germany, and the Netherlands, which shows that early emphasis on winning can create unnecessary pressure, leading to burnout and a loss of enjoyment for children when playing football.

The Player Journey will create an environment that prioritises fun, learning, and long-term participation over results by promoting smaller-sided games for younger players, particularly for those aged from five to eight years old.

The small-sided games will offer myriad benefits:

  • More touches on the ball, boosting skills development.
  • A fun and inclusive environment where all children can participate on an equal level.
  • Opportunities for creativity and exploration without the stress of competition.

The Scottish FA's 'Let Them Play’ message remains embedded within this new Player Journey approach, promoting and encouraging positive behaviour from the touchline. Under this guidance, all parents, carers and other spectators must stay two metres back from the pitch and if possible, this should be done via a marked off area or zone, allowing the the grassroots volunteers to deal with the game. No parent or carer should attempt to enter the field of play and there should be no shouting from the side lines, with spectators always encourages all participants. 

In order to implement the new Player Journey approach, the strategy will deploy three key pillars:

A focus on enjoyment and development: Local grassroots club activities will become the cornerstone of the Player Journey, ensuring children enjoy their football experiences and develop at the right pace for their age and stage.

Local Festivals: While the emphasis will be on club-led formats, leagues will continue to play a vital role in organizing local festivals to bring communities together and celebrate football.

Cultural Shift: Everyone involved in delivering youth grassroots football – coaches, parents, and clubs – will be encouraged to embrace a culture where success is measured by retention and enjoyment, rather than competitive elements such as trophies and league tables.

To simplify access to information, all guidance, resources, formats, rules and updates will now be available here on the Scottish FA website, with a move away from the Scottish FA Grassroots Game app.

Paul McNeill, Head of Football Development, Scottish FA: "The Player Journey is not a fixed model—it’s a new concept that will develop over time with contributions from clubs, coaches, parents, and all stakeholders in the game. Our aim is to ensure that football provides different but appropriate stimulating environments at every stage of a player’s development.

"We know that the success of Scottish football is built on the dedication of our army of volunteers, and we will continue to develop new resources, guidance, and tools to help them continue to create the best possible environment for all players - whether a player wants to progress through the game or simply enjoy football as a lifelong activity.

"We believe this is an exciting step forward for Scottish football. Together, we can build a football culture that prioritises enjoyment, development, and long-term participation."