The first competitive games in youth football are only possible from September 1 at the earliest. Meanwhile, the BFV managers are already working on possible scenarios.
District - Bavaria as a pioneer: After the decision to continue the season that was still suspended in women's and men's football (we reported), the Association Youth Committee and its chairman Florian Weißmann now asked how it could go on after the Corona crisis. The Bavarian Football Association (BFV) set up four web appointments to meet the expected high level of interest. At the start on Friday evening, Weißmann announced that it was “fully booked” - almost 1,000 listeners listened to the statements.
The fact is: Similar to the adult area, there will be no competitive game for youngsters before - at the earliest - September 1st. In conjunction with the still closed sports facilities, the mask requirement in buses and trains starting today as well as when shopping and the current regulations on exit restrictions: The "target value September 1" aimed by the BFV for resuming the game operation could still have to be corrected backwards. It should be borne in mind that it is not possible to train in full team strength on the soccer fields at the time of possible loosening. Because in the event of new infections, contact chains from within our own ranks are easier to understand and even narrow down, which hardly works at games or even summer tournaments.
Several scenarios in planning
But while those responsible for BFV have to wait for the government and authorities to make the final appointments, Florian Weißmann and his team are already planning possible scenarios. "If the season were to be abandoned, only the group play classes at the lowest level would have no impact," emphasized Weißmann, "because there are no relegated teams."
On the other hand, all other performance levels in the area entitled to promotion would have problems with all detailed questions regarding legally valid promotion and relegation regulations, relegation ranks and, as a result, possibly also with the following league sizes, if there were, for example, no sport relegations. Weißmann made it clear that in this case "more match days should take place at the same time", which would lead to English weeks unpopular in youth football or to additional appointments during the holidays. In addition, a possible return of the pandemic cannot be ruled out. "Perhaps we will all be sitting here again in a year and, in the worst case, canceling the second season," he feared.
What will happen to the A youth?
But also the continuation with the existing age groups and teams poses challenges: A special regulation for the protection of the youth teams is already being planned, because from September about 70 percent of the footballers of the younger U19 age group would be eligible to play in the men's area. If the currently dormant season were to be extended into the calendar year 2021, B-juniors would also reach their 18th birthday. "But there was no special game right in men's teams," Weißmann excluded the participation of B-youths in the adult sector.
With regard to the sensitive issue of changing clubs, it has already been decided to protect the clubs that the “six-month rule” will not apply due to the suspended play and the calculation of the deadline will be extended by the pandemic period. In this special situation, the waiting period should be checked with the consent of the club submitting it. Existing additional and second game rights remained valid until the end of the new season.
Location in the small field area much more relaxed
In the "non-promotion" game mode - especially in the small field - the situation is much more relaxed: "Spontaneous game rounds" and competitions such as the Kaufland Soccer Cup for e-youngsters are "feasible at any time" as soon as the general conditions allow. Cup competitions and the indoor championships, on the other hand, would be left out first.
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