East of Scotland Soccer Development Association

ESSDA 2025 Second Half

Only new teams need to apply for the ESSDA Second Half.

Existing teams will automatically roll forward to the second hald as hey were in the first half.  If an existing team wants to switch league, please drop me an email and I will make it happen.

The last day for  making changes is 3rd August 2015. Fixtures will be publish on 10th August 2025 and matches start on the 17th August 2025.

SERYFA Applications

Applications for 2013s who want to join SERYFA to play 11v11 for the 2025/2026 season are now available on the SERYFA website.
https://www.seryfa-online.info/sites/default/files/Form%20Downloads/App-Form.13%2C%2014_0%20%281%29.pdf

The last day this form should be returned to the SERYFA league secretary is no later than Sunday 22nd June 2025 (24 hours before AGM) along with the completed entry form to the South East Region Cup. Do not be late as your application will not be accepted.

Clubs must be APPROVED on SFA Comet and all listed Officials must be properly registered on SFA Comet

SFA Player Journey

All clubs are reminded that all SYFA games must follow the SFA Player Journey. See https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football-development/participation/childrens-youth-football/player-journey/
In particular:-

•   All scheduled matches in the First Half must follow the correct format:
           2013s must play 9v9
           2014s, 2015s & 2016s must play 7v7.
•    All free kirks are indirect
•    All corners should be played short - no swinging the ball into the box.
•    Only the 2013s & 2014s should be playing throw-ins.
      2015s & 2016s should play short side-footed kick-ins
•    2014s, 2015s & 2016s should be playing with a retreating line

Finally, a reminder that scores and results must not be recorded or published on websites / social media.

2013s playing 11v11

2013 teams who have attended the SFA 11v11 Transition Event can now apply to play 11v11 friendlies

• Permit requests should be made as usual to https://www.essda.co.uk/permission.asp
• ESSDA scheduled games on a Sunday must still be played as 9v9 (or 7v7)
• At each game, there must be an SFA 1.2 qualified coach and a qualified first aider
• There must be a minimum of two properly registered ACTIVE coaches at every game, one of whom must have attended the SFA transition event

The 2014s will move to play 9v9 after summer. There is no such transition for this year group. The 2014s can only play 7v7 until they move to play 9v9 in August 2025.

SERYFA Applications

Applications for 2013s who want to join SERYFA to play 11v11 for the 2025/2026 season are now available on the SERYFA website.
https://www.seryfa-online.info/sites/default/files/Form%20Downloads/App-Form.13%2C%2014_0%20%281%29.pdf

The last day this form should be returned to the SERYFA league secretary is no later than Sunday 22nd June 2025 (24 hours before AGM) along with the completed entry form to the South East Region Cup. Do not be late as your application will not be accepted.

PVG Night

ESSDA will be holding a PVG Night on Tuesday 1st April from 6:30pm-7:30pm
If you wish to attend, please check out the PVG page for pre-requisites and contact me for Zoom Meeting details.

International Clearance

Players born outside Scotland and over 10 years old, may require International Clearance to be registered on SFA Comet.
Please see the International Clearance section on the SYFA page for details of the International Clearance process.

SYFA Registrations

Clubs must be properly SYFA registered (as defined below) before they play any games. This mean cancelling fixtures unless both teams are registered correctly.
This applies to all year groups 2013 - 2018.

There are still 250 coaches at a status of ENTERED and 250 at a status of REJECTED.
If your coach is at status REJECTED, please check the error message on SFA Comet to find what corrective action is required.:-

to get the error message like

All officials, first aiders and players must be at status ACTIVE to take part in a match.

SYFA Registration

Hampden have restated that clubs who are not properly registered on SFA Comet must not play fixtures until their registration is certified OK.

To be properly registered on SFA Comet, the year group :

A:  Must have a status of CONFIRMED, meaning the SYFA registration and insurance fee has been paid
AND
B:  The number of ACTIVE players must be non zero
AND
C:   The number of ACTIVE Officials must be non zero
eg:  

If a team is COMPLIANT, only ACTIVE coaches, officials and players may take part in any fixtures.
Clubs must follow all SYFA Supplementary & Playing Rules - an ACTIVE qualified coach and first aider must be present.

Clubs who are not registered will have to cancel their matches. Sorry.

Many club have coaches and officials at a status of REJECTED. Corrective action as outlined on SFA Comet must be taken before they coaches can be moved to ENTERED and hopefully then on to ACTIVE. Common reason for clubs not be properly registered:

•   The status is APPROVED (no premium paid) and no players or officials have been listed
•   No First Aider Listed with Valid Cert
•   No Team Coach Listed with Valid 1.2
•   No Players or Officials Listed
•   No Team Manger Listed

ESSDA Fixtures

Fixtures for the 7v7 and 9v9 season weeks 1, 2 and 3 have been published - go to Fixtures page.
Further fixtures will be released in a few days after any teething troubles are sorted.

Please report any issues. I may not be able to make immediate corrections, but I will do my best. This is not an opportunity to switch leagues.

Remember, only ACTIVE players on SFA Comet can participate in matches. Every team must be accompanied by ACTIVE club officials.
Please follow SYFA Supplementary & Playing Rules and ensure you have adequate coaching and first aid cover at all matches.

Lastly, "let them play" and follow the SFA Player Journey

ESSDA Registrations

ESSDA Fixtures 2025

Fixtures for the 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 year groups playing 7v7 and 9v9 will be released on the evening of 23rd February 2025.
Fixtures start the following weekend Sunday 2nd March 2025.

Only fixtures for weeks 1, 2 and 3 will be released on Sunday, while I check all the details. Fixtures for remaining weeks will be issued after a couple of days.
This is NOT an opportunity to switch leagues and/or to add or take away teams. Please do not ask to move leagues before a ball has been kicked.
If I have made a mistake in my scheduling, I will endeavour to correct as soon as possible. This may mean you do not have an ideal fixture in weeks 1, 2 and 3. Sorry.

Teams needing to move division, will be moved as soon as I can arrange a switch. This may take several weeks as fixtures have been issued.

All clubs must be registered on SFA Comet to be eligible  to play ESSDA fixtures.
Only ACTIVE players are registered and insured.
Only ACTIVE coaches, first aiders, team managers and helpers are registered and insured to assist at matches. All teams must have coaching and first aid cover.
All clubs should be familiar with SYFA Supplementary & Playing Rules and must follow the playing rules as outlined in the SFA Player Journey at Player Pathway..
Teams playing the wrong rules and/or wrong format football may not be insured. Please be careful. See https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/media/12624/small-sided-games-formats-and-rules-2025.jpg

SFA Player Journey

The new SFA Player Journey has been released by SFA. All SYFA teams must follow the new Player Journey. To see the player journey go to the Player Pathway.
It is not acceptable to amend the rules because you prefer your own rules. Everyone must follow the national rules.

Teams who play the wrong format rules or who are playing inappropriate forms of football are in breach of the national pathway. They will be reported to Hampden and can be fined and/or expelled from SYFA. An inappropriate form of football is unauthorised and uninsured. Playing while not insured is a serious child protection issue.

Teams playing without a permit are playing unauthorised football and are not insured.
Teams playing  a format above the maximum for their age group are playing unauthorised football and are not insured.
eg 2013s playing 11v11 is not allowed. You and your team are not insured
eg 2014s playing 9v9 is not allowed. You and your team are not insured
eg 2017s playing 7v7 is not allowed. You and your teams are not insured

To see the Player Journey - go to https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/media/12624/small-sided-games-formats-and-rules-2025.jpg

SFA Coaching Courses

There is a Children's Coaching Certificate (SFA 1.2) course at Peffermill on Thursday 13th February & Friday 14th February from 10am-4pm

This is an "in-person" delivery and can be booked at http://www.scottishfacomet.co.uk/mycomet/ or contact southeast@scottishfa.co.uk

Or check out the attached flyer.

Please also note the upcoming in service transition events. All ESSDA coaches are encouraged to attend the appropriate event - online Zoom events.

Introduction to Small Sided Football
Monday 24^th Feb, 6-7.30pm - https://www.scottishfacomet.co.uk/mycomet/private/seminars/30933037

Introduction to Seven-a-side Football
Monday 24^th Feb, 7.45-9.15pm - https://www.scottishfacomet.co.uk/mycomet/private/seminars/30933174

Transition to Nine-a-side Football
Wednesday 7^th May, 7.45-9.15pm - https://www.scottishfacomet.co.uk/mycomet/private/seminars/30933384
Monday 11^th August, 6-7.30pm - https://www.scottishfacomet.co.uk/mycomet/private/seminars/30933494

Transition to Eleven-a-side Football
Wednesday 7^th May, 6-7.30pm - https://www.scottishfacomet.co.uk/mycomet/private/seminars/30933253
Tuesday 13^th May, 6-7.30pm - https://www.scottishfacomet.co.uk/mycomet/private/seminars/31623839
 

SYFA Registration, SFA Comet, Player Pathway, Festival Permits...

Have you registered completely for SYFA 2025 season? Are you having difficulty getting to grips with SFA Comet?
Darren from ESSDA is planning to hold a couple of online support sessions to help with registrations, friendlies, match rules etc

Session 1 : Monday 27th January 2025 from 18:00-19:00

Session 2 : Monday 10th February 2025 from 19:30-20:30  Postponed due to clash with Scottuish Cup Tie
                 Thursday 13th February from 19:30-20:30

Zoom details will be communicated nearer the time.

You will be able to drop into the meetings and ask your question and seek assistance and/or clarification on any aspect of children's football.

SYFA Registrations

Teams will not be given permission to play football until they are properly SYFA registered for season 2025 and showing as such on SFA Comet.
To be properly registered, each year group catalogue must have:

•   The SYFA registration fee and insurance premium must be paid
•   A registered Team Manager at a status of ACTIVE
•   A registered Coach with an SFA 1.2 qualification for each team at a status of ACTIVE
•   A qualified First Aider for each team at a status of ACTIVE
•   Enough players to fulfil all their fixtures, all at status ACTIVE eg with 3 teams at 7v7, you must have at least 21 players, probably more.

There are 200 SYFA registrations on SFA Comet aligned to ESSDA. Currently only 22 of these satisfy the above criteria!
Only six clubs at 2013s are properly registered and currently there no properly registered 2018s. Check your status at the registration page or on SFA Comet.

Please check your SFA Comet record and get registered now, otherwise you will miss the start of the season. Clubs not registered are not insured to play.

Insurance.

Teams playing friendlies and/or festivals without permission are not insured. Playing while not insured is a serious child protection issue.

Only players listed in your team catalogue as ACTIVE on SFA Comet are insured to play.
eg  In a 2017s match, only players listed in the 2017s catalogue as ACTIVE are insured. 
Any players born in 2018 who are playing in the 2017s match must be listed in the 2017s catalogue as ACTIVE.

This means that clubs are not insured to play a team of 2018s in a 2017s match.

The above rules apply to every ESSDA year group.  eg 2014s playing in a 2013s match must be catalogued to the 2014s squad.

ESSDA Communications & SPOND

At the 2024 AGM, it was agreed that we try a new form of communication between ESSDA and our member clubs. The chosen application is SPOND, which is already in use by many ESSDA Clubs. You can add SPOND on your smart phone or desktop by visiting https://www.spond.com/ or by downloading from your APP Store.

To ensure that your club is included in the new communication, we would like at least one person from each year group at every club to sign up.

(**CORRECTED LINK**)
To register you need to go to https://club.spond.com/landing/signup/eastofscotlandso/form/085633693F3347728510C693D81BD3DE and select your year group from the drop down list as you go through the registration form. To register with multiple year groups, register for one group and add a comment at the end of the form in the comments box, and you will be added to the other groups.

SYFA Registration via SFA Comet

You might find this video helpful when using SFA Comet - Scottish Football Association Self Service Portal - SYFA Small Sided Affiliation Process

Players, coaches and officials must be at status ACTIVE in their team catalogue to be approved.

Coaches and officials must be saved as SUBMITTED before SFA/SYFA will pick them up to vet and approve. They will not be picked up if left at status ENTERED.

Permits to play friendlies

I am receiving lots of requests to play friendly fixtures. A friendly fixture without a permit is not authorised and will not be insured. Playing fixtures while not insured is a serious child protection incident.

Unfortunately, most of the permit requests I have received have been rejected. To get a permit, both teams must be properly registered on SFA Comet for the 2025 season.
If no action has been taken on SFA Comet, you are very unlikely to be properly registered, unless you are year group 2013 and were properly registered last season.

To be properly registered,

1)  You must have applied on SFA Comet and paid the 2025 SYFA registration fee. Your team status must be APPROVED.

2)  You must have registered all your coaches and officials and they must be in the correct year group catalogue and at a status of ACTIVE

3)  You must have registered all your players and they must be in the catalogue and at a status of ACTIVE.

The SYFA reiterated the above today with the statement "Please remember that if a team has not completed all steps, they do not have any insurance for the 2025 season and should not be training or playing."

Both sides must be fully SYFA registered before any permission will be given. Check the registration page for your club status.
You are not registered if your Comet ID is not being displayed, or if it is displayed with a status of NOT REG or NOT PAID.

ESSDA Registrations

Registrations received so far for 2025 season. I am expecting 600 teams in total

SYFA Registrations for season 2025

All clubs must register their various year groups with SYFA for season 2025. Existing 2013s are automatically registered for their transition half season before moving to 11v11 in the summer.
Check your registration on SFA Comet or on the Registration Page.

The following clubs have not registered any teams on SFA Comet for the 2025 season. Permission is required to play any friendly fixture and permission will not be given to unregistered teams as they will not be insured to play.

Arniston Rangers, Bonnyrigg Rose FC, Castlevale YDC, Civil Service Strollers, Cockenzie Star, Corstorphine Dynamo, Craigroyston BC, Cramond FC, Dalkeith Thistle, Dunbar United Colts, Easthouses Lily MWFC Academy, Edinburgh City, Edinburgh South, Gala Fairydean, Gullane Athletic, Haddington Athletic, Hutchison Vale, Leith Athletic, Lochend FC, Longniddry Villa, Lothian Colts, Musselburgh Youngstars, Newtongrange Star, North Berwick Colts, Peebles FC, Portobello CFA, Preston Athletic, Redhall Star YFC, Rosewell FA, Salvesen CFC, Tranent FC, Tynecastle FC

To be properly SYFA registered, all your coaches. officials and players need to be ACTIVE in the appropriate SFA Comet catalogue.
ESSDA registration, for all year groups, including 2013s, is required by 15th February 2025 - see Application Menu.

SYFA Registration via SFA Comet

You might find this video helpful when using SFA Comet - Scottish Football Association Self Service Portal - SYFA Small Sided Affiliation Process

ESSDA Registration

ESSDA registration is now open for 2025. All teams must register with ESSDA, including age 12s year 2013s.  Go to ESSDA Application Forms page

Applications are due by 15th February 2025 and the season will start on weekend of 1st/2nd March 2025

All ESSDA scheduled and friendly fixtures must follow the SFA Player Pathway.
The publication of results/scores of any ESSDA matches on any social media is not allowed. See SYFA Media Policy.

ESSDA scheduled 7v7 and 9v9 fixtures will be played on a Sunday morning.
ESSDA teams playing 4v4 or 5v5 may opt for the Saturday or Sunday morning festivals. Saturday morning in Midlothian and Sunday morning in Edinburgh.

SYFA Registration for 2025 and SFA Comet

All ESSDA Clubs must be registered with SYFA before the start of the ESSDA season and before they play any friendly fixture or festival in 2025 season. Playing while not registered and without permission, will mean you are not insured.

Existing 2013s year groups will have their 2024 SYFA registration carried forward to 2025. Check your SYFA registration on the Registration Page.
All other year groups must register with SYFA for 2025 using the new SFA Comet system.

To be properly registered on SFA Comet -

•   Each year group must have an SFA Comet ID with a status of CONFIRMED linked to an ESSDA Competition.
•   All team coaches and team officials must be added to a catalogue. Each catalogue must contain
  •  at least one team manager/team secretary
  •  at least one coach with an SFA 1.2 children's coaching badge per team playing in ESSDA
  •  at least one first aider per team playing in ESSDA
  •  all other helpers and officials must be registered on SFA Comet and in the catalogue.
•   All players must be registered on SFA Comet and added to the catalogue for the year group in which they play.
  • eg Any player playing in the 2017 teams, including underage players born in 2018, must be added to the 2017 catalogue.
  • eg Players in the 2017 catalogue are not allowed to play for any other year group.
  • The maximum number of underage players in any catalogue is FIVE, regardless of the number of teams playing in ESSDA.

Permission to play Friendlies & Festivals

ESSDA permission is required for any indoor or outdoor friendly fixture. Without permission your game is unauthorised and uninsured.

The SYFA Supplementary & Playing Rules detail a winter shutdown of all outdoor small sided football between the second weekend in December to the second weekend in January inclusive.  To play any outdoor fixtures on or after 7th December 2025 until 12th January 2025 will require explicit SYFA permission from Hampden.
Indoor fixtures during this period and all other outdoor fixtures require permission as usual. Please see permission menu.

SYFA at Hampden have decided that the shutdown will operate as "No matches, friendly matches included, shall be played between the 16th of December 2024 and 13th of January 2025 without the consent of the SYFA. Clubs will be permitted to play friendly matches indoor or participate in Futsal Festivals during this period."
If you wish to play a friendly fixture on the weekend of 7th/8th December 2024, please submit your request to SYFA at Hampden, where they will approve.

Playing any match without a permit may invalidate your insurance. Playing without insurance is a serious child protection issue.

These are national SYFA rules, not merely local ESSDA rules.

Happy New Year 2025

Edinburgh Indoor Winter Youth League

The SYFA have approved the Edinburgh Winter Youth League. See https://www.sportspathwaygroup.com/events/edinburghindoorwinteryouthleague/
Open to 2017 & 2018 year groups at World of Football from 19/01/2025 to 23/02/25  Register here https://edinburghindoorwinteryouthleague.cups.nu/en/j/public/reg

Clubs taking part require SYFA permission and must be SYFA registered for 2025 before applying for permission.
Please complete Tournament Application - Scotland (£10) and return to me with reference SC 25 / 85 to get permission to play.

SYFA Contacts

The SYFA is currently swamped with enquiries and are working through their backlog as quickly as possible.

For a list of SYFA contacts, please see the SYFA page.

Formal Complaints

Anyone who wants to make a formal complaint about any aspect of ESSDA or ESSDA matches must follow the SYFA Complaint Management System. This can be viewed at http://www.scottishyouthfa.co.uk/index.php/members-corner/complaints-management-system

Complaints must be made in writing to Hampden using the forms available on SYFA website.

The Complaint Process consists of several steps:

Stage 1) Discussion with the party the complaint is about
Stage 2) Telephone or email enquiry to SYFA
Stage 3)  Lodging a formal complaint with SYFA
Final Stage) Complaint referred to a senior person within SYFA

Feedback on ESSDA Matches can be made using the ESSDA Monitoring Form. or directly to Darren as the Disciplinary Secretary using Contact Us page

Scouts at ESSDA matches

Please see below communication from the SFA Children’s Wellbeing Department:-

We have received reports that an individual(s) may be approaching clubs impersonating as a scout. We are currently looking into this; however, we would like to take this opportunity to remind clubs of best practice:

•  Scouts must not have direct and unsupervised contact with children or young people.
•  Clubs/associations must take steps to ensure that the identities of their Scouts are published, for example on a website, to ensure that identities can be verified at all times
•  Clubs/associations must issue an ID card to all Scouts, which contains their name, photograph and role as a Scout for the club. The ID card should only be valid for one season and must be renewed on an annual basis.
•  Scouts must not attend club training and/or skill development sessions unless they have prior agreement with the relevant club representative.
•  Scouts must contact the club at least 72 hours in advance of the game to request attendance and provide information of the game they wish to attend.
•  Scouts must not approach parents, carers or others known to the child or young person personally, in connection with their child’s involvement in football without firstly doing the following: -
  • The express permission of the Head of Recruitment or equivalent club/association official who has responsibility for player recruitment within the scout’s club or association; and –
  • The express permission from the club where the child or young person is already playing.

If you, or any of your staff/volunteers are approached by a scout please ensure that you:

•  See a valid ID card and check it has been issued within the past year
•  Verify their identity, contact details and interest in the player(s) with the club they are representing to ensure they are genuine.

If you doubt the authenticity of anyone acting as a scout, or the above details do not check out you should report the matter to the police. We would also ask that you inform the Scottish FA Wellbeing and Protection team on Childrenswellbeing@scottishfa.co.uk
Can you please ensure that you share this with your heads of academies, coaching staff, and anyone else you feel is appropriate at your club.
In addition, we would also ask that you take time to highlight to children and young people, parents and carers:

•  The correct procedures for Scouts
•  What children and young people and parents and carers should do if they are approached directly by a Scout
•  A reminder of the Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer contact details

Update from ESSDA Disciplinary Secretary

Please read the full update from Darren McGinnis (ESSDA Disciplinary Secretary) on the Referee Page.
Referees for ESSDA 9v9 games are optional, but where clubs opt to use a referee, please follow the new process agreed between ESSDA and Edinburgh & District Referees.

See the the Referee Page for

• 9v9 update - In 2024 First Half we had unprecedented volume of disciplinary incidents at 9v9 games. This has to stop!!
• Booking a Referee - details on how to book a referee, dates and timelines https://www.edinburghanddistrictreferees.co.uk/appointments/ agreed by ESSDA and Edinburgh Referees.
• Team Lines - 9v9 games with a referee. Both teams must give Team Lines to the referee. See how  to produce team-lines using the new SFA Comet system
• Red cards - read about new disciplinary process for players and officials who receive a red card from an SFA Referee

All 2013 year group teams playing 9v9s in 2024 Second Half must familiarise themselves with the process above and detailed on Referee Page

Social Media & Club Websites

The SYFA small sided games rules on the SYFA website (see https://www.scottishyouthfa.co.uk) prohibit the publication of results on websites and social media.

      Results
      It is unacceptable for a league and/or club to post results from development matches on to any website or publish in any newsletter or newspaper.

Please ensure nobody connected to your club publishes the results of any of your development football games.
All small sided football games are development football. All ESSDA games are development football.

ESSDA News Archive

To see old ESSDA news, go to the ESSDA News Archive Page