IFA Foundation vs MUYL

The Irish FA’s Safeguarding Children and Young People in Football app is an ideal educational tool for adults involved in youth football, as well as young players. The app is aimed at creating greater awareness and understanding about safeguarding best practice. Critically, it is to build confidence and competence so that adults involved in children’s football are better prepared to identify, respond to and report child protection concerns. The app: - Addresses contemporary challenges such as social media, bullying and transportation. - Tests your knowledge on safeguarding issues, policies and procedures. - Shares advice on how to report Child Abuse and Poor Practice. - Facilitates Push Notifications on Irish FA news, course content and safeguarding updates. The app was commissioned by the Irish FA and is designed and developed by Ineqe Safe and Secure.

The Mid-Ulster Youth League was formed in 1996 after the demise of the Craigavon Junior League. The previous administration had been frustrated at the dominant way Senior football took precedent over youth games, however at the outset the new structure quickly established parity in the right to play and with this determination the league has developed to embrace football clubs from all Six Counties of Northern Ireland. The league actively encourages participation in the Northern Ireland Boys F.A. Cup competitions and member clubs have had considerable success over the years. The league and all its teams are affiliated to the NIBFA and have recently embraced the changes put forward by NIBFA as they progress the youth game towards standard practices. For 2008/09 the League has planned an active Mini Soccer development programme for U8,U9, & U10 and an 11 a side league structure for U11 to U17 years olds. The league has now been restructered to three different levels. We now have U7,U8,U9 & U10 playing in the Games Development Centre with over 100 teams participating each week. Then we have the 9 aside U11 & U12. This has been a great transition for the kids as they no longer have to play in full size pitches and large goals. Finally we have the 11 a side league which caters for kids from U13 to U17. In the 2014 - 2015 season we had approximatley 2000 children out playing football on a Saturday morning.