SYFA Applications

ESSDA is now registered for the 2012 season - 1st July 2012 to 30th June 2012.

Existing registered clubs do not need to register until summer.

New Clubs, in particular 9s (2003) who have never registered before with SYFA, should register now. Their membership will run from when they apply until 30th June 2013.

It is a condition of ESSDA Membership that clubs are at least SYFA Associate Members.
The SYFA wants clubs to register as Full Member, but the only advantage of that is that you get to vote at SYFA AGM, and you get to pay more to SYFA.

Clubs only need one membership at each age group of SYFA no matter how many teams they may have playing at that age group.

2012 Season

Applications for ESSDA 2012 were due by 1st February 2012. If you have not applied, you had better do so quickly, or you may not be included in the new fixtures.

A list of applications received to date can be seen on the Soccer 7s pages.

•   2003s (9s) page
•   2002s (10s) page
•   2001s (11s) page
•   2000s (12s) page

A lot of clubs have not yet applied and risk missing their games.

ESSDA Season 2012

Please remember that all clubs must register with ESSDA for the upcoming season by 1st February 2012.

Online registration is available at Form Menu page.

Futsal

To allow Edina Hibs 12s to move from Dalkeith to World of Football, I have had to redo the fixtures for both venues.
Please see Futsal Page for details. The change affects 2000 (11s) at Dalkeith and 2000 (12s) at World of Football.

SYFA Registration

It is a condition of ESSDA membership that all clubs have SYFA Associate Membership and insurance.

• SYFA Membership and insurance for 2011/2012 runs until 30th June 2012
• SYFA Membership must be renewed by August (according to their constitution).

The SYFA wants ESSDA clubs to

• Renew their membership early by March 2012, without prior warning
• Pay increased membership fees to become SYFA Full Members, to increase democracy
• Cancel the insurance of ESSDA clubs if they do not meet the March deadline

ESSDA is arguing with SYFA that their demands are unfair and unconstitutional.
ESSDA is consulting with other Soccer Development Associations in Scotland to hear their views. If any clubs want to feedback on this issue please send an email.

The SYFA wants ESSDA clubs to pay for membership and insurance to cover a period for which we have all already paid. This is blatantly unfair.

ESSDA Winter Futsal

Fixtures for World of Football and Dalkeith are now available. See Futsal Fixtures or go to the Winter Futsal Page for more details. Fixtures for Riccarton are not yet available.

Dalkeith 2000 (12s) have withdrawn from Futsal, so I have had to redo fixtures at Dalkeith for 2001 and 2000 age groups.

ESSDA Season 2012

All teams must re-register with ESSDA for the 2012 Season.
The age groups will be

ESSDA follows the SFA / SYFA Player Pathway and all clubs should play in their appropriate age group and format of football.

Application forms are available on the Forms page.

Forms should be returned by 31st January 2012.

SFA Registration does not require to be renewed until Summer 2012.

Seasons Greetings

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!

ESSDA Futsal 2012

ESSDA Futsal 2012, with financial support from SFA, will commence in January and run for 6 weeks. Applications are now closed - we are full up.

I hope to issue fixtures in the next couple of days.

ESSDA Season 2012

All teams must re-register with ESSDA for the 2012 Season.
The age groups will be

ESSDA follows the SFA / SYFA Player Pathway and all clubs should play in their appropriate age group and format of football.

Application forms are available on the Forms page. Forms should be returned by 31st January 2012.
SFA Registration does not require to be renewed until Summer 2012.

SFA / SYFA Player Pathway - Clarification

I have sought clarification from SYFA on points raised at the ESSDA AGM..

• SYFA has confirmed that 2000 age group cannot seek any permit to play 11 a side football until after the end of the ESSDA Season in June 2012.
• SYFA Permission is required for any ESSDA club to play non ESSDA club, including Pro Youth Teams.

There is due to be a review of SFA/SYFA Player Pathway, and ESSDA will contribute to that review.

SFA / SYFA Player Pathway

Any club with a comment or concern about the SFA / SYFA Player Pathway, please use the Contact Us page to pass this on. I will gather all comments and feed these back to SFA / SYFA.
So far, from various discussions and from AGM I have:

• 12s not being allowed to play and practise eleven a side
• 8s should be playing Football 4s and not Soccer 7s
• The inconsistent use of Retreating Line at different age groups
• Kick-ins v Throw Ins
• The use of Size 4 footballs for youngest age groups

Match Reports

To allow ESSDA to better monitor games, please complete a Match Report to report anything unusual about a game:

• a one sided score-line (obvious mismatch)
• suspected overage players (including evidence)
• late cancellation or postponement with no good reason
• coach / parent / player misconduct.

Please use the Match Report form to submit your report. ESSDA will use this to identify trends in behaviour - eg Clubs who regularly misbehave, cancel matches and  Clubs who are obviously in the wrong division or perhaps refuse to travel to away games.

Permission

ESSDA Permission is required to

• Play any non ESSDA team, including pro youth teams
• Play any non scheduled fixture against an ESSDA team during the ESSDA season
  This includes alternative fixtures to replace a Free Week. Permission will normally be provided.

This is a change to current practice, but your club's insurance status is impacted if you play unauthorised games. This change is to allow ESSDA to know what games are being played and to ensure adequate insurance cover is in place.

Please use the ESSDA Permission form to apply for permission.

Spare Teams

There are no Spare Teams in the 2002 (9s) leagues. Please check the website and play your scheduled fixture. There should be no need to seek alternate games in normal circumstances.

ESSDA Winter Futsal

Winter Futsal is very near full. New applications after today will be put on a waiting list and are not guaranteed a place. I will do my best to include all applications, but time and space is limited at World of Soccer and Dalkeith and Riccarton.

Winter Futsal

Spaces for Winter Futsal are filling up, so if you are interested, please apply as soon as possible. We can cope with about 100 teams and I have had about 60 applications so far.

Confirmation emails have been sent to all teams who have applied for Futsal and paid.
Please pay as soon as possible if you are interested in playing.

Futsal 2000, 2001,2002 and 2003 at Dalkeith or World of Soccer - Apply  Here
Futsal 2004 at Riccarton Campus - Apply Here

Community Sponsorship Partners.

The East of Scotland Soccer Development Association has no arrangement with Community Sponsorship Partners. This company is currently contacting companies in this area claiming they have a sponsorship agreement with us. They do not.

10s (2001) Maradona

Sorry. I had an error in the fixtures on the new schedule page. I corrected this last night (I hope) but did not correct the old fixture page. I have done this now (I hope).
Fixtures throughout this website should correspond to the "Maradona Division Rev.1" issued by Tom on 24th August 2011.
The 6th November 2011 games are:-

Winter Futsal

Spaces for Winter Futsal are filling up, so if you are interested, please apply as soon as possible. We can cope with about 100 teams and I have had about 60 applications so far.

Futsal 2000, 2001,2002 and 2003 at Dalkeith or World of Soccer - Apply  Here
Futsal 2004 at Riccarton Campus - Apply Here

SFA Coach Education

Neil Orr will be running a new SFA Early Touches course on Saturday 12th November 2011

All coaches are encouraged to attend courses and all coaches should have at least the SFA Early Touches certificate.
To apply for a course use SFA A/F

Fixtures 9s, 10s and 11s

There is a suggestion that the on-line fixtures do not match the current fixtures. Please forward any differences to me and I will investigate. Thanks Roger

UEFA Women’s Champions League

Stamps

I continue to be sent letters within insufficient postage. I then have to

1:  Go to the Post Office to pick up the letter
2:  Pay the excess postage
3:  Pay an extra £1 for the privilege of doing 1 and 2.

Large envelopes (A4) must have Large Letter stamps.
Small envelopes stuffed with paper must have extra postage. 

Normal Letter costs

Large Letter costs (A4 size envelope)-

Fixtures & Schedules

Although I have left the old fixtures pages, please use the new pages:

Fixtures - See only your clubs fixtures
Schedule - See your team's fixture and the coach contact details

Futsal 2004

Applications are now open for Futsal 2012 for 8s (2004). Futsal for 9s-12s will run for 6 weeks starting on 15th January 2012 to 19th February 2012 at Riccarton Campus and will cost £20 per team. See Futsal page for details or use Forms page to apply.
Applications are first come first served and will close when full.

Sorry about the error on the application page - hopefully sorted now.

Gyle

The access road to David Lloyd Sports Centre and Gyle Playing Fields has double yellow lines and parking is not allowed. Parking Wardens are likely to be in attendance from this weekend, so please be careful where you chose to park your cars.

ESSDA 9s (2002s)

There are now no free weeks in the 2002 (9s) age group.

Currie Star Beckham have joined the Beckham Division.

SYFA Registration

The following clubs have not registered with SYFA and should not be playing or training.

ESSDA Fixtures

Most ESSDA fixtures take place on Sunday morning and are arranged by mutual consent. The home team should take responsibility and contact the away team as early in the week as possible to advise the opposition of arrangements.
The away team should try to make contact with the home team before they make alternative arrangements.

When exchanging details, coaches should take this opportunity to pass on any relevant information - are they exceptionally strong/weak or do they have overage players etc.

SFA / ESSDA Futsal

Applications are now open for Futsal 2012 - see Futsal Page.

Futsal for 9s (2003) -12s (2000s) will run for 6 weeks starting on 15th January 2012 to 19th February 2012. Applications must be made by 20th November 2011, but will close as soon as sufficient applications are received. Get your applications in early to guarantee your place.

Match Schedules

Club coaches can now view their match schedule together with contact details of other coaches using this website. Please see schedule page.
The password is the main part of the email address of your match secretary
(the bit before the @essda.co.uk)

Parents and players can still see their fixtures through the fixture page. 

Fixture Changes

The following changes take effect from Sunday 2nd October 2011

2000 (11s)

• Easthouses have switched from Pele to take up the Free Week slot in the Maradona division
• Currie Star 2000 have taken up the Free Week slot in the Zidane division.
• Amended alternative contact details for all Tynecastle teams (Pele & Maradona divisions)

2002 (9s)

• Edinburgh City and Newcraighall Vics have joined the Zidane Division
• Beeslack Thistle have joined the Beckhenbauer Division
• Musselburgh White has moved from Zidane Division to the Beckham Division
• Preston Athletic have left the Beckham Division
• Amended contacts for Fernieside (Pele & Beckenbauer)

If there is any team who wants to swap out of the Maradona 9s division into Zidane 9s division, please contact me.

I have updated the new fixtures page to reflect the above.

2002s (9s) League Changes

I have had a request to move a team into 2002 Maradona League.
If there is an existing 2002 Maradona team who would like to move to Zidane, could they please get in touch (contact us). Thank you.

ESSDA Website

SFA / SYFA Player Pathway Booklets

To see online versions of the Player Pathway booklets from SFA / SYFA, click here

Match Guidelines		Player Pathway 11 v 11
	Player Pathway 4 v 4		Player Pathway 7 v 7

I have a few paper copies of these booklets. If you would like paper copies, please contact Roger.

Eleven a side Football

The Player Pathway says that all ESSDA ages should be playing small sided development football. The SYFA have clearly stated that 2000 teams should not be playing 11 a side football, even friendlies. These matches are not recognised and will not be covered by your club insurance.

Facebook - find ESSDA on Facebook

SYFA Registration

There are still 17 clubs who have not had their membership of SYFA confirmed. If you are due to play one of these clubs, please check the registration page to ensure that your age group is insured. Teams who are not insured should not be playing or training.

 Fixture Lists

Print your own fixture list -- go to fixtures page  and print your personalised fixture list.

Please report comments, criticisms or problems with this new feature.

2004 Football 4 @ Leith Links

This Sunday 11 September 2011, Football 4s for 2004s will run 9 30am - 10 30am.

From the 18 September 2011 onwards, Football 4s for 2004s will run from 10 00am - 11 00am

Fixture Changes

Alnwickhill have left the 2000 (11s) Zidane division
Salvesen Colts have left the 2002 (9s) Beckenbauer division

Football 4s

Football 4's for 2003's and 2004's will resume on Saturday and Sunday 27/28 August. 2003/4's will play on the southside at various venues on Saturday mornings and at Saughton and Leith Links on Sunday mornings.  Please contact John Brock if you wish to enter a team.

SYFA Registration

All clubs must register with SYFA for their 2011-2012 season.

Without this membership, clubs are not insured and should not be playing matches or training. See the registration page for latest details of registered clubs, supplied by the SYFA today.

Registration Page updated today.

Goal Post Safety

The start of the new season is a good time to check your goal posts and to remind all coaches, parents and children about the dangers of goal posts.
1.  CHECK THEM
2.  SECURE THEM
3.  TEST THEM
4.  RESPECT THEM

For details, see http://www.scottishyouthfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?curpageid=1026
 

SYFA Registrations

All clubs must register with SYFA for the 2011/2012 SYFA season.
An Associate Membership is required for each age group of every club playing with ESSDA.

See the registration page for details of confirmed registrations.

Hampden have confirmed that some of the problems with on line registrations have been sorted - you can now register more  than 22 children. If you are still having issues, please let me know.

Please note!
Hampden have clarified the situation with clubs playing in more than one association. An SYFA Associate Membership is required for each association! This will impact clubs from East and West Lothian, Fife and Borders who only play some of their teams with ESSDA.

Easthouses FC (1980s)

Did anyone out there play for Easthouses FC in the 1980s and who perhaps remembers playing against Welshpool BC?  Please get in touch.

The Baguette Express Matchday Experience

17, 000 fans,  a fantastic Tynecastle atmosphere.

Have you ever thought what it would be like to run out the famous tunnel and onto the hallowed pitch? Well this is every Hearts fan's dream and we can make it happen with our Baguette Express Match Day Experience.

For details please see http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20100823/the-baguette-express-matchday-experience_2246067_1430269

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Application Forms

All clubs must register with SYFA for the 2011/2012 Season.
Teams do not need to re-register with ESSDA, but all teams should have contacted their Match Secretary if they wanted to change division or contact details.

When sending SYFA registrations, please ensure you put sufficient stamps on your envelope.
- The Post Office will not deliver if they are too heavy.
- I have to pick up the letters at the Post Office and pay a fine.
Not only does this slow down the whole process, it costs me money!
The SYFA are not so kind. If there is not sufficient postage, the application is rejected!

Most forms are sent in an A4 size letter - this will require a "large letter" stamp. If it weighs over 100g (with lots of photocopies inside, this is happening), then it needs extra postage!!

Forms can be sent to me for signing -
Roger Oglesby, 71 Craigleith Hill Gardens, Edinburgh EH4 2JB

Player Pathway

To clarify the Player Pathway for the rest of the 2011 season (until Christmas 2011) :-

•  1999s will leave ESSDA to go to Lothian Bus League as Under 13s
•  2000s will continue to play Soccer 7s with ESSDA as 11s
•  2001s will continue to play Soccer 7s with ESSDA as 10s
•  2002s will continue to play Soccer 7s with ESSDA as 9s
•  2003s will continue to play Football 4s with ESSDA as 8s
•  2004s will continue to play Football 4s with ESSDA as 7s

The only change after summer is 1999s (12s) leave to play 11 a side as under 13s.
Teams staying with ESSDA do not have to register again with ESSDA, but please advise your Match Secretary if you want to change contact details or move divisions.

 All teams must register as Associate Members of SYFA for the August 2011- June 2012 SYFA season.

After Christmas, everyone will move up an age group with ESSDA, when 2000s will become 12s for half a season and then become under 13s a year from now.

At ESSDA, we do not record results or compile league tables, but we do look to record statistics on good and bad behaviour. A record of bad behaviour may result in an anonymous visit to your match by an independent observer. We also want to try and eliminate mismatches by moving teams who either win and lose convincingly on a regular basis.
There are three easy ways to feedback:

• Fill in a season long monitoring form on-line using Monitoring Form
• Fill in a single match monitoring form on-line using Monitoring Form One
• Print off and send a monitoring form Monitoring Form (PDF - 56KB)
  

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The PVG scheme to replace the present disclosure process will start soon. It will not be fully implemented until 2012. In the meantime, coaches should be checked as follows:

Facebook - find ESSDA on Facebook