Petition · PE01319 · Session 3
Improving youth football in Scotland
Signatures
1,124
Comments
0
Considered
36 meetings
What it asks
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to investigate the (1) legal status and appropriateness of professional SFA clubs entering into contracts with children under 16 years; (2) audit process and accountability of all public funds distributed by the Scottish Football Association to its member clubs; (3) social, educational and psychological affects and legality of SFA member clubs prohibiting such children from participating in extra curricular activity; and (4) appropriateness of ‘compensation’ payments between SFA member clubs for the transfer of young players under the age of 16 years; and to (5) increase the educational target from 2 hours curricular physical activity to four hours per week; and (6) develop a long-term plan to provide quality artificial surfaces for training and playing football at all ages across all regions.
What the petitioner did first
In 1995/96 the Youth Development Initiative started with players aged 14 and 15 years and was run by the Scottish Premier League.
In 2003, the Scottish Football Association took over the operation and co-ordination of the initiative; this led to the banning of participants in the scheme representing their school football teams.
Grassroots representatives raised concerns with the National Secretary, David Little of the Scottish Youth FA.
At this time letters of concern were sent to SFA Chief Executive David Taylor and then Minister for Sport and Culture, Frank McAveety MSP.
Also, concern regarding the change in Registration Procedures and use of unsanctioned SFA documents were raised. This led to Mr Sandy Bryson, SFA Registrations Secretary, writing to all SFA member clubs instructing them to stop the use of what was referred to as the ‘T’ form.
MSP Kenny McAskill was involved and in 2007 in his capacity as Constituency MSP, following the continued growth of the Youth Initiative programme, a meeting was held with him and then Sport and Culture Minister Stewart Maxwell MSP. The Minister acknowledged there were issues and agreed to address these with the main stakeholders.
Correspondence was entered into with Dr Bill Wilson MSP and SFA Chief Executive Gordon Smith, regarding the legality of contracts prohibiting the freedom of movement for youth players. MSP’s Johann Lamont, Trish Godman and Iain Gray were also contacted and advised.
HM Revenue and Customs were contacted in relation to the ‘compensation’ payments between SFA member clubs for youth players.
Several meetings have been entered into with SFA staff at Hampden Park including attending the Youth Forum at Glasgow on 30 August 2009.
A meeting with Tam Baillie, Scotland Children’s Commissioner was held to discuss the legal, moral and general impact on child welfare for those who entered into the youth initiative scheme.
In 2003, the Scottish Football Association took over the operation and co-ordination of the initiative; this led to the banning of participants in the scheme representing their school football teams.
Grassroots representatives raised concerns with the National Secretary, David Little of the Scottish Youth FA.
At this time letters of concern were sent to SFA Chief Executive David Taylor and then Minister for Sport and Culture, Frank McAveety MSP.
Also, concern regarding the change in Registration Procedures and use of unsanctioned SFA documents were raised. This led to Mr Sandy Bryson, SFA Registrations Secretary, writing to all SFA member clubs instructing them to stop the use of what was referred to as the ‘T’ form.
MSP Kenny McAskill was involved and in 2007 in his capacity as Constituency MSP, following the continued growth of the Youth Initiative programme, a meeting was held with him and then Sport and Culture Minister Stewart Maxwell MSP. The Minister acknowledged there were issues and agreed to address these with the main stakeholders.
Correspondence was entered into with Dr Bill Wilson MSP and SFA Chief Executive Gordon Smith, regarding the legality of contracts prohibiting the freedom of movement for youth players. MSP’s Johann Lamont, Trish Godman and Iain Gray were also contacted and advised.
HM Revenue and Customs were contacted in relation to the ‘compensation’ payments between SFA member clubs for youth players.
Several meetings have been entered into with SFA staff at Hampden Park including attending the Youth Forum at Glasgow on 30 August 2009.
A meeting with Tam Baillie, Scotland Children’s Commissioner was held to discuss the legal, moral and general impact on child welfare for those who entered into the youth initiative scheme.
Where it was considered
Official Report-
20 Apr 20101 mention
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29 Jun 20101 mention
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5 Oct 20101 mention
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23 Nov 20101 mention
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11 Jan 20111 mention
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4 Oct 20111 mention
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24 Jan 20121 mention
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17 Apr 20121 mention
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26 Jun 20121 mention
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8 Jan 20131 mention
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26 Nov 20131 mention
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18 Feb 20141 mention
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20 May 20141 mention
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3 Jun 20141 mention
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30 Sep 20141 mention
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26 May 20151 mention
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23 Jun 20151 mention
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22 Sep 20151 mention
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12 Jan 20161 mention
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8 Mar 20161 mention
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16 Jun 20161 mention
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30 Jun 20161 mention
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29 Sep 20161 mention
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22 Dec 20161 mention
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7 Feb 20171 mention
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9 Feb 20171 mention
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30 Mar 20171 mention
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15 Jun 20171 mention
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20 Sep 20171 mention
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26 Sep 20173 mentions
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20 Dec 20181 mention
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6 Jun 20191 mention
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7 Nov 20191 mention
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30 Jan 20201 mention
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19 Nov 20203 mentions
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27 Jan 20211 mention
Signatures by country
No online signatures are recorded for this petition; the total above may include paper signatures.
Comments
No public comments.